Chapter Four

Chapter Four

Dean

Instead of going directly home, I stop off at the grocery store to pick up a few things. I've got some projects I'd like to work on around the house and since I'm off the next two days, I'd rather not leave if I don't have to.

I grab a loaf of bread and head to the checkout. As I place everything onto the conveyor belt, I realize my haul isn't too bad. In fact, I can probably carry everything to my car without having to use a cart. The clerk gives me the total and I reach for my wallet to pay.

"Dang it," I mumble under my breath.

"Is something wrong, sir?" the clerk asks.

"Yeah, I left my card at work." At least I'm pretty sure that's where it is. I'd given my card to Jazmyn earlier when she'd gone to the cafeteria to get lunch for us, and I'm willing to bet it's still sitting on my desk, right where she told me she put it.

"We can keep your stuff in the back if you'd like to come back for it later."

I look down at the sacks full of food then up at the clerk. "I shouldn't be more than an hour. I apologize for this."

"It's no big deal. These things happen, sir. We'll be glad to hold it."

This is one of the reasons I like shopping at the little mom and pop grocery store here in Love Beach. Tourists tend to go to the bigger chain stores, but I'm happy doing business right here.

"I'm closing tonight, so just look for me when you get back."

I hurry out to my car, silently cursing myself the whole way. Just wait til I tell Jazmyn on Friday. She's forever telling me I need to set up my phone so I can use it to pay for stuff, but I'm not sold on the idea. No doubt, she'll give me another lecture about it.

I notice three ambulances parked outside of the emergency room as soon as I turn in at the hospital. Looks like I escaped at the right time! Rather than pull around to the backside of the hospital reserved for employee parking, I grab a spot up front, closest the front door. I'll only be a minute and if I'm lucky, no one will even notice I'm here. Grabbing a Carolina Sunrays baseball cap out of the backseat, I slip it on before heading inside.

A young woman standing on the sidewalk looks up as I approach the sliding doors and I come to a quick halt when I recognize who it is. "Liz?"

The pretty face I vividly remember from the plane looks nothing like that now. She takes a few steps towards me then collapses in my arms.

I…I don't know what to do except wrap my arms around her and hold her tight while she begins to sob. When I was little, I remember my mom would always brush her hands against the back of my head anytime I'd gotten hurt or I didn't feel good. Something about her tender touch was soothing. The feeling that I wasn't alone was always comforting.

So I do the same with Liz.

Her hair is soft as silk against my palm, and without even realizing it, I trail my fingers through her tendrils. I don't know what's going on, but I'm here for whatever she's dealing with.

"I'm so sorry," she says and pulls back after a few moments. "Gosh, I must look a mess." Scrubbing the back of her hand against her face, she tries to wipe the tears away.

"Is everything okay?"

"Mr. Hillman fell earlier. We were taking our afternoon walk and it was so hot. I suggested we head back home and that's when he tripped. His foot caught the edge of the curb and his legs went out from underneath him. The pavement was hot and he was in so much pain."

"Oh, Liz. I'm sorry to hear this."

"I didn't think it was all that bad at first, but when I saw the blood and cut on his forehead," she pauses to gain her composure. "I knew it was more than just a little bump. I can't get in touch with his son and daughter-in-law either, and since I'm not family, they're hesitant to release much information about his condition."

"We've got a great staff here, so don't worry about that. He's going to get the best care. Why don't you follow me inside and I'll see if I can't find out some information for you."

"You can do that? How?"

"I work here, remember?" I reach for her hand and direct her inside.

The waiting area looks vastly different than the way it did when I left. There may have been a dozen people earlier and now there's hardly a vacant seat in the entire room. It's no wonder Liz was standing outside when I got here.

I use my badge to let us down the hallway and I instruct her to wait for me in a secondary room where it's much quieter. I can't make any promises but I assure her I'll do my best to find out what I can. I know Mr. Hillman means the world to her and even the slightest update will certainly put her mind at ease.

I worry that Liz will think I've forgotten about her, so when I round the corner I'm not surprised to find her pacing the floor just inside the doorway. It hurts seeing her so upset and I know what I'm about to share with her isn't going to help matters.

"Well, what did you find out?" she rushes over, a hopeful expression on her face.

"Come on, let's go sit over here."

"Is he going to be okay?"

"He must've taken quite a fall. You said he tripped over a curb?"

"Yeah, they're the ones that stop a vehicle from driving up on the sidewalk. We were at the park not far from the Love Beach Elementary."

"I know exactly where you're talking about. I have to pass by there on my way home and they stick out like a sore thumb. Anyone driving through there at night better be careful or else they could tear up a tire."

"I parked in the shade, thinking the car wouldn't be so hot when we got back, but man, it's miserable out there. I was sweating, he was sweating. Which is why his hand probably slipped from my arm."

"He's giving the nurses hell right now, so that's something positive to hold onto. They're getting ready to send him back for several rounds of X-rays and he's not happy about that. He's complaining about both knees, his right shoulder, and right foot, but they won't know if anything's broken until someone's had a chance to go over them. With it being so late, it'll most likely be tomorrow morning before an orthopedic is able to take a good look at everything and make an assessment. He's asked about you and wants to make sure you're holding up okay."

A smile finally appears on her face. " I never knew either of my grandfathers, they both passed when I was very young, so he's become more than just a patient. He's like family."

"It's obvious he thinks the same of you, too. If you'd like to see him for a minute, I can walk you back there."

I've hardly finished saying the words before she jumps up and is headed to the door.