Page 126 of Look on the Bright Side

“Really?” She turned onto the on-ramp and waited for a gap in the traffic. Route 6 was only two lanes here—eastbound and westbound—separated by irritating little yellow poles. It took a solid minute before she could sneak into the line of traffic. “It’s going to be a long drive if you’re not speaking to me.”

“I think it’ll be a very pleasant drive, not speaking to you.”

She couldn’t help a smile. He was a rude pain in the ass, but he was very consistent.

“Hey, I love the dresses you picked out for me.”

In her suitcase were two gorgeous dresses, matching shoes, matching handbags. For tonight, a Naeem Khan off-the-shoulder dress with a big bow on the shoulder. For the wedding, a navy blue Jason Wu crisscross gown. Fabulous shoes, and a Judith Leiber handbag shaped like a butterfly. “If this doctor thing doesn’t work out, you could always be a personal shopper.”

“The doctor thing has clearly worked out for me,” he said, no trace of humor in his voice. “You, however…”

“Rude.”

Then she slammed on the brakes, her arm instinctively going out to shield Lorenzo as they swerved off the road and onto the grass, barely missing the bumper of the Miata immediately in front of them.

There was a massive pileup. Two, three…five, seven or more cars askew in front of them with a box truck at the end, preventing her from seeing farther up the highway. She heard the screech of brakes and a car horn. Someone pulled up right behind her. Behind them, traffic was stopping.

Lark put on her hazard lights and looked at Lorenzo. “You okay?”

He looked stunned, eyes wide, mouth open. “That was close.”

She grabbed her phone from the cup holder and dialed 911. “Big accident on Route 6 westbound, in Harwich after the on-ramp from 124. Injuries unknown, but assume mass casualty. I’m an ER physician, and I’m with a surgeon. Yes. Okay. We’re assessing right now.” She looked at Lorenzo and got out of the car. “Go time, Dr.Santini.” Her arms and legs vibrated as adrenaline flowed into her veins.

Traffic on the eastbound side was stopped, since a pickup had swerved into that lane. The air smelled like antifreeze and rubber. A horn was blaring up ahead. From the back of her car, Lark grabbed her bag, glad to be neurotically overprepared. Alcohol wipes, gauze, gloves, Steri-Strips. The last time she’d needed anything medical was when the falcon ate the pigeon off Noni’s head. Seemed like a century ago.

“Stay in your cars!” she yelled. “I’m an ER doctor. I’ll come to you!” They’d had a case last month of a guy who’d been hit because he’d been standing on the side of the road, changing his tire.

The car in front of them wasn’t damaged. After that, no such luck. The next car had rear-ended the SUV in front of it. The hood was badly dented, and the airbags had deployed. Lark peered in the passenger window. Female, forties, two wide-eyed kids in booster seats in the back. “I’m an ER doctor. Are you okay?”

“We’re…we’re fine,” said the driver. “Just shaken. Kids, you’re okay, right?”

“We hit that car,” said the older one.

“Does anything hurt?” Lark asked.

“My tooth came out last night,” said the younger kid, showing her. “It was a little sore.”

“I think we’re good,” said the mom.

“Great. Stay in the vehicle. EMS is on their way.” Several people were attempting to get out of their cars. “Stay in your cars,” she shouted again. “If you’re hurt, wave to me. I’m an ER doctor.”

A hand came out of a window, and she ran to that car. Damage to front and back, the bumper hanging.

“Where are you hurt?” she asked.

“My leg,” the driver said. Male, sixties. “I think it’s broken.”

Lark looked down, gripping his wrist without thinking. Pulse steady and strong. Yep, his shin was crooked, and there was a nasty cut halfway up. It wasn’t bleeding heavily, though. “Stay put for now. EMS is en route.”

“What should I do?” Lorenzo asked. She’d almost forgotten he was here.

“Stick with me. EMS can triage everyone.”

“How will they get here?” He had a point, since traffic had stopped in both directions now. She wasn’t sure what the answer was.

“Just see if there’s anyone critical,” she said.

In the next car, everyone seemed fine. Glass from a broken window had cut the driver over the eye, and blood trickled down his face.

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