Page 8 of Confined Space

"Originally, I'm from Alabama. I moved to LA almost three years ago," she says quietly.

"My parents lived in Phoenix when I was born.” I pause to see if she’ll say more, but she waits for me to continue. “Like I said before, I used to live in Texas. My best friend and I were stationed at Fort Hood. Marco is from New York, and his wife was from Arkansas. Your accent reminds me of hers."

"When I was deciding to move, it was between staying back in Cali but moving out of LA or moving somewhere new. I even thought about going to the East Coast. I can’t wait to see snow and thought this would be a good place to raise Archer. I didn't want to go back to Alabama. Plus, the hospital offered me a good contract."

That ache in my chest is there again. I want to rub it, but I can't let go of her hand that she gave back to me, and my other hand is holding the tarp away from her head.

"So you chose here?"

"Yeah. I took the job at the hospital, and when I saw the pictures of the town, I knew it was the place for us."

"What about your family?"

Again, her body tightens up.

"You don't need to answer that, Coral. How about favorite music?" This is almost like being on a date with all the questions.

"Okay, Rowdy, we are ready!" one of my teammates says as he lifts the tarp. Our little bubble is popped, and we are thrust back into the present.

"Alright, Coral, they are going to remove the roof, then we are going to get you out of here. You and Archer will go to the hospital." As I say the words, I'm worried about her being away from me, but I have to stay on the scene until the police release it. I have a job to do.

"My car is destroyed, isn't it?" she says.

"Yeah, Mouse, it is." I don't know where the term of endearment comes from, but it's right there.

She ignores it and I'm glad. I hear the team count off and then the roof is lifted and moved away. Then they pull back the tarp. I stand and take the longer backboard as it's handed in. The paramedic from the ambulance climbs in next to me and checks Coral's vitals again. We proceed to break her seat and then gently lay her back on the board. Once she’s strapped in, we lift her up. She's so tiny lying on the standard size board. She could have been killed from the impact. Both of them could have died. Her arm is temporarily braced, then we move her over to the ambulance.

Her lush little body is only covered in a pair of torn up cutoff shorts that I'd like to ban but show her shapely, muscular legs. She's wearing cowboy boots and a no longer white fringed belly shirt. The only jewelry she has on is a necklace. Nothing else.

"Blanket." I grit my teeth, wanting to cover her exposed flesh.

"I need to check her first, Lieutenant Murphy," the medic says as we set her down on the gurney. As they are checking her over, my mother steps up with a little baby in a pair of baby jeans, cream striped shirt, and matching hat that has a knot in the top. The little guy has a pacifier in his face, but he's looking around calmly from my mother's arms. He focuses on me, and his bright blue-gray eyes like his mother's look back at me. I turn to look back at Coral and find her looking at me then to her son. More tears flow from her eyes, and again the urge to make them stop overcomes me. The feeling almost takes me to my knees, it's so strong.

"Archer." She chokes on his name, and he cries. I turn back and see he's looking toward where she is lying on the gurney. She tries to reach for him, but with the straps holding her down, she can't move.

"Calm down," one of the medics says harshly to her. I step up to her side and lean down toward her.

"It's okay, Coral. He'll be going with you to get checked over, but he's doing good. See?" I direct my mom to bring him closer.

"Do you remember me, Coral?" my mom says as she leans down so Coral can see that Archer is fine.

"He doesn't have a scratch on him. It's a miracle," Coral says.

"It is. He's just upset you aren't holding him. I guess he's going to want to nurse soon."

Coral's eyes flip over toward the car. "There is a bottle of pumped breast milk in his bag. Can someone grab it, and my bag too?"

"I'll have them brought to the hospital for you." I look at Palin, and he goes to grab them both.

"Thank you, Rowdy, and you too, JoAnna," Coral says. More tears flow from her eyes as they load her into the ambulance. My mom hands Archer over to one of the other medics, and they close the doors. I watch as they leave, my eyes focused on her face as she stares back at me. I wanted to kiss her forehead and tell her I'd see her soon, but I couldn’t.

"Rowdy, did you hear me?" my mom questions from next to me.

"Um, what?" I turn to look at her.

She chuckles and shakes her head. "How about I head to the hospital after I finish with the police to check on them for you?" She offers and I want to say yes, but I don't.

"Nah, that's okay. Go give your statement then head home."

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