Page 30 of Ghostlighted
“Ricky thinks so. He’s with her now and the ambulance is on its way. He wanted me to tell your mom that the family could meet them at the hospital in Richdale.”
“Don’t worry.” All trace of the excited teenager was gone from Felicia’s fierce tone. “I’ll take care of it. And Maz?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you. For being there with him.”
“Any time.”
The call dropped just as the ambulance drove down Birch Street, lights flashing but siren silent. I glanced back at Ricky, who was speaking to Sofia again. I saw her lift a shaking hand and my heart caught in my throat.
The ambulance was pulling up when I stumbled out from between our houses. I ran for the curb, waving both arms, as the engine cut out.
“She’s in the back,” I called.
The streetlights blinked on as both EMTs climbed out of the vehicle. The driver nodded to me and his partner opened the rear doors and retrieved a bulky kit, slinging the strap over her shoulder. They hurried past me so quickly I had to jog to keep up.
“Ricky?” the woman with the kit called. “Is it Tia? The SVT?”
He nodded. “I think so, but it’s worse than I’ve seen it before. Her heart rate hasn’t slowed at all.”
“Let’s see what’s up, shall we?”
She dropped down next to Sofia, and Ricky made way for her partner, scooping up his phone and backing away to stand next to me.
“Hey,” I said softly, placing my hand on the small of his back. “You doing all right?” When he shot me a sharp glance, I winced. “Sorry. Stupid question. Of course you’re not.”
He shook his head. “Not your fault. It’s just…” He leaned against me, and I could feel him trembling. “She’s always been there, you know? I’m not sure what we’d do without her.”
“They’ll take care of her.”
“I know.” He sighed and rested his head on my shoulder, which gave me the courage to wrap my arm around him and pull him closer.
“The female EMT knows you by name. She called Sofia Tia and knew about her condition.” I rested my lips against Ricky’s hair. “Don’t tell me. She’s a cousin.”
He chuckled weakly. “Not exactly. Her name’s Rosalie. She’s Nando’s girlfriend.”
“Nando? From Transitions Transportation?”
Ricky nodded, the top of his head warm against my mouth. “They’ve been tight since they were kids and got partnered up by their troop leader to sell Girl Scout cookies together.” A very delayed mental lightbulb lit up.TransitionsTransportation.Ah. “I’m pretty sure Nando’s going to propose, but he’s waiting for the perfect moment.”
“Warren. We need wheels,” Rosalie said.
Rosalie’s partner—Warren, presumably—ran back to the ambulance and returned with a gurney, its wheels barely bouncing over the grass because Ricky kept the lawn so smooth. They used a backboard to lift Sofia gently and place her on the mattress.
We followed Rosalie and Warren as they wheeled Sofia toward the street.
“Tell him to do it already.”
Ricky glanced at me, clearly torn between listening to me and watching the EMTs lift Sofia into the ambulance.
“Nando. Tell him to do it.” I thought of Avi and Oren. Of Oren’s plans for the Canadian wedding that never had a chance to take place. “Any moment is perfect if it means you get to spend it with the ones you love.”
He held my gaze for an instant and then gave a sharp nod before moving into the street. The light from inside the ambulance washed over him, casting unexpected shadows under his cheekbones.
Warren started to close the doors, but Rosalie held up a hand to stall him and looked down at us.
“Ricky? You riding along?”
