I limped out to the ambulance with Grant’s arm around my waist, and found Vic in the back, working on Lee’s chest with paddles. I would have feared that the way Lee’s body jerked and shook with each jolt would break something if it weren’t obvious he was long gone.
“I’m sorry. I would have come back.” Vic didn’t have to explain, didn’t have to apologize. I understood.
“It’s OK.” It was. “But Lee’s gone, sweetheart. You need to stop.”
He paused, dropped the paddles, and pushed sweat-damp hair out of his eyes with shaking hands. For the first time since I had met him, Vic seemed lost.
“Help me up,” I said. I was giving him an assignment. “Stabilize my ankle and drive us home.”
We could deal with all the other stuff later.
