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“Do you think they’ll take us to Willow Brook when they pick us up?” I asked.
“Probably,” Wes said. “It’s the closest hospital. Anchorage is nearby, but none of us have serious enough injuries to worry about going there.”
The following hours were a blur of waiting and ignoring the achy pain of my collarbone. Fortunately, although darkness fell, the weather stayed clear. Within a few hours, a helicopter was carrying us to Willow Brook.
Once we were in the air, my impatience to see Tish ramped up. The feeling of missing her was sharp. I was anxious to explain to her that I hadn’t meant to frustrate her by covering her legal bill. In hindsight, I realized that it must have come across as high-handed.
Every situation was different, but I was learning intention didn’t always matter. Especially not when it involved someone else’s life.
I wanted to call Tish as soon as we got back into range for calls, but my phone had cracked badly during the crash landing and wasn’t working.
Nate glanced over as we got closer. “I’m calling Holly. Do you want me to see if she can track Tish down?”
“Please.”
Chapter Forty-Five
Tish
“Hurry,” I said to Holly.
“I’m hurrying,” she insisted.
After a fitful few hours of sleep on Madison’s couch, I woke to Holly knocking on the door before the sun was even up. She shared the update from Maisie. According to Maisie’s information, Nate, Graham, and Griffin, along with a few of the other firefighters, were on the first helicopter and would be taken straight to the hospital to be cleared.
Moments later, Holly was practically skidding into the parking lot at the hospital. We flew through the doors, and Holly had all the information within minutes. She wasn’t on duty, but she was a supervisor for the nurse’s team here in the ER. She knew exactly who to find to get the quickest update.
Although there were only a few minor injuries for those on the plane, Griffin had broken his collarbone. All I wanted was to be able to see him. It felt like forever before we got any more information.
A nurse came out and gestured for me to follow him down the hallway. “I’m Chris. Come on back. He’s doing well.”
I bolted across the room to his side.
“Do you want me to come in with you?” Chris asked as we stood at the doorway a few minutes later.
I took a shaky breath. “I think I can handle it.” I was already on the verge of tears and had been for hours. Even though I knew Griffin was okay, I was desperate to see him.
Chris gave me an encouraging smile. “Just use the call button in there if he needs anything.” With a light squeeze on my shoulder, he hurried down the hallway.
I opened the door, standing there with my palm pressed to my chest through several echoing beats of my heart. Griffin was sitting in a chair with his arm in a sling. After being frozen for a moment, I rushed over. His eyes lifted to mine as he stood quickly, wrapping me in an embrace with one arm. “I’m fine,” he murmured into my hair.
“Oh, my God, I’ve been so worried,” I mumbled into his chest before leaning back to look up into his eyes.
“I’m fine,” he repeated.
I took a shaky breath. “I feel like I’ve been waiting forever. Are you sure you’re okay?” I ran my hands over his chest and back. He was wearing a pair of hospital scrubs.
“How’s your collarbone?” I stepped back, carefully sliding a palm down his upper arm.
He shrugged. “Fine.” His eyes held mine. “I love you.” His voice was low and a little ragged.
I burst into tears, hiccupping as I said, “I love you too. I’m sorry I got upset about the payment thing.” I gestured vaguely in the air.
“I should’ve talked to you about it. I wanted to help, but I understand why you were upset.”
“And, you did help. You really did. Are you sure you’re okay?” I repeated.
“I am absolutely okay. I have to wear a sling for a while and be careful, but that’s it. They said it could be up to six weeks, but should be less.”
