THIRTY
Bailey
“I’m fine, I’m okay. Seriously, it’s my girls. Check them out first, then I’ll do whatever you’re insisting, but I’m going with them,” I tell the two paramedics. The girls are in my line of sight, but that’s not good enough, and it’s not like this stretcher is absolutely necessary. I can walk, albeit like a little old lady, hunched in the back, and with a cane.
“Ma’am, we need you on the gurney.” I roll my eyes, ready to say the hell with it, sign an against-medical-advice form, call Forest, and get the hell out of here.
“Fine, if you don’t bring Cammy and Piper to me, or vice versa, I’m leaving.” I lock eyes with the older gentleman, who kind of resembles Santa Claus—older, portly, with white hair and a white beard.
“Michael, you heard the lady,” he says over his shoulder. The girls were released from their car seats before I was. Thank you, concrete power pole, that I decided to brace for impact, my side getting the brunt of it. Thankfully. I can’t even fathom if that were Cammy or Piper’s side.
“Thank you,” I tell him. He’s following protocol; it’s his job. And while I may be the girls’ nanny, them being a part of my job, it’s so much more. They’re mine in every sense of the imagination.
“I get it. I’ve got a wife of my own, kids, grandkids. My wife would be the way you are. I hate to tell you this because you’re apprehensive about taking a ride in the back of the ambulance, but a hospital is where you need to be. The way you were walking shows me you’ve got some broken ribs. X-rays are in your future to make sure nothing punctured your lungs. The girls will need to be looked over as well. So, why don’t we get the three of you loaded up?” The first sensible thing anyone has said since they arrived, never mind the fact that the black sedan that was following me hit me so hard we spun, only for me to correct ourselves, before they came back for seconds. Do people really not have better things to do with their lives?
“Thank you. You promise we’ll all be riding together?” I almost asked if he could retrieve my cell phone. Forest has got to be going crazy right about now.
“I promise.” I close my eyes for a moment. The adrenaline that was pumping through my veins is draining. I’m trying my hardest not to succumb to the darkness until Cammy and Piper are within touching distance. I’m jostled as they wheel the gurney. I’ve got a blood pressure cuff on my arm, my neck and chest being squeezed to death to keep my head from making any sudden movements. No worries there. The pounding headache behind my eyes is making sure of that. The paramedic slides back in, hooking me up to all kinds of monitors that peep and whine, further hurting the throbbing in my skull.
““Pwease, Baiwey, be okay. Me wub you.” Piper was sitting behind me in the car today. Moisture clogs my throat once I’m loaded up beside her. She’s strapped onto a gurney herself, brace wrapped around her neck. I’m ready to get up and comfort her, except I’m strapped into this stupid thing.
“I love you, Piper. I’m okay. How are you feeling? Where’s Cammy?” I move my head. Since I have a neck brace on myself, a slight twinge of pain tells me the accident did more than hurt my ribs.
“I’m right here.” So strong. Cammy is so fucking strong. How she isn’t crumbling, I’m not sure.
“I love you, Cammy. I’m so sorry, baby girl. I promise we’re all going to be okay.”
“Wait, hold that fucking door!”
“Uncle Madden!” Cammy goes to unbuckle her seatbelt from the seat in the cab. She’s uninjured, so at least there are some small favors. I’m not sure what’s going on with Piper or if it’s a precaution since she doesn’t talk as much as Cammy.
“Unca Mad here?” I watch as Cammy runs towards him, arms wrapping around him as he reaches the back of the ambulance. Thank God someone’s here who can watch over the girls.
“Cammy, Piper, Bailey, you girls okay? Forest is on his way,” he states.
“Yeah, can you call him? They’re demanding I get checked out, something about broken ribs, punctured lungs, concussion, and a slew of other medical terms.” I think it’s safe to say that the punctured lung is out of the equation seeing as how I’m talking fine, even if it does hurt.
“Shit, that’s gonna hurt. What about Piper? You doing okay?” Madden steps up, keeping Cammy in his arms, ducking his head. Really, there isn’t a whole lot of room in here, and him adding to it takes up the majority of it.