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Chapter Forty-One

Josh

The ambulance took forever to arrive. I kept talking to Ness while we waited, telling her to be strong and hang on. She cried and whimpered a little but never fully broke down. She grew real drowsy near the end and about gave me heart failure when she wouldn’t respond. I struggled to find her pulse again and was about to start pounding her chest and doing CPR when I felt a faint beat. I kept my fingers against her neck and held my breath until I recognized a steady rhythm.

She woke shortly after that, just in time to hear the distant sound of sirens. I jumped up and waved my arms, warning the oncoming traffic of the crash. A police cruiser appeared first, pulling to the side of the road. A competent officer greeted me and quickly took charge. I was more than happy for him to do so. He spoke to me while he worked, asking me questions. I mumbled my replies, still feeling dazed as I hovered near Ness’s broken body.

Paramedics arrived about two minutes later, and I was shoved aside as they got to work. Although, they soon called me back, asking me to steady the bike while they freed her hand. She screamed when they finally yanked her fingers free. They were crushed beyond recognition, a mess of broken bone and skin.

My gag reflex kicked in and I fought the threatening nausea, turning away from the mangled appendage and squeezing my eyes tight.

“It’s okay, sweetheart. I know it hurts. We’re going to give you some medicine to take the pain away.” The paramedic had a calm voice that was soothing.

Ness’s breathing was still short and rapid as the other guy assessed her injuries. Together they gently removed her helmet, making sure her neck remained stable, and brushed the matted hair away from her face.

“Splint,” one of them murmured.

Snatching it off the stretcher, they wrapped it around her neck. As soon as it was secure, the male paramedic turned away to prep an IV line. Holding Ness’s arm steady, he slid the needle into her vein, patting her good arm gently before laying it down beside her trembling body. 

Ness looked so tiny sandwiched between them. I stood in awe of their efficient, emotionless manner. I was a quaking wreck, running my hands through my hair and pinching the back of my neck. I got to pacing pretty quickly, avoiding the other ambulance crew as they worked to free the dead man from his vehicle. My eyes scanned the bank, following the chatting officers as they tried to figure out what happened. Judging from the skid marks, I was guessing the truck hit the bank and rolled. Ness must have busted around the corner and not been able to stop in time, glancing off the side of the truck and flipping over it. I couldn’t figure out how her bike landed on her, but it didn’t even matter, did it? The truth was, it
had
landed on her, catching her hand and completely mangling it.

I stepped back from the bank, nearly crashing into one of the new officers that had arrived a few minutes earlier. He was setting up barriers around the accident. Thankfully, we were on one of the quietest roads in the area. Hardly anyone took these back roads to get from town to town. I only used them because I’d been living around there my whole life and I hated traffic.

“Okay, sweetie,” the female paramedic said. “We’re gonna lift you onto the stretcher and take you to the hospital now.”

I spun back to the paramedics and held my breath as they moved Ness, then wheeled the stretcher toward the open ambulance. I followed in their wake. “It’s okay, Ness. They’re gonna take good care of you.”

She lifted her good hand, reaching out for me. “Josh?”

“Sir, will you be traveling with her?” The paramedic caught my attention. She was waiting at the ambulance door while her cohort stepped up into the vehicle.

“I’ll follow in my truck,” I choked out the words. “Ness, I’m gonna follow in my truck. I’ll be right behind you!”

The paramedic nodded and slammed the doors closed before moving to the front of the ambulance.

I yanked out my keys and stumbled to my truck. The officer waved me through so I could follow the ambulance. They were moving at a fast clip, but I managed to keep up okay. I’d been to the hospital a few times before. Aunt Lindy had died there, and we’d visited daily leading up to her final breath. Memories taunted me, eating at my brain and making me weak.

Ness couldn’t die. She wasn’t allowed to go out like that, not with a burned heart and all.

She deserved to find her happiness before leaving this earth.

It wasn’t fair.

It should have been that jackass Jimmy lying on the road, not sweet Ness. Not the girl who was trying to move on.

We’d made a pact the night before to mend our burned hearts and move forward. She still had things to do on this planet.

I wasn’t much of a praying man. I usually left that up to my aunt and uncle, but in that truck, rushing after that ambulance, it was all I could do.

I was fair begging God to save her by the time we pulled into the hospital parking lot.

That girl had to live.

I don’t know why I was feeling it so bad. I ran toward that emergency room like it was my own flesh and blood being taken in there. Most likely, it was the idea that I’d just lost Rachel, and I couldn’t handle losing anyone else…not even a girl I barely knew.

Chapter Forty-Two

Josh

My knee bobbed like a jackhammer as I sat in that hospital waiting area. It took an eternity for anyone to come out and give me an update. I’d already argued with the nurse at reception twice, but I wasn’t family, and she stayed tight-lipped over anything to do with Ness.

Glancing at my watch, I figured I wouldn’t make it back in time for opening, so I pulled out my phone with a sigh and called Melody.

“Hey, Josh.” Her answer was bright and sparkly as usual.

“Hi, Mel. Listen, I’m caught up with something. Could you open up for me today? I’ll hopefully be back in time for the evening rush.”

“No problem. Everything okay?”

“Sure. Just fine.” I nodded. I couldn’t let on. Mel’s heart was softer than pillow fluff. She’d hate the idea of some young girl in a bad accident…even if she didn’t know her.

“Okay, well, if you need me.”

I was nodding and about to say thanks when I saw a tired-looking doctor walking into the waiting area.

“I gotta go.” I hung up and stood, towering over the lady in her green scrubs.

She gave me a curious look before indicating I sit again.

I reluctantly slumped back into my chair. She perched on the edge of the one next to me and introduced herself. “I’m Doctor Kennedy. Are you the guy who’s here for Vanessa Sloan?”

“Ness. The bike accident victim.”

“Ness.” The doctor nodded. “How well do you know her?”

“She was in my bar last night. Not drinking or anything.” I had to clarify that one. There was no way I wanted her getting any kind of blame for the accident. “That’s the first time I met her, and then I found her on the road. Is she okay?”

The doctor made a face that told me she wasn’t.

“She’s still alive though, right?”

“Yes.” The woman pressed her lips together. “We did everything we could in surgery. She’s in post-op, and I’m confident she’ll make a full recovery.”

“Her hand?” I croaked, remembering the mangled digits on her left hand.

Dr. Kennedy’s sad expression made me close my eyes and whisper, “No.”

“I tried my best, but it was crushed beyond saving. I had to amputate just above the wrist. She didn’t take the news very well, but thankfully for her, the pain meds are making her pretty drowsy. It’s helping her remain calm.”

“She was a drummer.” My voice quaked, my airwaves thick with emotion.

The surgeon closed her eyes, obviously upset by my news. “She’ll learn to adapt.”

I shook my head, my jaw working to the side as I tried to hold back my anger and grief. A nurse bustled past us, her shoes squeaking on the shiny floor. I watched her wide hips swishing from side to side as she barreled down the hallway.

“What’s your name, sir?”

“Josh.” I sat up a little straighter. “Joshua Clark.”

Her head tipped to the side. “You don’t own Clark’s Bar in Payton, do you?”

I nodded, trying not to get distracted by the call for a “Doctor Matthews to ER” over the PA system.

The doctor next to me smiled. “My daddy drinks there all the time. Daniel Kennedy.”

“Ol’ Dan.” I grinned. “We love him.”

The connection obviously softened her toward me, because she nestled back in the seat and turned to face me more openly.

“The girl, Ness, we’re struggling to find an emergency contact. Her driver’s license says Vanessa Sloan, but the only next of kin information we can find is a dead grandmother in Chicago. Her phone was crushed in the accident and isn’t working. She’s not saying a word either.”

“Well, maybe she doesn’t want to be found.”

“She needs someone who cares about her. This is an extremely traumatic time, and her stubbornness is doing her no favors. Whether she wants the support or not, she
needs
it. Please, can you help us out?”

I leaned back in my chair, battling to decide where my loyalties lay. If I was in a hospital bed facing a grim future, would I want someone to call Rachel?

The answer was a whisper in my brain, but definitely loud enough to hear.

“Jimmy,” I muttered. “She’s in love with a guy called Jimmy. They play in a band together.” My knee bobbed again, my mind racing to remember the rest. “They just won a competition in LA. Shock something. I can’t remember.” I winced, hating that I hadn’t retained more of the information.

“Shock and band. We can try Googling that.”

“Chaos.” I clicked my fingers. “Her band’s name is Chaos.”

“Thank you.” Dr. Kennedy smiled. “That’s really helpful.”

She lightly squeezed my shoulder and stood to leave me.

“Can I see her?”

The doctor paused, her thin lips pursing as she gazed down at me. “I’m not really supposed to let you in. You’re not family.”

“But she doesn’t have anyone right now.”

“Which is why I’m going to say yes, but don’t be telling anybody.” She pointed at me.

I rose and quietly followed her into the post-op unit. I hoped I could handle it. My stomach was in knots, and it plummeted down to my shoes when the doctor pulled back a curtain and I got my first look at Ness.

Her skin was pale, her lips barely pink. Greasy hair covered the pillow beneath her, although it had been arranged to one side. A tube was attached to her hand and connected to a machine beside her. I assumed that was the morphine, keeping the excruciating pain at bay.

My gaze roved her body, which looked small in the cumbersome hospital bed, and I had to bite my lips together when I noticed the white-bandaged stump on her left arm. Tears burned my eyes but I didn’t let them fall, putting on a brave face as her eyes fluttered open.

“Hey.” I smiled, lifting my hand in a feeble greeting.

“Hi.” Her voice was dead and doused with sorrow.

I sat down on the seat beside her bed and gently collected up the fingers of her right hand.

She didn’t say anything, just looked at our hands linked together and blinked real slowly.

I didn’t know what to say to make it better. There wasn’t anything I could do but sit there and hold her hand. After a space of silence that was long and painful, her eyelids fluttered closed and sweet oblivion captured her. It was a small mercy.

I remained where I was, gently rubbing the back of her hand with my thumb and praying she’d make it through.

I sat there until my backside was numb, but didn’t budge until a nurse came through well after dark.

“Josh, right?”

I turned and nodded at the tall redhead. She had a kind smile and freckles splattered across her nose.

“You really need to get home. Get yourself some rest. We’ll look after her for you.”

Glancing at my watch, I saw that it was well past the busy rush and felt bad I hadn’t showed up like I said I would. I’d probably make it for the last hour if I drove fast enough. With a sigh, I stood from my spot. I’d make it up to Mel by letting her leave early and dealing with close-up myself.

I gazed down at Ness, so slight in the big bed, and whispered, “I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”

The nurse smiled at me. “You don’t—”

“I’ll be back.” I looked at the nurse.

Pressing her lips together, she stepped aside to let me pass. “We managed to reach Jimmy a few minutes ago. He’s on his way.”

I stopped at the curtain, relieved by the news…and also not. I hoped she wasn’t mad at me for giving away that information, but the doc was right. No one should have to suffer an accident like that alone. At the end of the day, she still loved Jimmy, and maybe having to take care of her would make him fall in love with her, too.

“That’s good,” I murmured, “but I’m still coming back.”

“I know.” Her soft smile relieved me some. I didn’t want to have to fight my way back in.

But there was no way in Hades I was letting Ness endure the night alone.