Page 85 of Wild Mistake
“Are you okay?” Someone touches my arm.
The physical connection snaps me to the present and my stomach lurches. I turn to the side and hunch over, and vomit splatters onto the ground.
“We need everyone to get back!” Someone in a county sheriff’s uniform says. “If these are your vehicles, please grab the keys so we can direct you out. We need this lot cleared in the next five minutes.
Five minutes? I don’t understand. I glance to where my car is engulfed in flames. Firefighters descend and work quickly.
“Sarah!” Aiden calls my name, his eyes searching for me through the chaos.
I walk toward him but fear coils in my belly. I’m not sure I want to know what he has to say.
“Sarah!” His eyes fill with relief as he meets my gaze. His steps are steady, but my heart breaks at the cuts and scrapes all over his hands and face. Blood is smeared everywhere, but the deep patch on his chest almost sends me to my knees.
“Hey.” Aiden’s arms come around my body. “I’ve got you.”
“Is he—?” The question gets caught in my throat. I’m not brave enough to voice what I fear is happening.
Aiden pulls back and meets my gaze. “The roads are too icy. They’re going to airlift him to the nearest trauma center.”
He’s alive. The thought loosens the band around my chest. They wouldn’t transport someone if they didn’t think they had a fighting chance. But I can’t erase the image of his limp body being pulled from the wreckage.
Please, Universe. Please let him be okay.
31
ONE MONTH UNTIL AIDEN RETURNS
Dear Aiden,
One month and you’re all mine!! Can you believe it? Hundreds of letters, hours of phone calls, not nearly enough visits, thousands of miles and three long years, but we made it!
I cannot wait to start planning our wedding. I don’t want to wait, either. I don’t need a big or fancy celebration. We’ve been apart long enough. The only thing that matters is becoming your wife and starting the future we planned.
Anyway, things here are about the same. I’ve been working lots of hours at the diner. Marnie’s letting me take on some extra responsibilities. Last week she had me drive to Show Low to pick up food from our supplier. I stopped into a few of the thrift shops and found the perfect wedding dress. It’s not white though and I wasn’t sure if that mattered to you? It’s this beautiful burnt orange. Reminds me of sunsets at the ranch and I was thinking maybe we could get married right as the sun was going down? It’s a fall color too, so we could do October or November. Wouldn’t that be perfect? If it’s still there next week when I go back, I’m going to pick it up. That’ll be my sign it was meant to be!
Did Ryan tell you he started dating someone? She graduated your year and she’s okay, I guess. It’s weird seeing him with anyone other than Val. It’s nice to see him happy, though. If they’re still dating when we get married, I’m thinking I should ask her to be one of my bridesmaids. I guess I should get to know her better!
Counting down the days until I call you my husband!
Love you forever,
Sarah
32
AIDEN
PRESENT DAY
Highway Patrol arriveson the scene and moves everyone back. Gabe is unconscious, but from what I can observe he’s breathing and has a pulse. From my experience in war zones, that’s a good sign. I hold on to that hope.
I’ve flirted with death before, but tonight was close. Too close.
Sarah won’t stop shivering but I don’t think it’s from the cold. Someone brought her a coat. Someone else hands us both cups of hot tea. The kitchen crew from the diner comes out to bring her personal items and assure us they’ll close and lock up. I appreciate the gesture, but nothing dulls the growing anxiety that fills my gut as we wait for the helicopter to arrive.
What’s taking so fucking long?
Sarah doesn’t say a word, but she doesn’t need to. I feel her fear with each passing second. Her gaze bounces between the huddle of EMTs attending to Gabe and the fire crew working to put out the flames.
