Free Letters of Love (Green Division Series Book #3) by Ashley Monahan Page B

we’re going to let the doctor’s check you out before we let you go running around again.”

“So I have to stay like this?”

“For a little bit.”

“My wrist really hurts.”  

“I know.  We’ll get you some medication so it hurts a little less when we get to the hospital.”

“Do I have to ride in the ambulance?”

“One of us will ride with you.”  

Tiffy closed her eyes.

“Tiffy, keep your eyes open for me.”

“I’m really tired.”

“You can sleep all you want later on, but for now I want you to keep me company.  I don’t want to be alone.”

Tiffy smiled.  “I won’t leave you Aubrey.”

Aubrey smiled back at her.  “Thank you.”

Ben returned to Tiffy’s side and took her hand back.  Over the next twenty minutes they waited, every minutes stretching like hours.  Jack and Joanne arrived seconds before the ambulance.

“Tiffy!”  Joanne came running over.  From there out, things became hectic.  Jack calmed Joanne down the best he could while Aubrey stayed where she was until a paramedic relieved her of her duties.

“Why don’t you drive Jack’s car and I’ll follow you in mine so they can both ride with her.”  She said to Ben.  Aubrey knew the medic and though it was customary to only have one relative at most, they made an exception for her.

“Alright,” Ben said.

Jack and Joanne hopped into the ambulance with Tiffy.  Ben followed behind the ambulance and Aubrey took up the rear.  Ben acted pissed with her.  His mannerisms had been short, but maybe that was due to the situation.  Why would he be angry with her? 
     
    *****
     
    Aubrey and Ben waited in the ER lobby without any news.  Ben paced around tense and scared.  It had been less than two months since Tiffy’s prognosis and she’d passed out on horseback.   She’d never passed out.  Her cancer had to be progressing quicker than the doctor predicted.  

“She’s going to be okay.”  Aubrey tried to reassure him from her anything but comfortable seat.

“Don’t say that.  She isn’t fucking going to be okay.”

“Ben—”

He put his hand up and cut her off.  “Don’t fucking tell me its okay.  She’s dying.  And she could have died today falling off that stupid fucking horse.  I guess I didn’t think this would happen when Tiffy asked for lessons, if I had I wouldn’t have asked you to give her lessons.  But you should have known.  You’re the damn nurse.  You should have known.”  

Ben’s anger filled him to the brim.  He was mad at her, mad at himself, mad at the world.  Aubrey’s eyes widened and he saw the pain he’d inflicted.

“I’m going for a walk.”   I need to get away.

Ben walked down the hallway and away from her.  Seeing Tiffy fall from the horse had been terrifying.  He was helpless.  There was nothing he could do.  He couldn’t move fast enough.  And Aubrey wasn’t even paying attention.
     
    *****
    Aubrey watched Ben stalk away and out of sight.  It wasn’t her fault, was it?  Ben asked her to give Tiffy lessons.  THEY ASKED HER.  She’d done it to him as a favor.  She didn’t force anyone to let Tiffy ride.  They’d begged her!  So why did she feel so guilty?  Ben had done a stellar job at making her feel responsible for it.  And she was in perspective.  Aubrey didn’t think about it, but of course her passing out, or having a seizure was a possibility.  That was also one reason she spoke to the parents about the inherent risks of riding before she allowed their children on Gunny and Trixie.  Jack and Joanne understood.  Ben should have understood too.

I shouldn’t be doing this.  She thought to herself and dropped her head into her lap.   I’m done giving lessons.  Done.  He’s right.  She could have died.

Aubrey moved to the corner of the quiet waiting room and stared blankly out the window.  Ben was outside talking on his cell phone.  The sight of Ben made her feel sick.