Page 70 of Love's Harvest
“I will,” said Sarah, grateful to have something to do.
The four of them traveled slowly back to the cabin, where the ambulance was parked.
Following behind, Sarah kept her eye on the others.It was difficult to see Aaron, who was such an outdoorsman, moving like an old man.She still didn’t know everything that might be wrong with him.
When they got to the ambulance, one of the men said to her, “We’ll take him to Dr.Chambers Emergency Center, and he can decide whether the patient should be seen at a hospital.”
“Okay, I’ll meet you there.But first let me say goodbye to him.”
Aaron was sitting by the open back door of the Ambulance.He seemed dazed as she approached him.
“I’ll see you at Dr.Chambers’s office.”She looked into Aaron’s eyes and kissed him on the cheek.
While one of the men helped Aaron into the ambulance, Sarah raced inside the cabin to get her phone and purse, then hurried to her car.She felt as if her feet were made of lead.
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At the Emergency Center Emmett Chambers had set up at his office, Sarah stood in the waiting room, too upset to sit.She knew Aaron was alive and able to move and talk, but she couldn’t erase the scene of him lying in the snow from her mind.She needed to know if he’d have any side effects from the injury.And she couldn’t help wondering if he’d heard her say that she loved him and what that might mean if he only considered her a friend.Was he reconsidering their talk about a future together?
Crystal was working at the front desk saying goodbye to someone who’d come into the Emergency Center with a broken finger.A nurse was assisting Emmett as he checked over Aaron.
The creation of an Emergency Center was Emmett’s idea.He was often awakened in the night or disturbed at mealtime with one emergency after another, so he decided to expand his practice by hiring two additional nurses to help with coverage of all hours.By dividing coverage among them, it gave him more personal freedom and yet provided services when needed.Many of the so-called emergencies required the care of a nurse, not a doctor.Those that were more serious, Emmett took care of.
When Crystal was through with the mother and son she’d been working with, she came over to Sarah.“Are you okay?I heard Aaron’s arrival.”
Sarah started to speak, then stopped to catch her breath.Her heart was pounding so hard she could hardly speak.“It was so horrible.Aaron lying on the snow.It was almost like seeing Jesse all over again.”
Crystal studied her with sympathy and wrapped her arms around Sarah.“Why don’t you sit?What can I bring you to drink?Water?Coffee?Tea?”
“Water would be perfect, thank you.I just have to make sure Aaron is going to be okay.You know?”
“Yes,” said Crystal.“I understand.You and Aaron are close.”
Sarah held back fresh tears.They were so much more than just close.He was the soulmate she never should’ve left.
Emmett came to the doorway.“Sarah?Aaron wants to speak to you.”
“How is he?”Sarah asked.
“He’s going to be fine, but he’s had a serious blow to his head.I’ve stitched up the wound, but he says you’ll take care of him from here.I need to be sure that you can manage.”
Sarah followed Emmett into an examination room.
Aaron sat on an exam table and studied her with an apologetic look.“I hope you don’t mind keeping an eye on me like the doctor requested.”
“Of course not,” said Sarah, going to him and giving him a hug.She pulled away.“Does it hurt?Can you remember anything about the injury?”
Aaron shook his head.“No.Not until the EMTs were checking me over and then everything has been sort of foggy since then.Sorry I ruined the afternoon.”
“The important thing is that you’re okay.You scared me so.”Sarah glanced at Emmett.
As if he could read her mind, he gave her a look of understanding and quietly said, “This situation is very different from the one you had with your husband.”
“What is it that you need me to do?”Sarah asked Emmett.
“For the next several days, I need you to keep an eye on him.He’s had a concussion, and I want to be sure we didn’t miss anything.Effects are often short term and can include headaches and trouble with concentration, memory, balance, mood, and sleep.Aaron will need plenty of rest, and I don’t want him to be alone.I will prescribe medicine for the headaches, but we don’t like to over prescribe.”
“Okay,” said Sarah.“I can do this.Aaron can stay at my house when I leave the cabin tomorrow.And when I’m at the store, my daytime sitter can be available to be with him.”
