Page 101 of One Sweet Day I Found You

Twenty-Five

Nick kept his voice as calm and supportive as he could manage. “What happened? Where is she?” He took the porch stairs two at a time. Courtney stood on the porch as the rain continued to fall and pointed inside the house. “She’s still inside.”

Under the cover of the porch roof, he stopped short and took Courtney gently by the arm. “You okay?” She returned a steadfast look, but he could see the worry on her face. He squeezed her arm reassuringly.

Nick was accustomed to emergency situations—accidents, trauma, sickness—but not when it came to someone he cared for. The feeling was something new and altogether unsettling. Courtney turned and motioned for him to follow. He steeled himself and hurried into the house after her.

Nick approached the team. Victoria was conscious now and on the stretcher, but she wasn’t responsive to the medic’s questions that would help them gauge her physical and mental condition. Her eyelids fluttered, opening now and again.

Ronnie, a medic in his early forties who’d been on the payroll full-time with the local team for years, looked over. “Hey, what’s up, Nick? I didn’t think they called in anyone from your crew? It’s just a house call.”

“Hey Ron. No, they didn’t. She’s a good friend of my family’s. I’m on her list of emergency contacts.” He made a mental note to let Josie and his parents know what had happened just as soon as he could.

“Oh, okay, good. Come on over. We were hoping she’d have someone. The young lady did the best she could, but she says she really can’t speak for her. She found us her medical record and health insurance cards, though. History of high blood pressure.”

Nick glanced at Courtney, who just then scooped Victoria’s cat, anxious and underfoot, out of the way of the emergency team.

“Okay, so how’s she doing?”

“She’s stable. Go ahead.”

Nick went to Victoria, placing his strong, warm hand over one of hers—frail, freckled, and wrinkled. “Victoria, it’s Nick. I’m here. We’re gonna take good care of you, okay?” He stroked her hand gently twice. “You hang in there. You’re going to be fine.” Victoria’s eyelids remained closed but there was movement behind them. He hoped she’d heard him.

He let go of her hand as the team began to push the stretcher carefully out of the house. Nick followed them to the ambulance and watched them hoist her up inside the large van.

Courtney followed and stayed out on the porch, still holding Ash. One of the medics jumped inside the van with Victoria and began to hook up the equipment that would prepare her for the trip.

The rain had slowed to a trickle. Ronnie pulled his hood up and stood next to Nick outside the van.

Nick turned to him. “So, any ideas?

“Possible stroke, but we’re thinking a TIA.”

“Okay,” Nick said. “She’s always been healthy as an ox, even at eighty-six. Any sign of fracture?”

“Possibly. But they’ll check her out for sure at the hospital. She must’ve hit pretty hard when she went down. She was lucky to have the tenant at the guesthouse find her.”

Nick thought about the hard wood floors that covered most of the first floor of the house. It dawned on him that Courtney must’ve been the one to find her and call 911.

“Okay, so we’re taking her to Sturgeon Bay. You coming?”

“Yes, of course.”

“All right, we’ll let them know.”

“Thanks, Ron.”

“You bet. And don’t worry. We’ll take good care of her.” Nick shook his hand gratefully, then waved to the other medic. “Thanks, Doug.”

Ronnie closed the doors on Doug and Victoria then climbed into the driver’s seat and started up the engine. The sheriff’s officer had finished up his report and waved, getting back into the police car. Moments later, the ambulance headed down the driveway and turned south onto the main road. The fire truck left just a few minutes later.

Nick skipped back up onto the porch and walked over to face Courtney, who had followed the group outside. He explained their assessment, and that a TIA in laymen’s terms meant a mini-stroke, which would usually indicate little to no brain damage. “It would’ve made her dizzy and weak, and she probably lost her balance—probably hit her head hard on the way down. They wouldn’t know for sure until they run some tests.”

Courtney took it all in with a brave look. As much of a mess as things were between them, he found himself wanting to throw his arms around her. This couldn’t have been easy on her.

But he didn’t.

Courtney nodded eagerly.

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