~ Chapter Eleven ~

Jimmy John pulled into the entrance of the Canyon Emergency. Even though the small hospital wasn’t as large as Amarillo’s, they had adequate services. He hopped out, left the truck running, and jetted through double doors. Abbi heaved a heavy sigh and glanced at her ankle, which had swollen more. “Madi, will you take off the wrapping—I’m hurting. Feels like throbbing, terrible.” A sharp twinge raced from her ankle up her leg. “Hurry, please.”

Madison exited the backseat, rounded the truck, and opened Abbi’s door. “I’m sorry. I’ll get it off.”

The pressure eased as soon as the bandage was released. Her rapid breath slowed. “Thanks. That’s a lot better.”

Before she could swing her legs to the open door, Jimmy John had returned with a wheelchair. He set the brake and assisted her into the seat with seemingly little effort on his part. “Let’s get you inside and fix that ankle. I already told the staff at registration that you’re coming. Madi, can you please move the truck to a parking spot? I saw a visitor lot when we turned in.”

“Absolutely. See you guys in the waiting room.” Madison hopped behind the wheel.

These two are way too calm. Well, what should I expect? They’re just alike. Abbi wanted to giggle but thought better. “Come on, Jimmy John, you two stop gabbing and get me inside the building at least so they can look at my ankle.”

“Sorry.” Jimmy John quickly pushed her through the automatic doors. Thankfully, he didn’t make too many sudden stops. Landing face-down on the tile floor wouldn’t be an ideal ride.

After she completed the registration forms and gave her insurance information, Jimmy John pushed her to the waiting area. Dozens of patients lined the walls, seated in blue hardback chairs. They looked very uncomfortable at best and had stains. Abbi was grateful she had her own seat but not so pleased with the reason for being in a wheelchair.

A young man sat two seats down, holding his head in one hand while the other lay limp in his lap. Oh, he must be in terrible pain. But what am I thinking? I am too.

Another sharp pain ripped through her like before, but this one was more intense. Abbi sighed and gripped the armrest of the wheelchair. Her breath eased, and she relaxed. The man glanced up, and their gazes met. Instantly, something unfamiliar settled across her heart. Whoa. Was that pain or...my reaction to a pair of gorgeous eyes? Whichever, I have to help this guy take his mind off his injury and offer some comfort.

“Are you all right?” The man tried to smile.

He beat her to start the conversation. She gathered he was being kind, trying to distract her from the pain as well.

“Not really. My ankle. Thanks for asking.” Abbi pointed at the limp arm in his lap. “Hey, how about you?”

“My left arm is probably broken. I fell off a ladder and landed on a concrete walkway.”

“Oh, my. Hard landing. You must be in a lot of pain.” She reached across the span and touched his shoulder. “I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do to help?”

The man blinked. “I was about to ask you the same. What’s your name?”

“Abbi, and this is Jimmy John.” The men reached across and shook hands.

“Good to meet you. I’m Henry. How did you injure your ankle?”

“While taking a picture during our hike at Palo Duro Canyon, I slipped off the path—now here we are.” She grinned but quickly winced with another sharp pain shooting through her ankle.

“Yeah, that would certainly do it. You also made a hard landing too. Maybe broken?” His gaze never left Abbi but briefly looked at her ankle before returning to meet hers.

“Probably. It’s swelling and has a lovely shade of blue. Kind of matches my eyes. Don’t you think?” She laughed. Her injured foot raised up and bumped against the wheelchair footrest. “Ouch.” She grabbed her mouth, tears on the verge of escaping, but she bit them back.

“Be careful, sweetie. Did you at least get the picture?”

Fighting the urge to scream or fall to pieces, she looked into his eyes, and the more she did, the more her heart swelled like her ankle. “No. I never checked.”

“Look. Do you and your boyfriend live around here?”

Abbi opened her phone photo gallery, but she paused with wide eyes. “Oh. He’s not my boyfriend—just a friend. He’s...”

Madison entered the waiting room and plopped next to Jimmy John. “Boy, like to have never found a parking spot.” She bent forward. “How are you doing, Abbi?”

She nodded. “Throbbing. I hit my foot a minute ago, but the pain is easing. This is Henry. We just met.” Abbi gestured toward him. Did she dare touch his shoulder again? No, that would be too forward.

“Glad to meet you, Henry. What are you in for?” Madison swiped a bead of sweat off her forehead.

“Arm, maybe broken. I mistakenly thought Jimmy John was Abbi’s boyfriend, so he must be yours.”

Madison silently sat wide-eyed and stared at the man. “Um...um.”

His brow creased at her non-comment.

Abbi halted from scrolling through the photo gallery and glanced at Jimmy John. Will they admit their feelings for each other? Madison doesn’t even realize she loves Jimmy John. This time, will he make some move toward asking her out?

He ducked his head between his shoulders. I guess not. Come on, Jimmy John, here’s your chance.

“I’ll ask when you’ll be seen.” He stood, paused in front of Madison, turned, and strode from the room.

“What’s wrong with him?” Madison gestured after Jimmy John.

Girlfriend, how blind can you be? “You’ll need to ask him.” Abbi shrugged and handed Henry her phone. Their fingertips brushed, and her heart jolted from his touch. Lord, are You telling me something? I’ve gone through high school without dating, and for some reason I want to find a career. Well, maybe not a career. If you want this man, Henry, in my life, You’ll need to make this relationship happen.

The nurse entered through the doorway and called for Henry. He stood, took one step, turned back, and handed Abbi a piece of paper. “My number. Call me. I want to take you on a date. I live in Grove Hill. Nothing is too far for me to drive. Just gotta heal first.” He flashed her a smile and followed the nurse through the door.

Bumfuzzled, Abbi stared at the back of the man as he stopped at the doorway and winked. Wow. He lives in my town. But I have never seen him before in town or at school. Is this You, Lord? I hope so. I like him. You kinda work fast. Joy filled her heart with the thoughts of having a romantic relationship—her first.

Abbi had always disliked being in or around hospital’s. She hadn’t noticed the thing she detested most the smells until Henry left. The awful odor of the hospital scents invaded Abbi’s nose. She figured the peculiar disinfectant they used to clean was the culprit. Jimmy John had committed not to leave her or Madison, and she knew his steadfast character—he’d keep his promise, regardless of how much the odors made him nauseous. She’d been friends with him and his family since she was a kid. They were healthy and never had a broken bone, so this visit to a hospital emergency room was his first, as well as Madison’s.

A nurse entered the waiting room and called Abbi’s name, and her friend jumped to his feet and wheeled her behind the nurse.

Madison kept pace with Jimmy John. “I’m right here, Abbi.” She hurried past Jimmy John to grip her hand.

The young nurse held up her hand and eyed the three. “You can’t all go into the exam room.”

In Abbi’s estimation, the nurse had suddenly grown two heads. It never dawned on her they’d be restricted. Throughout their friendship—since the fourth grade with Jimmy John, and Madison and her since kindergarten—they would never be separated when anyone was injured, sick, or heartbroken. They loved and fought for each other like brother and sisters…family.

Jimmy John softly spoke. “Ma’am, we must go with her. We’ve never been apart. We’re family.”

“Are y’all triplets? If so, you look nothing alike.”

All three nodded. The nurse accepted their acknowledgment and beckoned them to follow her. Abbi could breathe again. Madison gently rubbed her shoulder and smiled.

Even her family didn’t do that for her. Tears threatened, but she managed to bite them back—she didn’t want to be too wimpy. To be without her friends would break her heart. Had she become too dependent upon them? She wasn’t like Madison, aspiring to become an architect, or Jimmy John running his family business. They had ambitions. Not her, though, but one day she would, and she hoped soon.

Abbi’s family made sure that part of her was taken away with every little mean word and action. They doted on her brother. Somehow, he was the fair-haired golden child, and he made sure she knew too. Why hadn’t she left home and struck out on her own? Well, finances, of course.

After x-rays, the doctor entered the exam room. He explained she had no broken bones but had torn a few tendons. She would need therapy for at least six weeks and couldn’t work. He fitted her with a walking boot and scheduled an appointment with an orthopedic physician near Grove Hill.

By early afternoon, they arrived back home. The three assisted Abbi into the house and stood by her as she explained the accident. Her parents scolded her for squandering the money they had set aside for her brother’s clothes.

All she wanted to do was run to her room and cry, but she couldn’t—her ankle was injured. For years, Abbi had hidden her family’s awful treatment, and both of her friends were seeing it firsthand. Madison might try to make her go home with her and leave this horrible place. But the ugly truth was she needed her parents to pay her hospital and doctor bills until she got back on her feet…or foot.

She glanced at Madison, whose disdainful expression ratcheted higher with every word against her. Madison’s outspoken attitude would someday get the better of her, and today might be that day. She tried to hurry her friends out the door to defuse the situation. “Thanks, guys. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Madison stared a long time at her parents before she acknowledged Abbi. She didn’t dare look at Jimmy John. The way he defended her at the hospital, there was no telling what he’d say here.

Madison softly replied. “All right. You be careful, and I’ll check on you in the morning. Come on, Jimmy John.” She bent and hugged Abbi.

“We’ll bring your truck in the morning. See ya.” He squeezed her shoulder.

The door shut quietly behind them as they exited. Abbi braced herself for another scolding she knew would come.

Madison stomped to her truck, with Jimmy John following. He mumbled a little louder than she figured he ought to. If Abbi’s parents or brother heard him, would they retaliate with more restrictions? She hoped not. She opened the truck’s door, paused, and looked at Abbi’s bedroom window. The light was on, but how did she get upstairs so fast? She wanted to see her face one more time before she left. Somehow, she knew that wouldn’t happen. Abbi was getting another scolding from her mother or father, perhaps both.

For years, Madison was well aware how Abbi’s family treated her, but today was the worst. She witnessed and felt the same shame smothering her with the way they acted in front of them. She must find some means to get her friend away from that toxic environment. Since she graduated from high school, she was considered an adult. But they still took most of her income from her job at Toodie’s.

Madison slid behind the wheel. “We have to get her out of here. Any ideas?”

“Not at the moment. The only thing that comes to mind is if she lives with you or Taylor.” He scratched the side of his chin. “Taylor. If she roomed at her place and paid rent, then they’d both benefit.”

“Yeah. How will we talk Taylor or Abbi into agreeing? Taylor likes her privacy, and the Hortons require her to give most of her money in supporting her brother’s wants and desires.”

“Wow, she never mentioned a word to me about…well, any of this. How long have they treated her like this?”

“Years. She hadn’t told me about her struggles with her family. I’ve watched how they’ve treated her, but I had the advantage when you didn’t. I’ve often slept over at her place and seen for myself how they are. When she went to work at Toodie’s, they required her to pay them half and sometimes more of her salary and tips. Most of the time, she hides the tips. I helped her open a savings account, and the statements come to my place. She doesn’t want anyone to see or hear about them treating her like this, Jimmy John. They’ve always doted on her brother. Makes me wonder if she was adopted or maybe is a foster child. Let’s get home. We’ve had a long day.” She reached across the span and laid her hand on his. “Thanks for standing up for Abbi at the hospital. You’re right…we are family, and she’s like a sister to both of us.”

Wide-eyed, he replied. “You’re welcome, Madi. I—” He shook his head and stared out the window.

What’s wrong with him? Boy, has everyone gone off their meds today? She started the engine and backed out of the driveway.

The short drive to her house seemed longer as silence filled the truck’s cab until they arrived at her place. Madison put the truck in park and turned sideways in her seat. “You staying for lunch?”

“Absolutely. So long as your parents don’t mind.”

She laughed. “Please, don’t even think like that. I’ll help you load your gear, and we’ll see what’s on the stove.”

“Great.”