Page 59 of Her Cadillac Cowboy
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Heat burned upward from her hand to her face and down her body. She started to sweat. She moved toward her office and the EpiPen in her purse. The mail dropped from her swollen fingers. She stumbled. She needed immediate medical attention.
The door to the office slammed open from her fumbling. She lurched forward at an awkward gait, headed for the desk drawer. The heat and awkwardness of her swollen hands made handling the key impossible. She’d have to use the desk phone and pray Doc was somewhere in the building with Dad. It took her several tries to place her call, but, finally, she got the showroom extension.
“I’m sorry, all of our sales staff are assisting other customers…” Crap. Sara tried dialing 911. Tears poured down her face as her own fingers got in the way of her attempts to get help.
“Ms. Carson?”
Thank God, Carol.
“I’m over here.” The words croaked out of her throat. If her throat was already swelling, this reaction must be a lot more serious than the last one.
“Dear lord, Ms. Carson, what happened?”
“Spider bite. Allergic. Dial 911.”
After that everything was a blur of confusion.
???
Sara looked into the mirror of her compact. Thanks to prompt medical attention, the swelling had given way to itchy red splotches that even the heaviest foundation couldn’t disguise. She wanted to cry but knew that tears would make her face itch unbearably. The one good thing that had come from the spider bite was that she had been able to avoid Josh. He’d sent flowers and a note, saying they’d talk later.
A knock sounded on her office door.
“Come in.”
The door opened slowly to reveal Will Talmidge.
“Will?” She couldn’t keep the surprise from her voice. He was the last person she expected to seek her out. “Is everything all right in the body shop?”
“Yes’m.”
“You aren’t having problems with Steve or the other shop jockeys?”
“No, ma’am.”
This cowed, monosyllabic, polite boy was a shock. Unable to think of a way to draw him out, Sara decided to wait.
Will wiped his palms on the sides of his jeans. He cleared his throat. Twice. He examined the walls, the ceiling, and the floor. Finally, out of options, he confessed. “I did it. I’m sorry. I didn’t know how bad it would be. Please don’t call the judge. I like it in the body shop. I won’t do nuthin’ else. I promise. Honest to God.”
Sara raised her hands, palms outward. “Whoa. Hold on there. Nobody’s calling the judge. And, I’ll forgive you if you’ll just tell me what it is you’re sorry for.”
“For puttin’ the spider in your mailbox.”
For a moment, she wanted to hit him. But Will couldn’t have known the consequences of his prank. “Have a seat,” she said carefully to keep her inflection neutral. “Why did you do it?”
Will sat and stared at his feet. “I dunno. Maybe ‘cause I don’t like the way you are with Josh.
“And how is that?”
“I don’t know.” Will’s young voice cracked over the words. “You’re just you, but you make him crazy.”
I do?“I don’t understand?”
For the first time, the boy looked her in the eye. “It’s like this. Josh is a cool dude most of the time. But when he’s with you he gets weird.”
“I gather you mean he isn’t very pleasant to be around.”
