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.She needed to call Rick.Find out where he was and try rebuild what she had so foolishly broken down.As Becky dialed his number, she glanced at the notes he had left behind.The fateful interview.Yes, it still mattered, but obviously it also mattered to Rick.And in spite of how she felt about Jake’s confidences, Rick had a point.Jake held a public office and as such, his private character was as much a part of that as his public one.But how could she be fair and just at the same time?Rick’s answering machine picked up.“Please pick up, Rick, if you’re listening.I’m sorry I got so angry.Phone me on my cell phone.Please.” She didn’t care that she sounded like she was begging.As she tried his cell phone, her heart started up.It rang six times, each ring sinking her spirits further.Then, finally, he picked up.“Rick, this is Becky.I’m sorry.Please forgive me.” Her words rushed out in her eagerness to make a connection.“I want to talk to you.I was wrong….”“Becky?”She stopped.The voice on the phone wasn’t Rick’s.Her face burned as she realized her mistake.“Sorry.Wrong number.”“No.Becky, don’t hang up.This is Earl McCrae.I’m using Rick’s cell phone.”“Why?” Other than the occasional chitchat at Katherine’s coffee shop, Rick hardly knew Earl.What was he doing with Rick’s cell phone?“Becky.Listen to me.There’s been an accident.Rick was involved.I was the first one at the accident and used his cell phone to call the ambulance.”Accident.Rick.The words caught like barbed hooks, tearing and slashing.“Where? How? Is he okay?”“The ambulance just left.He hit a deer with his Jeep.”She felt a sob push up her throat.Her head spun as she dropped the phone.Rick.Lord, forgive me.She stumbled past the desk, heading for the door, shock numbing her movements.“Becky.What’s wrong?” her brother called out as she lurched through the family room.“I thought you had a meeting?”“I have to get to the hospital.” Becky glanced wildly around, as if looking for answers.“It’s Rick.He’s been in an accident.”She saw her mother half rise from her chair.Her father’s shocked face.Leanne and Colette both cried out.Dennis caught her by the shoulders just as her legs gave way.“You can’t drive, Becks.I’ll take you.”Seconds later they were in Dennis’s car, flying through town.All she could do was pray inarticulate prayers while fear and panic lurked at the edges of her mind.She couldn’t.She had to concentrate.Rick needed her.“You don’t know how bad it is, Becks.Don’t think the worst,” Dennis said, downshifting as he approached a red light.He slowed, glanced left and right and gunned it through.The hospital was just ahead and, as Dennis prepared to turn into the parking lot, she saw the flashing lights of the ambulance coming from the other direction, heard the ominous wail of the siren.Becky grabbed the door handle, ready to jump out as soon as Dennis stopped the car.But he caught her with one hand as he spun the wheel for the turn into the parking lot with the other.“Wait, Becks,” he said.His voice was soft but his grip brother-tough as the car rocked to a halt.“I’m coming with you.”The spinning red and blue lights kicked her heart into high gear, but she forced herself to wait for Dennis to turn off the car.Undo his seat belt.Then hers.She jumped out, her eyes drawn to the ambulance now pulling up to the emergency entrance.Dennis caught her by the arm again, leading her along.The back doors of the ambulance swung open, two men jumped out, whirled around and pulled out a stretcher holding a body.“Rick,” Becky called out, her knees buckling.Dennis held her up, slipped his arm around her waist.But adrenaline surged, gave her strength and she ran.They got into the emergency entrance just as they wheeled Rick in.Blood covered Rick’s forehead, matting his blond hair, streaking down the side of his head.His one eye was swollen shut.A bag hung above the stretcher, a narrow tube running from it into his arm.Becky slapped her hand against her mouth, holding back a cry.He looked like a war victim.He opened his eyes, turned his head and saw her with his good eye.When he reached out his hand, she ignored Dennis, pulled away and ran to Rick’s side, catching his hand in hers.“Miss, I’m sorry.You’ll have to stand back.” One of the paramedics caught her by the shoulders, gently drawing her away.But Rick wouldn’t let go.“Please, let her stay,” he muttered, his hands clenching Becky’s with surprising strength.Then his head rolled to the side and his hand grew slack.Panic surged through her, but the paramedic was pulling her away.“Miss.Please.He’s unconscious.”As his words sank in, she stepped back.Two nurses and a doctor converged on Rick and he was whisked away into a curtained off area.Dennis was right behind her, his hands on her shoulders.She turned to him, buried her face in his shoulders and all the emotions of the evening converged.She started sobbing, her shoulders shaking as sorrow and regret surged through her.This was her fault.She had caused Rick’s accident.He’d driven off in a rage.Why had she been so self-righteous?“Becky, let’s go sit down.” Dennis drew her gently to the waiting area.She didn’t want to go, but didn’t have the strength to resist.Dennis pulled her down into a chair, his arm still around her shoulder.Please, Lord, she prayed.Please keep Rick safe.Please.I love him.Don’t take him away from me now.The words went round and round her head as she clung to her brother’s hand, her eyes focused on the hallway leading to the emergency ward.She could hear the faint murmur of voices, the shuffling of feet from one of the curtained-off cubicles.The occasional muffled clang of an instrument on a tray.What was going on?The doors of the lobby whooshed open and her parents swooped in on them.“Oh, honey [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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