We hiked to the access point as quickly as our feet could carry us. Gina tried her phone again. Worked this time.
She had a brief conversation I wasn’t listening to. I couldn’t focus on anything. Nothing but the woman in my arms.
She hung up and looked at Blake. “She said we shouldn’t have moved her.”
“The dispatcher?”
“Yeah, but said now that we already have, get her to the access point and lay her flat.”
I froze. Were my hands hurting her more? Why wasn’t Fray here, too? He’d know exactly what to do and not do. I hoped we weren’t making any fatal errors.
I love Jules so much. I can’t lose her.
“You want me to take her for a minute, Pat?” Blake offered to relieve me.
I wanted her as close to me as possible. “No way.”
We hiked in silence for a few minutes, finally arriving on the gravel lot. I knelt, easing her onto the ground. I shrugged out of my coat and tucked it around her body. A futile attempt to keep her from freezing to death. Gina checked for her pulse again.
She sighed with relief and her voice wobbled. “Guys, she’s still got a pulse. That’s really good.” She stroked Jules’ hair as a tear leaked out of her eye.
I clasped my hands around Jules’ hands. Mine were shaking out of control. Lifted her hand and kissed it.
Gina watched. Her dark eyes took in the action then stared straight into mine. “She dumped you didn’t she?”
I nodded.
“It’s obvious you’re crazy about her,” her voice cracked.
“I was trying to propose when she left.”
Gina frowned and shook her head. “Iknewit wasn’t peaceful.”
I didn’t know what she meant, but I definitely agreed. Nothing about that night—or any night since—was peaceful.
Gina hopped up and paced back and forth, her brow knitted with worry. She murmured to herself. I only heard glimpses of what she said. Most of it was in Spanish. “...why did she do this?”
I couldn’t tear my eyes off of Jules’ face. I loved her so much. Must’ve told her a dozen times while we sat there, waiting.
Faint sirens mingled with the distant crash of water.
“We need a plan,” Blake said.
We quickly decided Gina and Blake would stay behind and try to find the spare key Jules kept under her car and drive both vehicles to the hospital. I’d ride with Jules in the ambulance if they’d let me.
There was nothing we could do about her kayak.
The ambulance pulled in, and paramedics rushed out of the truck.
Gina and Blake did all the question answering, and I did all the praying.
FIFTY-FIVE
Julia
Awareness faded in.
A cocoon of warmth enveloped me. There was a pillow under my head and a soft blanket tucked around me. Something scratched my face. I wanted to touch it, but I couldn’t move my arms.
