The Mechanics of Mistletoe - Liz Isaacson Page 0,71

wish he would’ve just waited for me. He’s not supposed to go up the steps by himself.”

“Where did he fall?” Bear asked, glancing around.

“The back steps,” she said. “Onto the cement. I’m not even sure how long he was lying there before I found him. I don’t think I was at the bin for too long, but I had to make two trips, because the bucket was so heavy.” She shook her head, and while she was probably double Sammy’s age, Bear could see his Sammy making the same movements and crying the same tears.

“I’m going to go talk to the paramedics, okay?” he asked. “Do you want to come with me or stay here?”

“I’ll come.” She wiped her nose and face with the towel again, and Bear took her hand in his. He walked through the kitchen and mudroom to the back door, taking care to move slow enough for Rachel to keep up.

“Hello?” he called as he started to inch open the door. “It’s Bear Glover.” Meeting no resistance, he opened the door all the way and stepped onto the back porch. He’d stacked wood here several months ago, and he noted the pile was still as he’d left it.

He went to the top of the steps and looked down. Two men knelt on either side of Vaughan, who did not have his eyes open.

“Can we move him without him waking up?” Bear asked.

One of the men looked up at him, and Bear recognized Tyler Winthrop. “Hey, Tyler.”

“Bear,” he said, clearly surprised.

“Hello?” another man called, and Bear and Tyler both turned to watch another man come around the house. He was at least a decade older than Bear, and he should probably know him, but he didn’t.

“That’s Gary, our neighbor,” Rachel said.

Gary slowed as he took in the form of Vaughan on the ground. He lifted his eyes to Rachel, and asked, “Are you okay? What do you need from me?”

“Let’s move him,” the other paramedic said, standing. He’d put a neck brace on Vaughan. “We need everyone to stay back.” He looked at Tyler. “We’ll go through the garage or around. Call in a non-responsive fall and tell them to get a room prepped.”

Bear didn’t know what any of that meant, but Tyler spoke into the radio on his shoulder, and the two of them got Vaughan onto the stretcher.

“I’ll follow in my truck,” he said. “Come on, Rachel. Come with me.” She needed to eat something and have somewhere to sit and relax. Bear could get food and stay close. He knew it would be killing Sammy not to be here, and he determined he could be her substitute for thirty minutes until she arrived.

He followed the ambulance to the hospital, and he sat with Rachel while they did the emergency room check-in procedure. She’d shut completely down, and Bear had to lean forward and repeat every question the nurse asked.

“Rachel,” he finally said. “We’re done. Come on.” He practically hefted her to her feet. “We have to wait over here, and someone will come get us when they have any news.” He glanced at the wide door that led back into the emergency department, wondering what was happening with Sammy’s dad.

He blinked, and he remembered thinking and wondering the same thing about his father the day he’d died.

“Please, Lord,” he said right out loud. “Don’t let today be the day he dies.”

“Amen,” a woman said from the waiting area, and Bear managed to give her a quick smile before herding Rachel to a seat in the corner where Bear could see the whole waiting room, the entrance to the ER from the outside, and the door he needed a nurse to come through so everything could be explained.

No one came through it, and Bear closed his eyes and prayed.

Twenty minutes later, he paced from the door back to Rachel, who seemed to have fallen into a catatonic state. When a nurse came out and called her name, she didn’t even move. Bear stepped forward and said, “I’m here for her.” He indicated where she sat, staring at the floor and lowered his voice. “I’m actually worried about her.”

“You guys can come back,” the nurse said, her eyes growing concern when she looked at Rachel. “He’s awake, and he wants to see her.”

Bear stepped over to Sammy’s mother and said, “Rachel, she said we can go see Vaughan.”

Rachel looked up as if she’d never seen Bear before, her eyes wide. He helped her stand, nodding with