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Second Chance Romance
by Jill Weatherholt
Chapter One
“Miss, can you hear me?” Jackson’s chest tightened. “C-can you open the door?”
The rain hitting his face felt like acupuncture needles. “I’m Jackson Daughtry, a paramedic. Can you hear me?”
The woman inside the silver Volvo didn’t respond. Her body slumped over the steering wheel, but he could tell she was breathing. Her flowing chestnut curls were covered in blood. He gripped the driver’s side door. It didn’t budge. He beat on the window. His knuckles burned.
“Hold on, miss.” It was Thursday, his first day off in ten days. Thankfully he was always prepared. Inside his trunk, he kept a fully stocked first-aid kit with compress dressings and bandages, all of the proper supplies for an emergency. “I’ll have you out before you open your eyes. You’ll be fine.”
Mud tried to tug his boots from his feet while he sprinted to his truck. Inside his Bronco, he wiped the pellets of rain off his face and grabbed his phone to call the station.
“Tom, it’s Jackson. I’m on Smith Farm Road, in front of the old Smith farm. I need an ambulance.”
“I thought today was your day off.”
“I was on my way to pick up Rebecca from the Whitesides’ house. She spent the night with her friend Mary.” He paused to catch his breath. “A deer darted across the road, and the car in front of me swerved straight into a chestnut oak. The driver is bleeding from her head, and she’s unconscious. Can you send the ambulance and contact the sheriff? I’ll make the report at the hospital.”
“Sorry, bud—I’ll call the sheriff, but the ambulance is at the Swanson place. They think Betsy had a heart attack. Poor Walter, he was beside himself when he called. Betsy collapsed while taking the roast out of the oven. It’ll be a while.”
Jackson’s stomach churned. The only downside of living in the small mountain valley of Sweet Gum, Virginia, was that there was only one sheriff’s car and one ambulance. “Call over to Waynesboro. They’ll send one.”
“No can do, my friend. I heard over the radio there’s a bad accident on Route 340.”
Jackson straightened his shoulders. “Never mind. I’ll take her to Sweet Gum Memorial myself.” He clenched his teeth, causing a pain to shoot through his jaw.
“Who is she, Jackson? Should I call her family?”
“She’s unconscious, man, and the car’s locked.” He massaged his temples. His head pounded. “The license plate says Washington, DC.” He remembered Rebecca, his precious daughter. “Do you mind calling over to the Whitesides’ house? Tell them I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Consider it done.”
Jackson pressed End. He grabbed the slim jim from his trunk, but it slipped from his hands and sank into the mud. He yanked it loose and sprinted to the Volvo. He jammed it down into the crack between the door and the window. Nothing happened. The car was a newer model. The slim jim wasn’t going to get him inside. He raced back to his trunk and grabbed a tire iron. He had no choice.
Standing next to the passenger window, he took a swing, and the glass exploded. With ease, he reached inside, popped the lock and flung open the door.
“You’ll be fine.” Please, Lord, let her be okay. “I’m going to unbuckle your seat belt and lift you out,” he told her, though she was still out cold.
The seat belt was stubborn. His knuckles throbbed from pounding on the window. “Hold on. I can’t get my hands on the release. One second and I’ll have you out.” Finally free, Jackson closed his eyes for an instant and tore off his bomber jacket.
“This will keep you warm and toasty.” He covered her with his leather jacket. Despite her slender frame, maneuvering her from behind the steering wheel wasn’t an easy task. His boots slid in the mud, and his knee rammed against the side of the Volvo. Rain pelted his face, stinging like sleet. He shivered when he glanced at the sky. It was dark as ink. Please, Lord, help me get her free. With precise movements he’d learned at the training academy and an answered prayer, finally she was in his arms.
She was featherlight. He carried her to the truck and laid her in the backseat as though she were made of antique china. “Let’s make sure you’re nice and comfortable,” he said, with hopes that his voice would somehow gradually bring her out of her unconscious state.
He scanned her face and pushed away a strand of blood-soaked hair. There were serious cuts on her cheek and forehead.
He dashed to the car to get her purse. Then he jerked open the passenger side door and spied a piece of paper on the floor. Drops of rain trickled down his hands when he picked it up. The ink had smeared, but it was still legible, and he could see it was directions to Phoebe Austin’s farm. He snatched the purse and bolted to his truck. He’d call Phoebe once he arrived at the hospital.
Inside the truck, he jerked the seat belt over his shoulder, turned and slid his phone from his shirt pocket. “Hold on. I’m going to get you to the hospital as fast as I can, but first I have to call to tell them we’re on our way.” Never one for high-tech gadgets, he opened his old flip phone. With the hospital on speed dial, he punched number nine. He tapped his foot while he waited for an answer.
After three rings, he heard a familiar voice. “Sweet Gum Memorial. This is Sara.”
He gulped in a deep breath. “Sara...hi. I’m glad you’re working. It’s Jackson.” He often had to dodge her advances, but she was a good nurse. He trusted her skills.
After giving her details of the accident, and their estimated time of arrival, he hit End and tossed his phone on the passenger seat. He gripped the steering wheel and closed his eyes. Lord, please watch over this woman. Guide us as we travel in these dangerous conditions.
Jackson started up the car, then jammed his foot on the accelerator and turned on the windshield wipers. The windows fogged. He rubbed his hand in large circles along the front windshield. He’d meant to get the defroster checked. There was never enough time.
“Are you okay back there?” He knew she wouldn’t answer, but maybe she could hear his words. “So, you were on your way to Phoebe’s house? She’s quite a character, isn’t she? We own a business together, The Coffee Bean. She runs the place. I’m just a backup, if she needs help. Did she tell you?” He blew out a breath. Lord, please, let her answer me.
The ride seemed endless. The pounding rain knocked the red maple leaves from the trees, splattering onto his windshield and littering the winding two-lane road. Deer grazed in a field, oblivious to the deluge. He eased his foot off the accelerator when his truck hydroplaned for a second time. “No sense in having another accident.” Up ahead a tree toppled over, thankfully not onto the road. He bit his lip. If only she would answer.
At last, through the foggy window, he spied the red glow of the emergency-room entrance. Thank You, Lord, for getting us here safe. Within seconds, Steve, a tall and lanky orderly, rushed toward his truck, pushing a gurney.
“Busy. This storm is creating lots of problems,” Steve said while he and Jackson removed the victim out of the truck and onto the gurney. “Has she been unconscious since you found her?”
Jackson wiped his hands down the front of his jeans. The rain tapered to a light drizzle. “Yes, she was out cold when I got inside her car.”
“Dr. Roberts is on duty,” Steve noted as he covered her with a blanket and pushed the rolling bed toward the hospital.
“That’s good.” Jackson turned and climbed into his truck. “I’m going to park. I’ll be right in.”
Inside the ER, Jackson approached Nurse Sara. With a clipboard in hand, she scribbled something with a red pen. She stopped and looked up. “Hi, Jackson. I’m glad you made it safe. Steve took the victim back to see the doctor.” She winked and flashed an overly whitened smile. “Did you find out her name?”
He handed her the purse he’d retrieved from the scene of the accident. “I don’t feel comfortable going through a woman’s things. You go ahead and check out her driver’s license.”
She took the bag and dumped its contents onto the counter. “Here it is. Her name is Melanie Harper.”
He arched an eyebrow. “I don’t know of any Harper in the area, do you?”
“I can’t think of any.”
Sara made it her business to know everyone’s business. If she said there weren’t any Harpers in these parts, there weren’t.
“According to the license, she has a Washington, DC, address.” Sara tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You said you found directions to Phoebe’s house inside her car. That must be where she was going.” She scooped the contents back into the purse.
He reached for his phone. “I’m going to step outside and call Phoebe. If Dr. Roberts comes out, tell him I’ll be right back.” He headed toward the back entrance and prayed Phoebe was either at The Coffee Bean or at home. Just like him, she wasn’t a fan of tech gadgets. She didn’t even own a cell phone, which made it difficult to reach her sometimes.
Outside, the storm had passed, and a glimpse of the sun slipped between the drifting clouds. Autumn in the valley was his favorite time of the year. He hit the number two on his phone and took a seat on the only dry bench in the courtyard. It was under a roof, but the warmth of the sun tapped his face. He glanced at his watch and saw it was 12:30 p.m. Since The Bean’s first day, his mother and Phoebe had made the decision to open only for breakfast and lunch. He hoped the afternoon crowd was winding down so Phoebe would pick up.
“The Coffee Bean. This is Phoebe.”
Phoebe’s voice always brought a smile to his face. After his parents’ deaths, she’d been like a mother to him and a grandmother to his daughter, Rebecca. His mother and Phoebe had grown up together and had opened The Coffee Bean as co-owners. When his mother had died only a year after his father, she’d left her ownership to Jackson. Over the years, he remained a silent partner, since Phoebe wanted to run the show on her own.
“Phoebe, it’s Jackson.”
“Well, hello there, Mr. Daughtry.”
No matter her circumstances, Phoebe was always full of joy. Jackson loved that about her. “Were you expecting company today?” The last thing in the world he wanted to do was cause Phoebe pain, but he had to tell her about Melanie.
“Yes, my niece, Melanie,” she answered. “You’ve heard me speak of her.” Dishes clanked in the background. “She’s the successful divorce attorney from Washington, DC. The one who never takes a vacation.”
He remembered. Phoebe had tried to convince her niece to visit Sweet Gum for years, but she’d always been too busy. He knew that she’d made partner at her law firm at an unusually young age. He thought she had a family, but maybe he was wrong. Something had happened last year, but Phoebe never wanted to talk about it. He wasn’t the type to get into people’s business, so he’d never pursued the subject.
“Jackson? Are you there? Is everything okay?”
His chest felt heavy. “It’s Melanie.” He gazed across the courtyard. A squirrel scurried through the fescue, toting a nut in its mouth.
“Melanie?” The dishes stopped clanking. “What happened?”
Jackson knew Phoebe better than most, but he wasn’t quite sure how she would react to the news. “She’s been in a car accident.” He paused to give her time to take in the news.
“Oh my word! Is she okay?” Phoebe asked, releasing short breaths into the phone.
“She was unconscious when I pulled her from the car.”
“Unconscious!”
“Please calm down and let me finish. There’s a serious cut on her forehead and one on her cheek. Though I don’t know if she has any internal injuries or a concussion. She’s in the ER with Dr. Roberts.”
“Thank God he’s on duty. He’s the best. I’ll be there as fast as I can.”
“Why don’t you stay put? I’ll pick you up. You shouldn’t drive when you’re upset.”
There was no hesitation. “Don’t be ridiculous. It will take longer. Besides, I want you there with Melanie until I arrive.”
He’d learned years ago not to argue with her. “Please take your time. The rain has stopped, but the roads are covered in wet leaves. It’s very slick. Be safe.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve been driving these roads since I was a teenager.” Phoebe hung up without saying goodbye.
Jackson turned and walked inside the hospital. He hoped to get a little information on Melanie’s condition from Sara, but he’d probably need to wait for Phoebe so they could both talk to Dr. Roberts.
Once inside, cleaning agents infiltrated his nose. He spied Sara chatting with a handsome young doctor. Jackson took a seat in the waiting room and prayed for the next ten minutes.
Finally Sara walked toward him. He stood and met her halfway. She brushed her blond bangs away from her eyes. “Dr. Roberts is ready to speak with Phoebe when she arrives.”
Jackson ran his hand across his chin. It was rough. He never liked to shave on his days off. One fewer thing to do. “How’s Melanie? Has she regained consciousness?”
Sara pursed her lips. “I’m sorry, Jackson, but you know I can’t talk to you about her condition. Neither can Dr. Roberts. You’ll have to wait for Phoebe.”
The young nurse disappeared through the ER doors, leaving behind a trail of potent fragrance.
Within a couple of minutes, Dr. Roberts appeared. Jackson had always admired him. With salt-and-pepper hair and slightly slumped shoulders, his experience was evident in his face and manner of speaking. He still worked five days a week and even made the occasional house call, if needed. He’d been on the staff at Sweet Gum Memorial for decades. He was not only an excellent doctor but also a pillar within the community.
“Dr. Roberts, it’s good to see you.” Jackson rubbed his hand across the back of his neck. Another tension headache was setting in.
The doctor smiled and extended his hand. “It’s good to see you, too, Jackson. It’s been a while. How’s your sweet little girl?”
Jackson shook his offered hand. “She’s great. Thanks for asking. This year she started afternoon kindergarten. She’s a voracious reader.”
Dr. Roberts nodded. “That’s great to hear. Books can open up an entire world to a child.” He cleared his throat. “Now, back to the patient. You know the confidentiality laws prohibit me from talking to you about Melanie’s condition. Once Phoebe arrives, I’ll fill you both in if it’s okay with Phoebe. She’s next of kin, so she’ll make the call. I know you’re worried, so I’ll say only that you can relax.”
“That makes me feel better.” Although she was just a stranger, there was something about Melanie. He wanted to protect her. He wasn’t sure where these f
eelings were coming from. Maybe it was because of her relationship to Phoebe. What else could it be?
“Speaking of Phoebe, how is she doing these days?”
Jackson noticed a sparkle in Dr. Roberts’s eye when he asked about Phoebe. Many years had passed since Phoebe’s husband had died. Jackson always hoped for a spark to ignite between her and the doctor. He’d love to see her enjoy a little male companionship. She still had many years ahead of her, time she shouldn’t spend alone. Of course, people could have said the same thing about him. “Phoebe’s doing great, busy as ever. I called her about fifteen minutes ago. I told her I’d pick her up since the roads are so treacherous. Of course she insisted on driving herself.”
He smiled. “Sure sounds like Phoebe. She’s quite stubborn when she gets her mind set on something. I’ll never forget that after my sweet Jane went to be with the Lord, Phoebe brought me an enormous meal every day. I told her it wasn’t necessary, but she insisted. I had mashed potatoes coming out of my ears.” Dr. Roberts laughed a deep belly laugh.
Jackson thought now was the time to slip in a good word about Phoebe, and perhaps devise a plan of action. “She’s stubborn, but you have to admit she’s a terrific cook. Her meat loaf and garlic mashed potatoes are the best in the valley.” He’d always heard people say the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach. “You should taste her new apple-pie recipe. She puts in just the right amount of cinnamon.”
“Stop, Jackson. You’re making me ravenous.” His tongue ran across his lips, and he rubbed his stomach. “I haven’t had time to eat lunch. I’ll probably have a slice or two of frozen pizza for dinner.”
Perhaps overstepping his bounds, Jackson took a chance. This man needed a home-cooked meal and a little female companionship. “I should talk to Phoebe about inviting you over for Sunday dinner. She always cooks enough for an army. Rebecca and I come home with a ton of leftovers.” Phoebe loved to have a house full of people. He’d definitely work on this.
