Holiday Hockey Tale The Icebreaker's Impasse (By Ivory Row) novel Chapter 3

Luci

“Miss Forrester, we need to check you over also.” Amy, the nurse who finished looking at Cole, smiles at me.

“I’m fine. Just going to be sore.” I wave my hand at her.

“Well, that wrist doesn’t look like it. But that isn’t from saving Mr. Cole there.” She raises an eyebrow, and I glance at my wrist. I’d already forgotten about Maxton. That felt like days ago. You could see the faint purpling blooming under the skin already.

I don’t deny it. “No, but it isn’t what you think it is either. Honestly, I’m fine. The EMTs looked over me before we left. I’ll have scrapes and bruises, but that’s it.”

They bandaged the worst one on my arm after they cleaned it. It was going to be a pain with my clothes for a few days. Which reminds me, I’ve lost my hoodie for good, I think.

I see Cole snuggled into it fully after his examination. He looks pretty good in purple. I won’t ask for it back. Especially with the orange popsicle he’s dripping all over it. One less thing to try to wash today.

Oh wait, did I leave the dryer on when I left? Not that it matters a whole seven hours later, but since I heard no sirens, I guess my apartment complex didn’t turn into a raging inferno. I’m sure the headlines would be so forgiving. ‘Scatterbrained student sets fire to half of campus apartment life by leaving her dryer running while not at home.’

“Luci?” Cole is staring at me.

“Hey. Sorry, I spaced out a minute. Did you need me?” I usually do better with kids. For some reason, I don’t go on twisty brain paths when I am with them, maybe because they talk a lot and are playing ninety to nothing, giving me no time to wander off.

“No. You made a face like you hurt.”

“I probably did. I remembered something I might have messed up, and I got worried.” I smile at him.

“Cole.” A firm voice calls out, and I turn to see a woman with dirty blonde hair cut to chin length walking toward the bed. She wears a dark pink tea-length wrap dress and nude heels. Her makeup is understated, but her jewelry is not. She’s dripping in diamonds. Not huge ones, but several pieces. I count a tennis bracelet, two other bracelets with some type of diamond and precious stone, three rings, earrings and a diamond necklace to match her bracelet.

“Grandmother.” Cole says quickly, and goes back to eating his popsicle like she’ll take it away.

“You aren’t the nurse I see.” She looks down her nose at me.

“No, but I can call Amy.” I press the call button on the bed but don’t stand up. I’m tired and honestly sore already.

Amy walks over a friendly smile on her face as she greets our visitor. “Hi, you must be Grandma.”

“I’m Imogen Walters, and that is my grandson, Cole. Is he injured? An Officer Perkins gave me the accident details but nothing about his injuries.”

“A few scratches and maybe some shoulder bruising. Miss Forrester used her body to cushion his fall.” Amy sounds proud, and I watch that woman’s cold blue eyes turn toward me.

I have a feeling they are never warm considering the way she looked over the precious little boy in front of me. Not a hug for him after the traumatic event he went through too. My heart hurts for him. I remember wishing for hugs not much older than him. Wondering what it would be like to be soothed with love rather than quick words to toughen up.

I reach over and squeeze Cole’s arm with a smile. I’ll be sure to hug him before I leave if she lets me at least. Someone must give him affection because he seems very sweet.

Vaguely, I hear an irritated voice filter through. I became accustomed to tuning out yelling and aggravated voices as a kid the way I grew up. Reminds me I need to call Janet and check in. I miss her.

I turn back toward Mrs. Walters realizing that’s her voice I’m tuning out.

“Miss Forrester! Are you even listening to me?” I snap back to her. Her shocked outrage is obvious.

“I’m sorry. It’s been a long day, and I think the shock of it all is finally creeping in on me.”

It is. But I don’t like to explain my wandering mind to strangers unless necessary.

“I asked if I could compensate you in any way besides your hospital bill.” She folds her arms and taps her foot.

“Oh no! That’s more than enough.” I watch the relief in her eyes.

“Very well.”

And like that, I am dismissed.

I turn to Cole. “I am happy I got to meet you, Mr. Cole. You were a big brave boy today.”

“I’ll miss you, Luci.” He stares at me sadly.

“Miss you too. Bye, Cole.” I give him a hug and leave reluctantly. I never had a grandmother but Imogen Walters seemed like she didn’t even come close to deserving that title. With a little finger wave, I start walking out of the triage area.

I walk outside wondering if I can call an Uber back to campus. It’s not the shortest walk from here. As I pull up the app on my phone, I hear a whistle.

“Hey, Luci.” I turn and see Warner, the EMT. “You need a ride back to campus? Our station is right next to it.”

I give him a grateful smile. “That would be awesome.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify