She breathed deeply through gritted teeth.
Both instructors rushed over. “What happened?”
Roz managed to compose herself enough to say, “I twisted my ankle.”
The male instructor extended his hand to help her up. She tried to stand and winced.
Konrad jumped to his feet and picked her up off the floor. “I’m taking you to the emergency room.”
“No, I’m sure it’s not that bad. Just give me a couple of minutes to rest.”
“Your ankle is already swelling.”
“No, they’re just fat.”
Konrad gave her the hairy eyeball and said, “No, they’re not. And since one is getting bigger and redder than the other, I’d guess you have a sprain. Now don’t argue. I’m taking you to the hospital.”
He strode toward the door.
“We should call an ambulance,” the female instructor said.
“No need. We’re close to the New England Hospital. I can carry her there, if you’ll get the door.”
“Wait, my purse.”
Konrad paused by the chairs they sat in earlier and let her point it out, but he refused to put her down. One of the instructors handed it to her.
“Are you sure you don’t want us to call an ambulance?”
“No, I can get her there faster than they can.”
“Okay.” The male instructor opened the door for them and held it while Konrad carried her down the stairs to the sidewalk.
“Hang on, hon,” he said, and as soon as she’d locked her arms around his neck, he sprinted down the street.
Chapter 7
The emergency room doctor delivered the good news as she studied the x-ray. “You’re lucky. Nothing’s broken. It’s just a sprain and should heal in a few days.”
“I feel like a complete klutz.”
“Roz, it wasn’t your fault. It was mine,” Konrad said.
“No, it was mine. I tripped you.”
Konrad placed his hands on his hips. “Well, clearly dancing isn’t our thing.”
The ER doctor laughed and finished winding the bandage around Roz’s ankle. “There you go, Rosalyn. Now stay off your feet and keep your right ankle elevated. Use ice to bring down the swelling and Tylenol every four hours as needed for pain.”
Roz sighed. “Yes, ma’am.”Tylenol. Ice. Nothing really numbing, like Demerol, huh?
“Do you have any crutches?” the doctor asked.
“No, but I’ll buy some.”
Konrad patted her back. “I have some you can borrow.”
Roz snorted. “Oh, that would be fun to watch. I’ll look like a pole vaulter in the Olympics, except with two poles.”
