Free Time for a Change by Diane Collier Page B

but no. I don’t do stitches. As you can see, I don’t do the whole blood thing either. This will be fine. I’ll get some sticking plasters and antiseptic and do it at lunch time. I’ll be fine, really I will. You’ve been marvelous. So very helpful. Much appreciated, I can assure you. No doctor. No stitches.”
    She wondered if she sounded as hysterical as she felt at that moment.
    “Geeze, you’ve gone pale again. Are you planning to faint or get sick again?” He looked genuinely concerned. He looked relieved when she shook her head and gently pressed the paper towel against her foot again. Why was he still holding her foot, she thought to herself. Also, who the hell was he? He was speaking to Andrea again. Sally saw Andrea nodding in agreement, clearly very concerned about this man’s opinion and suggestions.
    Andrea smiled at her coldly.
    “Well, it seems that you’ll be leaving for the day. Do get better soon.” Her voice was dripping with sarcasm and meanness as she picked up Sally’s handbag and put it in her hands.
    “I am?” Sally asked, more confused than ever.
    “Yes you are,” replied her new friend. “I’m taking you to have this looked at,” he sounded like he wasn’t taking any arguments about it either. Then his voice changed, became kinder. “I’ll make sure they don’t hurt you.” She felt like a small child.
    He helped her to her feet. “Are you able to walk properly?”
    “Yes,” she answered, annoyed. Just who was this man who was taking control of her and forcing her to go places she didn’t want to go? As he helped her to the elevator, gently holding her elbow and guiding her as if she were infirm, Sally couldn’t help but enjoy the moment. She was getting glares from all directions as her co-workers clearly thought she’d staged the whole thing. As if she could! Not even with months of planning could she have pulled that off, she thought. But how well did it work out?
    Not only did he look delectable, he smelled fantastic too, she thought to herself. It was impossible not to smell him considering that he was still holding on to her and they were confined in the elevator.
    “Excuse me,” she said turning to him. “I don’t mean to appear rude, but just who are you and where are you taking me?” Polite to the end, her mom would be proud.
    “Oh, I’m so sorry.” He sounded genuinely contrite. “I’m Tony. I thought it best to get your foot checked out by a doctor so I’m taking you to the closest emergency room.” They both glanced down at her foot. It didn’t look as bad as he’d made it seem.
    “Maybe the emergency room is a bit extreme?” Sally wondered out loud.
    “Maybe a bit. But I’d still like you to get it looked at. I know you expressed some concerns earlier.” They’d reached the underground parking and he was guiding her towards a sleek black car. He pressed his key and the car beeped. Tony helped her into the car and closed the door. As he got into the driver’s seat, her turned to her. “How about we compromise. I’ll take you to your family doctor instead of the E.R. and I’ll stay with you and make sure he doesn’t hurt you.”
    Sally sighed at the inevitable. He wasn’t giving up. There wasn’t a chance in hell that she was letting him take her to the family doctor. The doctor was family. Her father. No way, no how was she going in there with this stranger. She knew it would only take moments after the visit for her mother to hear every detail from her father and it wouldn’t be long before she’d get the phone call.
    She wanted to avoid that phone call at any cost.
    “The hospital is close by. Just take me to the E.R.” Sounding less than grateful, she folded her arms across her chest and winced at a painful twinge in her foot. “Bossy,” she mumbled under her breath. There was small snort from the driver’s side of the car.
    Forms filled in and waiting, Sally sat beside Tony in the waiting room in silence. Before long her