Chapter 10
Jessie
Hannah laughs next to me as an EMT flirts with her. This is the second time our local EMS has brought someone in today, and he can’t take his eyes off her. It’s cute.
I round the corner of the nurses’ station to check on my patient who is waiting to be seen by the doctor.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, but I silence it.
We aren’t technically supposed to have them on the floor, but it’s been slow today other than the two patients EMS brought in and one elderly man who most likely has gout.
It vibrates again as I visit with my patient. When it goes off for the third time, I exit the curtained room and pull it out. Trey is calling. He knows I’m at work. What could he have possibly done now?
“What, Trey? I’m at work,” I whisper-hiss.
“Dot called me. She fell. I’m on my way now.” I stop so quickly, my shoes squeak on the title floor. The missed calls—they were her. “She said she’s okay but needs help getting up. She’s in the backyard.”
“O–okay. I’ll be there as fast I can. But she said she’s okay? Does she need an ambulance?”
“She said no, she’s okay. She just doesn’t have anything to help her up.”
“Okay, I’ll meet you there.” Trying not to panic, I quickly fill Hannah in on what’s going on, and she notifies our on-call nurse.
She can handle the three patients by herself until someone else arrives.
I grab my bag from the locker room, and I’m on the road in under five minutes.
I speed to Gran’s house trying not to imagine the worst-case scenario the whole drive.
I haven’t heard from Trey again, so she must be okay.
She has to be okay.
I throw my car in park and bail out all in one motion, leaving my bag, taking only my phone. I jog toward the backyard. Gran is sitting in a patio chair, and Trey’s on one knee next to her, handing her a glass of water.
“Gran!”
They both look my way, and Trey stands.
“I’m alright, dear. You didn’t need to leave work. I should’ve called Trey first.”
“No, you should not have. I’m so sorry I missed your calls. I was with a patient.” I bend down in front of her, looking her over for any signs of injury. “How did you fall? Does anything hurt? What’s your pain level on a scale of one to ten? Did you hit your head?”
“One question at a time.” She breathes out a laugh.
“I’m perfectly fine, nothing hurts, and I didn’t hit my head.
The hole in the yard there tripped me, and down I went.
I would’ve been fine on my own if there were something nearby to help me up.
It’s a good thing I had my cell phone with me, or it would’ve made for a long afternoon out here. ”
“She was sitting up when I got here, and I got her in the chair right before you pulled in.”
“I will say, being rescued by a strapping young lad like you isn’t anything to complain about.”
I give her a look. “Okay, well, I still want to check you out and make sure you’re okay.”
Trey suppresses a laugh by clearing his throat. “How about we go inside, Dot?” he suggests.
Gran hands me her water, and Trey helps her stand. She holds onto his arm as they walk inside.
“Edward and I used to ice skate while holding arms like this. Neither of us was any good at it, but we’d try every winter for years.”
“I’m from the South, so I’ve never tried ice skating. Maybe that’s something I need to do my first winter in Colorado.”
“Jessie knows how, and she can teach you.”
I have to fight the urge to scoff. Trey has a list of women a mile long he could take ice skating. It will not be me.
Trey leads Gran to the table where she sits and lets me look her over and ask a few more questions.
She’s slightly dehydrated, but overall unharmed.
It’s not long before she’s feeling tired and moves to her chair in the living room.
I watch her chat with Trey for several minutes while I process the day.
Gran fell.
She couldn’t get up.
She’s aging right before my eyes. The years are starting to show as she loses strength and stamina. She’s less steady on her feet and has even cut back on her cooking and baking because it wears her out.
I turn, cutting across the kitchen, exiting the back door.
I need fresh air.
I walk into the yard, breaths coming quicker.
She’s okay. She’s okay, I repeat to myself. Trying and failing to slow my panicked breathing. The texts waiting on my phone don’t help my frantic state.
Daryl
Leaving work early doesn’t pay the bills.
Daryl
I’ll be stopping by.
How does he know I left early?
Breathing deeply, I try to pinpoint when my life changed, how I got to this point. There was a time when I was carefree, outgoing, and happy. Where did that girl go? Now, Gran is aging too fast, and Daryl lurks around every corner.
A warm hand touches my shoulder, and I jump. I lock my phone and whip around to face him.
“Jessie, are you okay?”
I shake my head, tears welling now.
Trey doesn’t say a word. He pulls me in for a hug. I don’t think he’s ever touched me like this. There isn’t anything sexual about it, it’s just . . . comforting. He’s been here for me on a day that could’ve been much, much worse. Having him here to help is honestly a relief.
“She’s okay now. You’re okay,” he says, arms still wrapped around me.
I release him and wipe the tears away, pulling myself together. “She’s okay this time. This is the first time something like this has happened, but she’s aging, Trey. And I can’t stop it.”
“No, you can’t. But you don’t have to do this alone.”
“You don’t understand, without her, I am alone. It’s her and me—it always has been.”
“That’s not true. I haven’t lived here very long, and even I can see you have people who care about both of you who can help. Let me help, Jessie.”
“I can’t ask you—”
“You’re not asking. I’m offering. I enjoy spending time with her and working on projects around here. Honestly, it’s your house or Dot’s, so take your pick. It’s no hindrance to me, and I’m happy to do it.”
“Spell hindrance.”
He narrows his eyes.
I smile sweetly up at him. I should agree, I know I should. With the hours I work, I can’t always be here. Having Trey around until he leaves isn’t a bad thing. “Alright, alright. Thank you. For answering, for being here, all of it.”
“Of course.”
“Seriously, Trey, I mean it. You dropped everything, and you barely even know us. Thank you.”
He smirks. “Dot and I have become great friends. And as far as you and I are concerned, I’ve tried so hard to get to know you intimately.” He winks.
I can’t contain my laugh. I shove his shoulder as I walk past. “In your dreams.”
“Every night, Hawkins. Every night.”