Page 77 of A Lonely Road
I nodded. “Jake's inside talking to the police, but they insisted I get checked out first. It’s really just a scratch,” I said stubbornly, but my dad made a sound of disagreement.
“Let the professional look you over. If she says it's just a scratch, we'll back off.” He pressed his lips to the top of my head and gave me one last squeeze. “I'll be inside if you need me.”
Though I managed a smile before he headed toward the house, it faded once his back was turned. I cocked my head as Casey threw open the doors at the back of the ambulance and gestured for me to sit. “I didn’t know you were an EMT.”
“Yes ma’am. Sam dropped me off at home after we left here earlier so I could head in for my shift. I can’t say I expected to be back so soon, though.”
There was no mistaking the relief in Casey’s hazel eyes as she looked me over, even underneath her suddenly professionaldemeanor. She pulled on a fresh pair of gloves and gently wiped away the blood from my neck before dabbing at it with antiseptic.
“This morning feels like a lifetime ago.” I flinched when she moved to the cut across my chest. “Shit, that stings.”
Casey gave me an apologetic smile, but there was no mistaking the hard edge that appeared in those hazel eyes. When I raised a brow in question, she shrugged a shoulder and said, “You’re one of us now. We take care of our own. And Jake might actually kick my ass for touching your boob, so it’s a double whammy of annoyance. None of which is directed at you, of course.”
I laughed, though I hadn’t felt like there was any humor left inside me even a second ago. “Of course. Don’t look now, but he’s on his way over here. I’ll try to keep him from berating you for groping me,” I offered. My gaze locked with Jake’s and the smile on my lips widened a little.
“Hey,” Jake said softly as he sat beside me. “I see you’re in good hands over here.” His arm slid around my shoulders and he pressed a kiss to my temple.
“The cut isn’t very deep, so you don’t need stitches, but that’s a sensitive area. Watch for signs of infection, keep it clean, and take it easy for a few days,” Casey said, leveling a pointed look at Jake.
He grinned until his gaze dropped to my chest, then his jaw clenched ever so slightly. I caught the flash of lingering fear in his eyes and leaned my head close to his as Casey taped a squareof gauze across the wound. Jake’s arm, strong and supportive, tightened around me when I winced slightly.
After dabbing once more at the tiny cut on my neck, Casey added, “This one’s already scabbing over, so I’ll just put a little bandage on it. Make sure you keep it clean, smear a bit of this on it a few times a day.” She applied the adhesive bandage and handed us a few tiny sample packs of antibiotic ointment.
Jake clasped her hand in gratitude and Casey pulled him into a swift hug. “Thank you, Casey,” he said quietly.
He looked exhausted, as though fear had etched lines of weariness into his skin. With our arms around one another, Jake and I stood to let Casey close the doors of the ambulance. Before leaving, she set a hand on each of our shoulders and squeezed.
“Take care of each other,” she told us, “and for god’s sake, text your family if you don’t want them all rushing over here. Sam’s going to want to hear it from you, not me. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, but if you need anything, just let me know. We’re here for you. For both of you.”
My eyes filled with tears of a different kind as I nodded my thanks, then we stood together at the end of the driveway to watch the ambulance pull away from the curb.
You’re one of us now. We take care of our own. We’re here for you.
It was like a litany of love, tangling around my heart like vines, blooming like the sweetest flower in my chest.
“Are you ready to talk to the chief?” Jake asked.
I could barely stand the thought of letting go of him, but the sooner I gave my statement, the sooner this nightmare would be over. “Yes. Milton is gone?”
“Carted away to be locked up. Good riddance,” he muttered.
Before we returned to the house, I buried my face against his neck. “I ruined your shirt,” I mumbled.
His soft laughter steadied me enough to draw back, then he cupped my face in his hands and gazed tenderly down at me. “I have others. You’re really okay?”
I nuzzled my cheek against his palm. “I’m really okay, Jake. I promise.”
“Nora, I’m ready for you,” the chief called from the front door.
Jake walked me over to the porch, pressed a warm kiss to my forehead, then sat down on the steps next to my father as I went inside with Chief Roberts.
It was time to lay this nightmare to rest.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Jake
Aflurryofemotionscrackledthrough my body as John and I stared out toward the quiet street. My gaze landed on the spot where Nora’s car stalled the day she arrived in town—it felt like a million years ago, but that memory soothed my jittery nerves, at least a little.
