Page 16 of Secrets Bared
“I’ll call the ambulance,” Maggie pulled out her phone.
“No! Lord, girly, the bill will kill me.” Deb wiped her brow, then handed her phone over. “Call my son, Luke.”
“Luke?” Maggie asked as she took the phone. “I thought your son was Aaron.” He came in once in a while to get food with his friends.
“That’s my younger son. My older one is in town visiting. Just got in a few days ago.” She sighed. “I can count on him to come get me.”
Maggie’s brows furrowed, but she did as she was told, dialing the number on Deb’s unlocked phone. It rang a few times, then the call picked up.
“Mom? What’s up?”
Oh my. When she said older, she definitely meantolder. Aaron was only eighteen, but this guy sounded like he was Maggie’s age, with a voice like butter. Maggie gulped as she tried to focus. “Um, hi, my name is Maggie and I work for your mom. She fell taking the garbage out and —”
“Is she okay?” The concern in his voice was almost foreign to her. When had someone ever sounded that upsetforher, instead ofather?
“Well, yes, but her ankle’s swollen and she can’t put weight on it. I offered to call an ambulance, but she asked me to call you instead.”
“I’ll be there in five minutes.”
“Thank you.” Maggie blinked at the phone, the connection broken. He’d hung up on her. Well, seeing as how the swelling wasn’t getting any better, he was right to hurry.
“He’s on his way.” Maggie handed the phone over to Deb. “Why did you want me to call him?”
“Cause if he talked to me, he’d fuss, and I’d rather put that off as long as possible,” Deb smirked. “Even if it’s only five minutes.”
Lukehungupthephone and looked at the gamers sitting around the table. “I gotta go, I’m so sorry.”
Felix’s brows drew together in concern. “What happened?”
“Mom fell at work, that was her new server. She says she needs the hospital but won’t call an ambulance.” Even as he spoke,Luke was sliding his leather coat on over his shoulders. “I’ll catch you guys next week.”
His best friend caught onto his sleeve before he could bolt from Underhill Books and Games. “Let me know if you need anything, I’m right next door.”
Luke nodded his thanks and pounded up the stairs to the main shop floor. Felix had only locked the door from the outside, so he let himself out and sprinted to his car. On a normal night, he’d walk to the diner from the game store, but with Mom unable to bear weight on her leg he’d need the car close by.
He drove around the mall, the green space in the center of town with their namesake tree in the center, to get to The Busy Bee. Parking directly outside the front door, he turned his flashers on and hurried inside.
Mom was sitting in a booth along the wall, her gray head just visible over the back. “Mom?”
“I’m here, Luke!” She waved her arm, and he dodged the tables with their chairs flipped up as he jogged to her.
“What happened?”
“I slipped on black ice in the alley taking the garbage out.” Mom’s utter disgust with the situation dripped from her words. “Oh, Luke, this is Maggie, my new girl.” She waved to the other side of the booth. “Maggie, my oldest, Luke.”
“Hello.”
Luke turned, not having realized Mom wasn’t sitting alone. Across the table, her black puffer coat on her shoulders, sat not a girl, but a woman. Bright red hair down to her shoulders haloed Maggie’s round, ivory face, green eyes like emeralds sparkling out at him. Plump, rosy lips sat beneath a delicate, upturned nose. Before his mother could remind him of his manners, he stretched his right hand in her direction. “Pleased to meet you.”
She shook his hand, and he felt a tingle when she touched him. “Wish it were under better circumstances.”
Luke flexed his hand as they parted. There must be some winter static in the air. “Thank you for helping my mom.”
Maggie graced him with a small smile. “Of course. Your mom’s a lovely lady.” She looked at him and then at Deb. “Do you want me to help you to the car?”
“I can—”
“That’d be great, Maggie. If I try to lean on this one, I’ll dislocate my shoulder.”
