The Random Acts of Cupid (Christian Romance) (16 page)

Dr. McAllister’s eyes shot back to me, sizing me up. Obviously having questions, he said instead, “I need some help.”

Maybe he assumed I had some medical training. Then again, maybe I was just the best choice of assistants. The other three guys in the room didn’t look like they would be able to tell the difference between a pair of tweezers and a chainsaw.

I followed Dr. McAllister as he checked each patient. I don’t remember what he did. I was in a daze, simply following his orders.

The loud chopping of a helicopter broke the hush of the room. Paramedics rushed in with gurneys and quickly transferred the family to the waiting helicopter. As the lights and sounds faded away, Dr. McAlister took my hand, led me to a couch in front of the fire, and placed a mug of hot cocoa in my stiff fingers.

He sat down beside me, his gaze concerned. “I haven’t even asked if you are hurt.”

“No. Just cold.”

He wrapped a blanket around me, saying, “Can you tell me what happened?”

Almost like a recitation, I recounted every detail, but it was like I was talking about someone else. I felt nothing.

When I finished, I asked softly, “Are they going to be alright, Dr. McAlister?” I vaguely noticed that my hands around the mug had begun shaking.

He winced. Seeing my cocoa was about to slosh out of my hands, he took the mug, put it on the coffee table, and held my cold hands in his warm ones.

His eyes met mine. “Call me Seth. And I’m not really a doctor, not yet anyway. I’m in medical school. George is an old friend who tends to exaggerate my accomplishments and ignore my faults.”

“I’m Hannah.”

Knowing I was still waiting for an answer, he sighed. “I think the kids are going to be fine. I’m not sure about the mom. She's lost a lot of blood. I don’t think the dad will make it. They'll do everything possible, but his chances are very slim.”

I appreciated his honesty. “I don’t know why my hands are shaking,” I murmured. Thinking back to what I had done, I felt a burning behind my eyes. “I had to do a lot of maneuvering to get the man out of the car. It was really rough. Maybe I hurt him more.”

I whispered. “Do you think he’ll die because of something I did?”

Warm tears rolled down my face. Seth took my face in his gentle hands, lifting my chin so our eyes met.

“Hannah, none of those people would have made it without you. Do you understand? They would have all died. You told me, but I still don’t understand how you did it. I do know that you saved them.” His thumb massaged my cheek. “I don’t think I’ve ever met a woman who was so strong and brave.”

I let out an almost hysterical giggle. “I’m not brave at all. If you only knew. My own shadow scares me regularly!”

“You did what had to be done even though you were afraid. I call that bravery.”

Seeing his honest face looking at me with such admiration, I lost it. The shaking hands turned into full body convulsions. The hysterical giggling transformed into heaving sobs. I couldn’t catch my breath. My throat, eyes, and chest burned, but I was so cold. I relived yet again every last detail of the night. But this time, I felt everything.

Seth held me close, caressing my hair, wiping my tears, whispering words of comfort. His lips traced gentle kisses across my forehead. While this would normally be a strange intimacy with someone I just met, with Seth it felt right. Comforting.

Eventually I felt the warmth of his strong arms seep through the cold. My sobs lessened as my body relaxed. I clung to Seth. I felt a blessed numbness as warmth stole over me. My eyelids grew impossibly heavy.

As if in a dream, I felt myself being carried, floating up the stairs until I was laid gently upon a soft bed. Seth covered me with a blanket. I tried to speak, but I couldn’t remember any words. I felt a gentle kiss on my forehead and a whispered, “Good night.” My last memory was of those blue-green eyes and a feather-light touch on my face.

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