Page 10 of A Rose of Steel
“I am a doctor,” I said. “But not the one tending to your friend, in case you were worried about him.” I raised an eyebrow.
He licked his lips and glanced back at Piper. “I am worried about him,” he said. “I was thinking if you were up here, he must be okay back there and we were getting ready to start the wedding. That’s why I came over to speak with you.”
“He’s going to go to the hospital,” I said. “The wedding probably won’t be today.” I guessed the Belles hadn’t made it over to him yet either to give the news.
“Oh,” he said and licked his lips again. He rubbed his hand over his butch haircut. “He’s going to be okay though, right?”
“Everything that can be done for him here is being done. His mom is at the house—in the back, pretty upset,” I added. “And the bride.” I leaned to the side to look past him at Piper.
“Oh yeah. We know. I don’t really know anybody,” he said. “So I just thought I’d stay up here out of the way.
Just as I was about to respond, I saw a flash of red in my periphery. “Excuse me,” I said. “I think I see the ambulance.” I started to walk away and then turned back to him. “Maybe you and Piper can help me make sure the paramedics have a clear path to the back?”
“Sure,” he said and shrugged.
Some best man...
Chapter Five
“Surprise,” Alexander Hale, M.D. and new Roble hero, said. He jumped off the back of the ambulance and walked over to me with his low held arms outstretched. His light blue shirt unbuttoned at the neck was tucked inside a pair of gray slacks. His sleeves rolled up, his hands were sweating from being inside latex gloves. He had a mischievous grin on his face and that sparkle that had made me fall for him the first time I’d laid eyes on him.
All had calmed down. Their faces intense and not uttering a word, the paramedics arrived, wended their way through all the congestion, took a report from Alex on his condition and were now whisking Groom Bumper Hackett off to the Sabine County Hospital without one guest or vehicle getting in the way or trampled. Bumper looked bad strapped to that bed, CPR halted, they’d attached an IV and brushed his damp hair off his still sweat-laden face.
The EMS workers let the itinerate Dr. Hale intubate Bumper in the back of the emergency van before they left. Luckily that gave Bumper’s father enough time to make it to the house, and he and Mrs. Hackett, driven by Boone because there were too shaken, followed behind in that green Saturn.
We were standing in the front yard, most of the wedding attendees leaving after the ambulance arrived. Only a few stragglers were hanging out. As Alex passed the loiterers, making his way to me, a few patted him on the back, mumbling their thanks for the good deed done.
Auntie’s funeral home staff and the Roble Belles stood in a group, speaking low, concern etched in their faces as they watched the ambulance speed away, red lights flashing and siren wailing. But after Alex came my way, so did all of their attention.
“Alex,” I said the one word in a whisper, my breath getting caught in the back of my throat. I guess I hadn’t yet overcome the shock of seeing him. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to see you,” he said. “Wandered toward the back with the stream of people when I arrived and found a wedding going on. Kind of stopped me in my tracks, though.” He looked at me. “I was hoping it wasn’t you getting married.”
“If you kept up with me better,” I said. “You wouldn’t have to hope it wasn’t. You’d know.”
He hugged me then stepped back and looked at me. “You look different,” he said, not acknowledging my grumbling. “Your hair? It’s all... fluffy.”
The humidity in Texas had taken its toll on my hair. Back in Chicago, I kept it straight as a rod. I didn’t put chemicals in my hair—no need after flat irons became so efficient. Long, black, silky, it often fell in my face and swung with every head movement. But my natural ‘do was curly and wild. Texas brought out the real me.
I ran my hand over my hair to try to flatten it.
“And are you wearing a darker shade of make-up?” He ran his finger down my face.
I took in a breath. I wasn’t even wearing make-up, something I wouldn’t ever do in Chicago.
“It’s a tan.” Auntie Zanne was good at making awkward moments even more so. She walked over, her motley crew trailing behind. “Lots of sun down here in these parts.” She tweaked up the twang.
“It’s a good thing you came along,” Flannery Poole said, interjecting, unknowingly saving me. She slid up next to Auntie Zanne and put her hand on Alex’s arm. She gave him a Southern welcome smile.
“Good thing, indeed. I think I may have saved the day,” Alex said.
“Romaine could have taken care of it,” Auntie Zanne said.
I smiled. “Good thing you did.” I ignored Auntie’s comment. “It is good to see you,” I said.
He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close. It seemed as if I’d passed his inspection and now he acted as if we were the only two in the yard. “I’ve missed you,” he said.
“What’s that on your lips?” I said and pointed.
