Page 68 of One Night Years Ago

Hunter

“So, why didn’t you want to get in the ambulance? Bad memories?” Natalie asked. The wind was dying down, but it was fully dark by now. Her attention was fixed on the road in front of her.

“I don’t like ambulances,” he said. “Or police cars, for that matter.”

“You and Dr. Leroy seem to be close.”

Something in Natalie’s tone made Hunter look at her carefully.

“Barbara volunteers at the prison once a week. She took care of me a couple times when I was injured inside. But that’s all.” He wasn’t about to go into the details. He didn’t even want to remember them, let alone talk about them.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry,” she said.

“You can ask me anything you want. There may be things I don’t want to talk about, but I meant it when I said I won’t ever lie to you again, Natalie.”

She nodded. “I won’t ever lie to you either, Hunter. What you did tonight was really brave or really foolish.”

“I knew you’d find us,” he said, a small, confident smile on his face. A moment later he ruined it by moving his shoulder. He hissed in pain.

“Fuck, that hurts.”

“I noticed you’re also limping.”

“The water was as hard as cement. I felt something break when I landed. I can still walk, though, so it’s probably nothing major.”

Natalie drove in silence for a few minutes before turning into the hospital parking lot. Instead of parking in the visitor’s area, she followed the neon emergency sign. “We’re here. Wait, I’ll help you out,” she said, opening his door. He humored her, letting her help him out of the car. She placed herself on his right side, her arm around his waist. It was only when he’d taken two steps that he realized just how much of his weight she was taking. The adrenaline rush that had sustained him in the sea was wearing off, and he felt as weak as a newborn kitten.

Walking together like a three-legged creature, they limped into the hospital. A nurse was waiting for them. “Wait in room three, Mr. Fowler. Dr. Leroy is with the other patient, but Dr. Boyle will be with you shortly.”

“Dr. Leroy is with Emma?” Natalie asked.

The nurse nodded.

“I’m surprised Dr. Ford’s not here,” Natalie said, looking around.

“So am I,” sniffed the nurse. “He’d freed his schedule this weekend, and we haven’t been able to reach him. He’s probably out fishing. That’s his only vice, poor man. He’s going to be so upset when he hears about this on Monday.”

Hunter sat down heavily on the examination table.

“Do you know Dr. Boyle?” he asked. “The name doesn’t ring any bells.”

Natalie nodded. “He’s young, but he’s very good. He’s a trauma surgeon.”

“Sounds like that could come in useful.”

“I should probably wait outside,” Natalie said.

Hunter started nodding, but his mouth had a different opinion. “Could you stay?” he asked. “I really don’t like doctors,” he admitted.

Natalie smiled, her expression nonjudgmental. “Of course,” she said, sitting down on a chair in the corner.

There was a quick knock and then the door opened. Young was an understatement; the doctor looked like an oversized teenager going to a costume party. Hunter realized he’d seen the man somewhere before. Probably at that barbeque Natalie had taken him to, since it seemed half the town had been there.

The doctor put on a pair of specs, which somehow served to make him look even younger.

“Mr. Fowler? I hear you went for a swim tonight.”

Hunter looked at him impassively until the younger man cleared his throat.