Page 22 of Love's Cure

The EMT ran back to the truck and returned with a white cloth to stem the flow of blood and a bag of equipment. “I’m going to take your blood pressure and check for other injuries. Let’s move around to the other side of the car. You can sit in the back.”

“My date was driving and says she’s fine, but I suspect she might have a bit of a whiplash because she’s complained of a sore neck,” Emmett explained.

The EMT glanced at Crystal. “We’ll check her out. I think it’s best to get you, sir, to a hospital to have your face and nose checked. The nearest hospital is in Portsmouth. We can take you there.”

“No sirens or fuss,” Emmett said.

The EMT studied Crystal. “How are you doing?”

“I’m shook up, but okay,” she answered honestly. “It’s Emmett I’m worried about.”

“That’s an unusual name,” the EMT said to him. “Are you Emmett Chambers, the new doctor at Lilac Lake?”

Emmett appeared surprised. “Yes.”

“I’ve heard excellent things about you. C’mon, let’s take a careful look at you, and then, when you guys are ready, we’ll drive you to Portsmouth Regional. They’ve got a good ER team there.”

A tow truck with the AAA logo on it pulled onto the verge across the road. He got out and made his way through stopped traffic to her.

Crystal explained that she wanted her car towed to the car dealership in Portsmouth. After taking care of the paperwork, she called her insurance agent, who was able to confirm that they’d pay a portion of renting a replacement car until hers was either repaired or declared a total loss.

She got permission from a policeman to leave the scene with Emmett, and she joined him as he conversed with the two EMTs.

“I’m ready,” she told Emmett. “I want to ride with you to the hospital to make sure you’re all right.”

“I’ll drive,” said one of the EMTs.

“I’ll get in the back of the ambulance with the two of you,” said the other. “We have to keep an eye on you both until we deliver you to the ER at Portsmouth Regional Hospital.”

“Of course,” said Emmett. “A required policy.” He stood, and Crystal watched as more broken glass rolled off his clothing and fell to the ground.

One of the EMTs tried to make sure Emmett’s clothing was free of the glass and then assisted him to the ambulance. As Crystal took Emmett’s other arm, she noticed a television crew filming the scene.

“Guess you made the news,” said one of the EMTs. He helped them into the back of the ambulance and took a seat in a chair opposite Emmett and Crystal sitting on a bench-shaped container that held supplies.

The ambulance pulled away from the accident scene.

At the memory of the truck hurtling toward them, a tremor shook Crystal’s body. She couldn’t control the shivering as she thought of what could have happened to them.

Beside her, Emmett was aware that she was trying to hold it together and clasped her hand for support.

“I’m sorry,” she told him. “I saw the truck coming but wasn’t able to do anything but warn you to hang on as it hit us.”

Emmett squeezed her fingers. “It was an accident. That kid shouldn’t have been driving so fast. We were stuck with nowhere to go. Don’t blame yourself.”

“But your face, your nose... Thank God, you didn’t get glass in your eyes.”

“I have a feeling I’m going to have a couple of black eyes because of the injury to my nose. If that’s the worst of it, I consider myself lucky.” He studied her. “How are you?”

“Okay. I’m starting to get a little stiff but nothing serious. It was a big jolt.”

“Yes, you might have to take it easy for the next couple of days,” he said.

She didn’t respond. She knew she’d be needed in the Café, just as Emmett would be required to be in his medical office.

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The EMTs deliveredthem to the emergency room at the hospital and bid them goodbye.

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