Page 48 of Only Just Begun

“Knock yourself out,” Ted muttered, heading for the door with Mandy.

Minutes later, they were in his car heading to the hospital.

Chapter 11

Mandy got into Ted’s big, expensive black car with a tight chest.

“Okay, you need to slow that breathing down.”

A large hand on the back of her neck propelled her forward until her head was between her knees. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on calming down. It took a minute, but she got there.

Mandy’s phone rang as she sat upright.

“Aunt Sarah, is she okay?” She gripped the phone tight.

She listened and then cut the call after saying they were on their way to the hospital.

“What’s the deal?” Ted asked as he headed down Main Street.

“Aunt Sarah said the doctors think her leg is broken and she has a concussion. She’s in X-ray now.”

She’d had these two women in her life forever. They had been the only people she’d ever really loved, and the only people who made her feel safe. It was an irrational panic that she may lose them. Mandy knew it and hated herself for yet again being weak.

“So, she’s not going to die then?”

“What? No. Why would you say something like that?” She shot him a look. So competent and in control. She hated him for that.

“Well, you’re acting like she is. You’re pale and your hands are shaking. I get that you’re worried, but this reaction is way more than that.”

The street was busy with tourists and locals. People running across the road. She loved this town, but today she barely saw it.

“Why the panic?”

“My aunt has hurt herself!”

“Okay, tone it down. Just trying to work out what’s happening.”

“I don’t have to tone it down. Don’t tell me to do that!”

“It’s her leg and her head, both of which will likely be fine. The woman is in a better physical condition than most of us,” he added as if she’d not spoken.

“Do me a favor, Ted, and shut up,” Mandy gritted out.

“Nice. That had some bite to it. But you need to stop the panic and put a smile on that pretty face of yours before we reach the hospital. One look at you would make anyone sick.”

Mandy inhaled and exhaled. “Are you deliberately trying to insult me?”

“No. I’m telling you the truth.” He looked at her briefly.

“You don’t understand.”

“Possibly not, care to enlighten me?”

“Is this where you ask me a question and I ask you one?” Mandy felt calmer now that she was arguing with him. She hadn’t argued often in her life; confrontation wasn’t her thing. It appeared she’d been missing out.

“Sure.” He lifted his fingers off the wheel briefly.

“My aunts are everything to me. I have no one else, and they helped me when I needed help.”

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