I shook her again. “Sailor?”
“What’s wrong?” Dad asked, his voice thin and hoarse as he leaned over the side of his bed.
“I don’t know yet.”
“I’ve called it in,” Bedford informed me.
“To the usual people?” I confirmed.
He nodded, and I returned my attention to Sailor. Squatting beside her, I picked her up and carried her to the desk. Once I’d laid her out on it, I put my ear to her mouth to listen for breath sounds.
“Is she alive?” Dad asked, sounding more worried about her than himself.
“Yes,” I responded, “but don’t you dare get up. Just because you’re awake doesn't mean you aren't injured.” I considered the same about myself, wondering if adrenaline was covering for any injuries.
“Thank God Gio took Vicki out to lunch.”
I had to agree with that statement. Sailor was breathing, though her chest only rose shallowly each time. It should be me who was unconscious. At least she’d know what to do to fix me.
“The ambulance is coming,” Bedford said, then he sat in an armchair.
“How are you?” I asked him.
“Had the wind knocked out of me, but I think I’m okay.”
There were no sirens when the ambulance arrived. We used a private company, and they knew better than to announce themselves to the world.
Besides, the crater in the side of the house would do that by itself.
“What’s wrong with her?” my father asked five seconds after they’d arrived.
“Too soon to tell, but it appears something struck her in the head.”
As the adrenaline wore off, I felt shaky and sick to my stomach. Obviously, I was making Dad go to the hospital with Sailor, but I was smart enough to ride with them.
“Charles, do you need to come, too?”
Our butler smiled at Dad. He’d worked with us for so long that they were more like friends. “I’ll catch the next one.”
Touching his shoulder as I walked beside the gurney, I told him not to be a tough guy. “Even I’m getting checked out.”
The ride was blessedly quick, but then I was separated from them both. To be safe, I was poked, prodded, and imaged. Only once they’d declared I would live did they let me go find my father.
“I inhaled too much of the crap falling off the ceiling,” he said as soon as I entered the room. “And without Sailor to come see me every day, they’ve insisted I stay here for constant monitoring.”
I didn't want to rub salt in his wounds, so I gave him an awkward leaning hug. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“Have you checked on her yet?”
“No, I came to see you first.” Seeing the look in his eyes, I added, “But of course I’ll go now.”
“Tell me as soon as you know.”
“Yes, sir.”
I had to ask where she was, and then they told me I wasn’t allowed to see her because we’re not family.
“Well, she hasn't got any, so I guess I’m the closest thing.”
