Page 34 of Chasing Sunsets

Her gaze focused on Tamara. “Looks horrible, but it’s an easy fix.”

“Will I be able to ski?” Uri asked.

“You’ll have to ask them.” She motioned to the medics. “A butterfly closure should do it.”

The pressure she’d applied stopped the bleeding by the time she let go of the wound. “Good luck, Uri.”

“I appreciate your help, Sadie.”

She went directly to Tamara, who still had a horrified expression on her face.

“That didn’t happen because he skied. That happened because the handle hit him. Just don’t let the handle hit your head, and you’ll be fine. Remember...” She whipped off her clothes and threw them into one of the boats, gesturing for Tamara to do the same. “Keep your knees tucked and the skis straight until you’re out of the water.”

After Tamara tossed her clothes into the next boat, they entered the boathouse. She helped the other woman choose a lifejacket and pick out a pair of skis as she did the same.

Two hours later, she and Zack ended the race day at a lighthouse and were the first to finish.

She wanted to believe they’d made up for day two but didn’t dare relax.

~

That night, Sadie waitedfor the elevator while Doreen, the gorgeous brunette contestant with a body for swimsuit magazine covers, joined her.

The woman smiled. “Are you going down for dinner?”

“I am.” She hadn’t been ready when Zack came for her earlier and told him she’d meet him at the restaurant downstairs where dinner was being served.

“I’ll ride down with you.”

The elevator opened and Uri and Lowell exited, arguing. They’d obviously just gotten finished with their day. Uri held up a hand to his partner and addressed Sadie, “Thanks again for your help today.”

She stepped onto the elevator after Doreen and put a hand out so the doors wouldn’t close. “Were you able to ski?”

“Yeah, like you said, a butterfly took care of it.” He bowed his head so she could see the injured spot. “Didn’t even need a bandage over it.”

“See you at dinner.” Sadie took her hand away, and the doors closed. Chimes pinged as they descended from the tenth floor. Once past five, the elevator jerked to a stop.

“Well, damn.” Doreen opened the emergency panel and picked up the phone. “We’re stuck ... Okay.” She hung the phone back on its hook. “They’d already been alerted.”

Accustomed to getting stuck on elevators since the doctors she worked for occupied the ninth floor of a medical building, Sadie leaned against the gold wall, different from the usual chrome. That was one thing about this adventure, she couldn’t argue with their accommodations each night.

Doreen sat on the white and gold marble floor. “I know you and Zack aren’t talking about why you’re separated, but if you’re here, that must mean your marriage didn’t turn out exactly like you wanted.”

Sadie kept her mouth shut.

“I never thought anything would come between me and Ted.”

Wasn’t that the reason people married in the first place?

Sadie!She reprimanded herself. Her snarky comeback was so not like the normal her. Or at least hadn’t been. She didn’t say her thought out loud.

“I won’t pry, only to say, I hope Zack supports your dreams.”

“He’s always supported me.” There was no harm in sharing that part of their lives. “I believed I wanted to participate in bio-research and earned a degree in Biology. Before I graduated, I realized I wanted a more hands-on approach. He suggested I go to med school. I chose to be a physician assistant instead, which still involved three more years of college and a lot of money.”

“Was it worth it? Do you like being a PA?”

“Yes.” She decided not to mention that she hadn’t worked in months and honestly wasn’t sure how she’d feel if she ever went back to her job after what happened.

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