AllFreeNovel
Share Us
29
Chase wantedto take the day off and crawl back in bed.But he didn’t.He got Timmy off to school and arrived at work at the bank, passing by people without stopping to talk, going directly into his office and shutting the door.
He went through the routine, turned on his computer, checked his emails, and listened to his voicemails.Chase plowed through work, forgoing a trip to the break room for his coffee, where he’d have to chat with anyone he ran into.He concentrated on the tasks at hand, avoiding distractions, shutting out thoughts of Katie.
Working furiously nonstop until midmorning, Chase finally pushed his keyboard off to the side, massaging his temples to find relief for the tension headache throbbing relentlessly.He stood up and stretched, walking around his desk to look out the enormous window facing Main Street.He had a magnificent view.The office was a perk he appreciated, overlooking the street in front of the bank.
It was sunny, the world outside so different from the darkened, air-conditioned office he was working in.Neat sidewalks on the cleanest curbs, colorful signs and store displays, water bowls for dogs next to doorways, people walking leisurely as if they had all the time in the world, stopping to talk now and then.He caught a splash of color across the street, the shirt or outfit of someone sitting on the bench enjoying the day, and almost wished he didn’t have to work, like the person wearing the brightly colored clothes.But there was something familiar about the figure.He squinted his eyes, glimpsing the face—Katie’s face—as it turned straight toward him, gazing at the bank.
His pulse quickened, and blood rushed through his veins.Did she spot him?Could she see inside the building from across the street?
Chase stepped back, jerking his body away from the window.He’d shoved her out of his mind, and here she was—in the flesh.He groaned.This wasn’t what he expected.He eased forward again, eyes focused on Katie.Was she thinking of him, sitting there on the bench?Was that why she picked the spot?Was she hoping to see him before she left town again?He swallowed.Would she get up and come to the bank to see him?
Then he couldn’t see her anymore.Someone had blocked the view, and all he could see was a larger figure dressed in a flowery dress, talking to Katie and hugging her.He stared at the woman as he realized it was her mother.She pointed at the drugstore.Katie nodded, and the two of them started walking across the street.
Without warning, suddenly, a dog barked as it ran into the street in their direction, startling Katie’s mother.Mrs.Simmons darted to her right, trying to skirt around the dog and move out of the way.She lost her balance and footing and fell.
Chase sprang into action and rushed out of the bank.By the time he reached her, Mrs.Simmons was down on the ground and gripping her leg.
Katie was bent over, knees digging into the asphalt, clutching her hand.“Mom, are you hurt?”
Her leg was turned out on the side that hit the pavement.She tried to get up, extending her arm and holding on to Katie for support.Her face red with exertion, she used her other arm to prop her body up and raise it.Chase could see the pain etched on her face as she tried to put weight on her leg to get up.She let go, sinking back on the ground and panting with the effort, one hand placed on her hip.
“Don’t stand.Let’s get you checked out first,” Chase said.
He whipped out his cell phone and dialed, putting it on speakerphone so Katie and her mother could hear.
“Nine-one-one.What’s your emergency?”
“Ma’am, we need an ambulance.”
“What’s your name?”
“Chase Beard.”
“Can you tell me what happened?”
“We have an injured person on the street.”
“What’s your location?”
“Main Street.Across from the bank.”
“Tell me what happened.”
“It’s Mrs.Simmons; she fell on the pavement.”Chase kneeled down quickly, almost butting heads with Katie.Her mother was moaning softly.“She’s in pain.Please send help.”
It didn’t take long for the ambulance to show up.The hospital was close by.Two EMTs in uniform responded to the scene, then wheeled out a stretcher, carefully lifting Mrs.Simmons onto it and rolling her into the vehicle.
Katie was pacing back and forth, a strained look on her face.Chase gently touched her arm.She paused, wrinkling her brow.
“I’m going to follow the ambulance.Would you like a ride?”he asked.
She fumbled with her purse, pinching the zipper tab and grasping the strap.Her eyes darted, flitting around.“Where’s your car?”
Chase waved toward the bank.“Over there—it’s the silver SUV.I don’t usually drive my truck to work.”His eyes caught her gaze, full of worry.He wanted to calm and reassure her.To wrap her in his arms and comfort her.Wordlessly, he glanced to make sure no traffic was coming and pulled her across the street to his car.She didn’t protest.
Once they were both sitting in the SUV and buckled up, he started it and backed up, then turned the wheel and whipped out of the parking lot, speeding after the ambulance.
