Page 154 of Sassy Love
“We’re going to have to roll you over, Millie, to place the board underneath you,” a young paramedic says. “Suck on the whistle, sweetheart, this might hurt a bit.”
Millie’s shaking hand raises to her mouth as she places the long green whistle between her lips. They allow her a handful of deep breaths on the whistle before Carlie moves, and they turn Millie onto her side.
She cries out in pain.
Carlie’s face breaks.
I round the room and pull her into my side, dotting a kiss to her hair. Her fingers grip the opening of my shirt as she turns into my side but doesn’t break her gaze from Millie.
She trembles against me, and I hug her tighter, feeling helpless to do anything else.
With the board in place, Millie is lowered back down onto her back. She groans as her eyes flutter shut.
“Oh god,” Carlie whispers.
“Keep using your whistle, Millie,” the female paramedic says, now at her head. “We’re going to take you downstairs to the ambulance and then to the hospital. That okay with you, hun?”
Millie nods, her eyes still closed as she sucks on the whistle.
“Can I go with her?” Carlie says, and I release her as they lift Millie from the floor, still on the backboard, and carry her into the hallway where they rest her on the gurney.
“Of course, you’re her granddaughter?” the young guy asks.
“Yes.” Carlie’s response is without hesitation.
“Your hubby can follow, but he’ll need to park in the visitor parking lot.”
Carlie glances at me, and I give her a small smile and a nod. “Be right behind you, okay?”
I don’t bother correcting them; if I have my way, this woman will be a Rawlins. When the time is right for both of us.
Carlie holds Millie’s hand as they roll her out of the apartment and into the elevator.
Miles files in beside me. “Tough gig, poor little lady.”
“Yeah,” I rasp.
“You good, bud?”
I swallow past the stone in my throat. Me? No way am I worried about me, but Carlie and Millie, fuck, I’m shook up for them both.
“I gotta go, Miles. Text you later. And thanks for being here.”
“Anytime, Laws. You look after those girls of yours.”
He turns back and helps pack away the gear as I double-check for my wallet and keys. I lock up after the last paramedic leaves and order an Uber. Right now, I’m wishing I had a damn car.
A message pings my phone.
Bring the car, cowboy
On my way.
I file inside and grab the keys to Carlie’s car. By the time I get down to the parking lot under her building, she’s sent me three texts with explicit instructions on not wrecking her baby.
I can drive, Princess. Take care of your Mills. Be there in ten.
The hospital’s smell, clinical lighting, and constant busy noise brings back a flood of memories from my brother’s time in the hospital after we almost lost him. Every tour we knew it was a gamble, that he may or may not return home to us. Those few days after he was hurt in action and not knowing anything but the scarcest details were a literal nightmare.
