Page 32 of Fourth Heartwarmers Trilogy
With one last joyful smile, Lucas faded, and Jack came awake. “Mia.” He struggled to keep his eyes open. “Maisie. Where—?”
“We’re here, Jack. We’re okay, both of us. You took the worst of the accident. The front of the van has a few bumps and scratches but it’s still working.” Jack saw that Mia was now in the passenger seat next to him and Maisie still slept soundly in her child seat in the back.
Voices reached them, and two men suddenly appeared to open his door and lean in. “You okay, man?”
He rubbed the swelling on his head and answered, “Yeah. I think so. The front tire blew. Hell, I could barely keep the sucker from flipping.”
The younger fellow answered, “I know. We saw you fly off the road and swerve back and forth to where we wondered how you hadn’t lost control completely. It was a miracle you didn’t. Great bit of driving, man. Best action I ever saw.”
“Thanks… I guess. Have to see the damage.” He slowly uncurled his body from the driver’s seat and staggered slightly before he made his way to the front of the vehicle with Mia’s help. He hated appearing weak in front of her, but his muscles were like limp spaghetti.
“You need us to call an ambulance, dude?” The stranger appeared wary. Jack couldn’t blame him. He did feel shaky, but then he suspected anyone would who’d just undergone what he had. Add seeing an angel to the trauma and that alone might screw with anyone’s head.
“I think it’ll take a few minutes. I’ll be fine.” He took the water Mia passed him and was glad to get it until his stomach revolted and forced him to turn sideways, bend over and upchuck.
The stranger swiveled out of range quickly. “Guess that’s our answer. I figure he has concussion. Best call for help.”
Wiping his mouth, both hands on his knees to keep him from falling headfirst, Jack argued, “No. I’ll be fine.”
“Look, pal. My name is Hal Royston, and this is my son, Jonnie. The turnoff to the hospital is only a few miles up thishighway and then another five miles from there. If you want, I’ll take all of you there in my car. Meantime, you can call for a tow truck to haul this mess into the garage. Your tire’s pretty well shot and from the size of your load, you’ll need them to bring this vehicle to their place.”
Mia spoke up. “Guys, that would be wonderful. We’ll go with you to the hospital and make sure this stubborn fool is as fine as he says. I’d rather let the mechanics deal with the van anyway. And bill the rental agency directly. Thank you for your kind offer.”
Understanding he’d been overruled, and willing to let it happen, in no time at all, Jack found himself perched on the edge of the examination table in the ER, submitting meekly.
“Looks like you’ve suffered a concussion. The swelling has gone down from the ice packs the nurses used, but you have bruising and a shiner. Since you say you’re not having any major pain or headaches, I’ll let you leave, but with the order that if you feel lightheaded, nauseous or have any symptoms that are out of the ordinary, you lay down immediately and take these pills.”
Jack held his hands out in front of him to stop the doctor from handing him the prepared prescription. “No, thanks, Doc. I don’t take pills. If I get any symptoms I don’t like, I’ll head back to the hospital.”
Looking disgruntled but accepting, the medic asked, “You live around here?”
“In Maricopa.”
“No traveling today. I suggest you find a nice hotel and stay for the night.”
Jack tried to hop down from the table like he would have normally done. Lightheaded, he grabbed the side instead and slid to his feet carefully.
“Don’t do a faceplant now, boy. Take it easy.”
He knew who spoke those words, and it wasn’t the doc who had his back turned. Grinning, he whispered, “Hey, Lucas, they said I performed a miracle with the truck today. Thanks, buddy.”
“Kinda like the good ole days, wheeling a big rig around. Go behave yourself and get some sleep.”
“Did you say something?” Looking quizzical, the doc stared at Jack, looking as if he wanted to rethink his decision.
“Yep! Just a quiet prayer of thanks, Doc.”
“Hey, good for you. I find myself doing that often. Take care, Jack.” With a quick handshake and a pat on his arm, the older man left the room.
Chapter Twelve
The nearby motel Mia chose for them was comfortable, had all the amenities and they were given adjoining rooms on the first floor. After she’d placed a call to Angie and her folks to let them know they were fine and to expect them the next day, she turned off the cartoons on the TV.
Ignoring Maisie’s expected displeasure, she ruffled the child’s hair. “Let’s go and see what Jack wants us to get him from across the street at the diner? Then we’ll pick up the food and bring it here so we can eat together. What do you say?”
“Like a picnic?”
“Sure, we’ll have a picnic on the bed.”
