After calling 9-1-1, I waited patiently with Mrs. Abernathy. I did everything possible to make her comfortable for the five minutes we waited together, including putting a pillow under her head, wiping up the urine around her, and even spraying air freshener, though she grumbled she really didn’t need it.
But when the hot paramedics walked through the door, I knew she was grateful I had cleaned up.
“Hurry!” she hissed. “Help me up.”
“That’s what the paramedics are here for,” I whispered.
The old woman narrowed her eyes at me. “You just want them for yourself. CPR Charlie is mine. Keep your paws to yourself!”
Gaping, I nearly snorted out a laugh as Charlie walked over, his face as bright as a tomato as he checked over Mrs. Abernathy.
“How are you feeling, Mrs. Abernathy?”
“Please, call me Agatha.”
I slapped a hand over my mouth and walked away, ducking into a corner where I could laugh in peace. Robert, the other paramedic, walked over to join me.
“Something funny?”
Biting back my laugh, I shook my head. “Not at all.”
“She’s got names for us all.”
“What’s yours?”
He cocked a smile at me. “Bandage Bob.”
If she had names for the paramedics, I couldn’t wait to hear what names she had for the doctors at the hospital.
After a good fifteen minutes of fussing over Mrs. Abernathy, they loaded her up on the stretcher to take her to the hospital. I grabbed a bag for her with some of her things and locked the door behind me.
“Here’s her bag,” I said, handing it over to Bandage Bob. “Don’t let her take advantage of you.”
He flushed bright red and slammed the back door.
Pulling my keys out of my purse, I headed back to the car when I felt like someone was watching me. I glanced behind me, and that’s when I saw it. Those heated eyes watching me.
Despite my anger, I raised my hand in a wave, but he disappeared just seconds later. It was as if I didn’t even exist.
39
JR
I wipedthe bar top down for the third time as I stared across the room at Josie, who was sitting with her brother and a group of friends. Laughing and drinking, she was having a great time.
And me…
I was in hell.
Anger at the way we’d left things still hummed under my skin, but there was something deeper than that rooting its way into every fiber of my body.
Regret.
“She’s not gonna come over here just because you’re glaring at her,” Archer said, tipping his mug toward me.
I ignored him and continued with my job.
“How many times are you gonna clean that exact spot?”
