Back Where You Belong by Vonnie Davis Page A

We’ll be right here.”
    Tyler’s foreman, Pete, ran over, concern evident on his face. “How’s the boss, Miss Lacy? Saw it happen. Nearly had a coronary.” He wrapped an arm around Olivia’s thin shoulders and kissed her hair. “Be strong now, Livvy.”
    Pete’s rapid breathing concerned Lacy. “I don’t know anything yet. He barked an order at me,” she said in hopes of easing the older man’s concerns. “Told me to stay. He recognized Olivia. I hope there’s no concussion.” Or broken bones or internal injuries .
    Now that the EMT had Tyler’s face cleaned off, he attached a butterfly to his lip and another along the side of his nose. One of Tyler’s eyes was swelling shut.
    “We’re taking him to the University Medical Center if you want to follow.”
    The man, swift and confident in his treatment process for his patient, barely spared them a glance as he cut Tyler’s sleeve to insert a stint in his arm. An IV tube was attached to administer fluids. The two began moving the stretcher toward the ambulance.
    “Lacy.” His voice was pained.
    “I’m here.” She hurried along side of the stretcher and took his hand.
    “I’m here, too, boss. Want me to bring Livvy and Miss Lacy to the hospital?”
    His one good eye opened briefly and focused on her. “Yes.” His hand turned in hers, and for an instant, their fingers entwined before he was lifted into the ambulance. Once the rear doors slammed shut, the vehicle sped off.
    “How bad is he hurt, Lacy?” Her grandpa clasped a hand on her shoulder. Polly was by his side.
    “He spoke a few words and knew who we were.” She took a shuddering breath, blinking away the tears and struggled to tamp down fears. He has to be okay. He just has to.
    “Frank,” Pete said, “the boss asked me to bring Miss Lacy along to the hospital. I’ll see she gets home all right.”
    Grandpa studied her for a beat. “Got your phone, girl?”
    She nodded and swiped at a tear. When her grandpa pulled her in for a hug, she was surprised.
    He whispered against her ear, “Stay with him as long as you feel the need. Your grandma, God bless her soul, woulda done the same for me. A man needs a good woman. I figure you and Tyler are a suitable match, and that little girl needs a momma.”
    “It’s a little early for talk like that, Grandpa,” she whispered back.
    “Huh, got eyes, girl. I see how you two look at each other. Like you’re both starved for somethin’ you’re scared to reach for. Go on, now. Call me later, ya hear?”

Chapter Eight
    Lacy sat with Pete and Olivia in the waiting area of the emergency room. A little boy raced around the orange plastic chairs, his clueless mother more intent on her phone conversation than her child. An elderly woman silently wept. A sullen teenager sat with his swollen foot propped on a chair, texting and asking his mother, once more, how long it would be until he saw a doctor. The snoring next to her grew louder. Pete, who had fallen asleep nearly an hour ago, sat with his head against the wall and his hands clasped over his barrel chest. Olivia had her nose in an old travel magazine she’d found in one of the racks on the wall by the door.
    “I’m going for some coffee from the vending machines. Do you want anything?”
    “Orange soda, please, if they have it.” She barely glanced up from the article she was reading.
    The girl acted more like a thirty-one-year old than a thirteen-year old. No whining, no grumping, no fuss at all.
    Lacy stood, stretched and then approached the elderly woman she’d been watching. She couldn’t stand seeing her cry with no one to offer comfort. “Excuse me, do you drink coffee or tea?”
    The lady dabbed at her eyes, surprise evident on her face. “Pardon?”
    “I’m going for some coffee. May I get you a cup of tea?”
    “That would be so kind of you, but I was so rattled when Ben had his heart attack, I didn’t bring my purse along to pay for anything. I just locked the door