Free Mr. Miracle by Debbie Macomber Page A

found the author far more fascinating than his writing.
    At some point, she must have fallen asleep, because she woke with a start and then realized that irritating noise was her phone.
    “Hello,” she muttered, and rubbed her free hand over her eyes.
    “Did I wake you?”
    “Who is this?” she asked, and then realized it was Erich on the other end of the line. Instantly alarmed, she sat up so straight that she nearly slid off the edge of the cushion. “Are you okay?”
    He ignored the question. “You doing anything?”
    The question was innocent enough, but Addie read between the lines and they said plenty. He was in trouble. “No. Now answer me. What’s wrong?”
    He hesitated.
    “Erich, I mean it; what’s wrong?” She didn’t know what had happened, but clearly something had. It had probably killed him to have to call her.
    “Okay, okay, if you must know. I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.”

Chapter Seven

    Addie made it across the yard to the Simmons family home in record time. Thankfully, the front door remained unlocked. She made a mental note to lock it behind her next time. Right away she noticed the interior was completely dark.
    Just inside the house, she paused and called his name. “Erich.”
    “Leave the lights off,” he shouted from somewhere distant. It sounded as if it’d come from the hallway or the kitchen.
    Leave the lights off?
“Why would I do that?” she demanded,blindly searching the wall for a light switch. She hadn’t been inside his home often enough to remember where it was situated.
    “Just do what I ask.” Erich sounded none too happy.
    “No way. I’m not stumbling around in the dark.” She found the switch by the door and flipped it on. The small entry was quickly ablaze in light.
    “You had to do it, didn’t you?” he grumbled.
    Addie searched the living room, where Erich had been sitting when she left. The footrest on the recliner was down and the blanket he’d had over his legs was puddled on the floor.
    “Where are you?” she called out, coming farther into the house.
    “The hallway. Leave the hall light off,” he demanded, and then, in a voice so soft she barely heard, he added, “Please.”
    He must have hit his head to request anything so nonsensical, but in an effort to keep the peace she did as he asked. “Any particular reason I won’t need to see where I’m headed?”
    “Several,” he muttered. “Mainly because this is humiliating enough without you seeing me sprawled across the floor in my underwear.”
    “O-k-a-y.” Now she understood. He appeared to be sitting on the hardwood surface at the far end of the hallwayby the entrance to the bathroom. The dim light from the entry illuminated his outline.
    “What happened?” she asked, stepping closer. She wondered if the pain medication had made him a bit unsteady.
    “You don’t want to know.” His robe was open and spread out around him on the floor like a skirt around a Christmas tree.
    “Of course I want to know,” she said, moving to the side and leaning against the wall, being careful not to trip on him or the robe.
    “Well, I don’t want to tell you. Can you kindly leave it at that?”
    She walked all the way around him in an effort to evaluate the situation. While unsure exactly how he’d gotten into this position, she could understand his predicament. Without the use of his hands, it would be nearly impossible for him to get to his feet unaided.
    “If you could just help me raise myself enough to use my legs, I should be fine,” he said, frustration evident in his voice.
    Addie suspected he’d called her as a last resort once he’d exhausted his own strength and resources. “How long have you been like this?”
    “Awhile.” He was back to growling responses. “Can you please get me to my feet before I answer your questions?”
    As Addie assessed things, she decided the best way to manipulate him to a standing position was from behind. She moved around to his back side