Page 12 of Sustain

Odd.

“Oh, my mistake,” the doctor says, cheeks flushing. “I just thought since... Never mind. The reason I ask is because almost all the roads are closing now, and the worst of the storm hasn’t even hit yet. You might be stuck here.”

My throat tightens, and my heart starts to race. I don’t want to be here any longer than I have to.

“I’m staying at the hotel way over near the airport,” I say, knowing almost instantly that it’s probably too far for me to get to. “There isn’t Uber or Lyft? Or something like that?”

The doctor shakes his head. “Unfortunately, even rideshare or taxis are going to be near impossible to find now. Besides, you wouldn’t want to be on the roads in these conditions. We’re all getting ready to hunker down for a few days.”

“Days?” Ian and I ask in unison again, but this time we don’t look at each other. The thought of being stuck here for another hour, let alone days, makes my stomach clench. Ian must be just as reluctant as I am about it, and I feel bad that I’ve put him in this position.

“It happens more than you’d think,” the doctor continues. “Tell you what, though. If you can find yourself a way out of here, I’m happy to release you. So long as you promise me you have someone to look after you.” He eyes Ian as he says this, and flashes a devilish smile before leaving.

The silence in the room once he’s gone is deafening. Things were already starting to get awkward between Ian and me before the ‘getting stranded’ topic even came up. Now it’s even worse.

“Let me make a few calls,” Ian says briskly without looking back as he walks out.

I watch as he goes, still in a bit of a daze at the entire situation. Forty-eight hours ago, I was snug and comfy in my LA apartment with a glass of red wine while video chatting with my best friend Chelsie. Now that seems like years ago. So much has happened since then.

My life has always happened fast. I barely have time to hold onto anything before the next thing is thrown at me, and the next destination is pinned. If I’m not planning the next level of success, I’m cleaning up the messes everyone else leaves behind. This broken leg is going to cause so many more problems. I can already feel my skin itch with the urge to start fixing things that haven’t even happened yet.

Before I can get too far down the rabbit hole that is my brain, Ian comes rushing back into the room, and he has one of my rescue team with him.

“Hey, so this is Billy. He’s got a snowcat and has very kindly offered to take us to my cabin, which isn’t that far from here.”

He speaks so quickly that I can barely keep up with what he says.

“You have a cabin?”

He pulls up and gives me an odd look. “Again, that’s what you took from that sentence?”

I think about it for a second, then turn to the medic, a stout older man with a white beard. He’d make a perfect department store Santa Claus. “Hi, Billy. Thank you for the ride offer.”

“No problem,” he says, glancing between Ian and me. “Happy to help.”

I’m about to ask if Billy can give me a ride to my hotel, but Ian starts talking before I can get the words out.

“No, he can’t take you to your hotel. I already asked.” He pats Billy’s shoulder.

“Sorry, I’ve got to get to my daughter’s house before the storm settles in,” Billy says apologetically. “But if we’re able to leave shortly, I can at least get you folks out of here and somewhere more comfortable.”

“Right. Let me go find that doctor about a release,” Ian says, heading out of the room again.

“I should go warm up the snowcat,” Billy says, putting his bright red woolen cap back on. “I’ll see you in a little bit.”

And, I’m suddenly left alone again. Things are at least happening, but they’re happeningwithoutme. I don’t like this feeling.

I’m not in control of anything.

eight

. . .

Fix You

Ian

After carrying Mackenzie inside the cabin and planting her safely on the couch, I run back out to the snowcat and grab her crutches.

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