Page 86 of Wild Mistake
Several emergency personnel approach us and ask to look over my injuries, but each time they do I send them away. I’m not leaving Sarah’s side over a few cuts and scrapes.
“Aiden?” A man in a county fire uniform heads our way.
“Yeah.” I don’t recognize him at first, but when he steps closer I see it’s one of my old high school classmates.
“You broke the windshield and got the kid out?”
“Yeah.” I wasn’t sure in the moment if it was the right decision. I knew there was a risk that I could cause further harm by moving Gabe. But my gut demanded I take action, and now I’m glad I did. We wouldn’t be standing here having this conversation if I hadn’t. A shiver runs up my spine at the thought.
“Good work,” he says, giving me a nod. “We’re always recruiting if you are interested.”
“Oh, I’m not certified.” Of all the training I’ve done over the years, putting out fires and responding to emergencies is not something I’m proficient in. “I’m probably not the guy you’re looking for.”
“I beg to differ.” He flashes a curt smile. “Stop by the station sometime next week and we can chat. But no pressure. It’s definitely not for everyone.” He glances over his shoulder and nods toward the sky. “Won’t be long now. We’ll let you know where they’re taking him as soon as we can.”
“Thank you,” I say, and hug Sarah closer to my side. We’ll drive to the hospital immediately. I’ll have to take it slow because the roads are so bad. It’s the reason they called in the chopper instead of transporting Gabe by ambulance.
We’re all asked to move farther back as the helicopter lands. I hold on to Sarah’s hand as Gabe is loaded on a stretcher and into the waiting aircraft. Her body sags against mine as soon as they lift off into the sky. Her eyes are rimmed in red. She’s a ghost of the woman she was just an hour ago.
“Come on.” I wrap my arm around her waist and steer us toward my truck.
I glance around, hoping to make eye contact with someone who can tell us what hospital they’re flying Gabe to. I can’t imagine the agony Sarah’s experiencing. I want to take away her pain. I want to make this better. But the only thing I can do to offer her a sliver of peace is reunite her with her boy. So that’s what I’ll do.
The roads are so bad that it takes us over three hours to reach the hospital. We contact her parents, who offer to drive up with Parker, but I dissuade them. The last thing Sarah needs is more worry. Besides, the roads should be better in the morning. Sarah promises to check in with them as soon as we reach the hospital. It’s a heartbreaking conversation to witness. No one says the words, but we’re all scared of what comes next.
Sarah also calls her ex-husband. In hushed tones she relays the most basic of information. She doesn’t place the phone on speaker when she calls him, and while I can’t hear his exact words, I already know I hate what he says because he makes Sarah cry again.
The relief I feel when we pull into the hospital parking lot is short-lived. We find our way to a help desk and they direct us to a waiting room. We wait, and wait, and wait until I’m certain we’re both going to snap. Sarah checks in with the receptionist multiple times. She’s assured we’ll be informed as soon as possible. But the longer we’re stuck in this purgatory of a room, my hope for a positive outcome dims. It’s frustrating watching other families called up to speak with a doctor, or brought back to visit with their loved one.
I’m not sure what exactly I believe, but I pray to whomever will listen that Gabe makes it through this. He’s too young. He has his entire future ahead of him. But also, selfishly, I don’t want Sarah to lose him this way. Not tonight. Not after the way he left the diner.
Sarah’s gaze watches the set of secured double doors that leads to the patient rooms, but my gaze drifts around the room. A man bursts through the door. It’s Sarah’s ex. I recognize him from the few times I stalked her social media over the years.
“Hey,” I whisper to Sarah as I place my hand on her thigh and squeeze.
She glances up at the same moment Jake notices us.
I stand, offering her my hand because she looks so damn weak. She was already having a bad pain day. The trauma of the last few hours certainly hasn’t helped.
Jake storms over. His gaze zeros in on her hand holding mine and he doesn’t even try to mask his scowl. “What’s the latest? Have you talked to the doctors yet?”
“No.” Sarah’s voice is hoarse. “We haven’t talked to anyone yet.”
“Are you fucking kidding?” He bugs his eyes and glances over his shoulder. “Sarah, you can’t sit on your ass and wait for news. You have to demand it.”
“Hey.” I hold out a hand. My teeth grit together as I attempt, unsuccessfully, to calm myself. This fucking piece of shit. “Everyone is doing their job. Harassing the nursing staff isn’t going to earn you anything.”
He scoffs. “I wasn’t talking to you.”
“Jake.”
“Who the fuck is this?”
“Who the fuck am I?” I almost laugh.
“Stop it.” Sarah presses her fingers to her temples. “We’re not doing this right now.”
Her ex steps forward. He’s maybe an inch taller than me but I’m not intimidated by this ass clown. He puffs out his chest and gets in my face. “You have a problem with me?”
