Page 3 of Hidden Vows
My steps falter as I hear a muffled groan from somewhere behind the bar. Without thinking about it, I rush to the bar, lifting myself enough to see over it.
The breath leaves my lungs when I see Walt collapsed there.
Not giving myself any time to think about it, I grab my phone from my purse, dialing 911 as I move to his side.
“911, what’s your emergency?” a calm voice says through the speaker on my phone.
“I need an ambulance to 397 Main Street, Ashford Falls, Maryland, at a bar called Murphy’s,” I say as I crumble to the floor beside Walt, leaving the phone beside me. My hands hover over him, not sure if I should move him or not.
“Is the patient conscious or breathing?”
“I don’t—I don’t know. Is it okay for me tomove him?” I hear the hysteria in my voice and I give myself a second to close my eyes and take a deep breath.
Ignore who this is in front of you and focus. You can break down later.
“Is he talking to you?” the dispatcher asks, bringing me back to the moment.
“No.” My voice is stronger this time. “I came into the bar and found him on the ground. He’s not moving, but he’s groaning.”
“Okay. An ambulance is on the way. Will they be able to enter the premises without issue?”
“Yes, the door’s unlocked.”
“Can you tell me the patient’s age? Does he have any medical history the paramedics should know about?”
“He’s fifty-eight. I don’t know about his medical history.”
“And what’s your relation to the patient?”
I don’t even think before I respond. “I’m his daughter.” It may be a lie, but at one point in time I was his daughter-in-law, and I know he’d claim me as his in a heartbeat.
“The ambulance should be there soon.”
“Thank you,” I whisper.
It’s quiet, except for the sounds of sirens growing closer. I’m not sure if the dispatcher is still on the line, but all I can focus on is the fact I can see Walt breathing, and seeing that gives me the smallest ounce of comfort.
It’s not paramedics rushing through the door next, but Gage and Ava.
“What happened?” Gage’s deep voice demands as he rounds the end of the bar.
It’s an odd thing to pay attention to in a moment like this, but I notice he’s still in his suit from the wedding. His tie hangs loose around his neck and the top buttons of his shirt are undone, but hestill wears his suit jacket. His hair is a little more disheveled than when I saw him as I left the wedding, but then again, glancing at Ava, she seems a little disheveled too.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, a little bewildered at their appearance. There’s no reason for them to pass the bar at this time of night, even if they were on their way home from the wedding.
Before he can answer the paramedics push through the door, and Gage helps me stand, moving us out of their way to work.
“Abbey, what happened?” Gage steps in front of me, bending so his face is right in front of mine.
It’s strange to notice now, but his eyes seem far more aqua-blue than I’ve ever realized. I’ve never paid attention to Gage as more than I friend. I know he’s attractive, but I’ve never thought anything past that, and now’s the worst time to focus on it, but I can’t stop my mind from drifting. I get it now—why Ava fell head over heels for him with his high cheekbones and chiseled jaw, covered with the lightest amount of stubble. It’s not just his looks that draw you in, but everything about him, especially the way he cares for those he considers friends.
“Abbey.” Gage’s voice, softer now, pulls me back to the moment.
“I don’t know. I was coming home from the wedding and saw the lights on. I thought it was strange, so I came to see what Walt was doing here. I found him like that behind the bar when I came in.” My eyes shift to the floor where the paramedics are still working on Walt, but Gage moves us, turning my back to the sight.
“What are you doing here?” My eyebrows pinch in as I bring my focus back to Gage.
“We were just leaving the wedding when Lyle called. He heard the call come through dispatch and knows I’m close withWalt.”
