Freefall
The snow was fresh and clean, the mountainsides carved with ski trails. The weather had been perfect. Cold enough and little wind. The Crawfords had been out every day, not always early. Especially after their first day on the slopes. Every muscle in their bodies needed a late morning lie in. After that, there was no stopping them. Returning to their suite as the sun was setting, they ordered room service, showered, crawled into bed and watched movies. They talked or they were quiet. It may have been about the condition of the ski runs or how gorgeous the scenery was at the tops of the mountain. How the snow marshmallowed on to the pines curving branches down, sometimes bending the younger trees into cartoon shapes.
It was their last day when Emelina fell hard, losing one ski and landing in a heap against a tree. From behind, Jeremy watched her fall. It seemed in slow motion. He couldn’t get to her fast enough, as though his skis had just been frozen to the snow. They were almost alone, most skiers having finished and left for the day. A loud and panicked “Emelina!!!” echoed through the trees. When he finally reached her, she was sitting up, brushing the snow from her face and shoulders. She tried to stand, and cried out in pain. “Em! Are you all right? What happened?”
“I think I’m all right and I don’t really know what happened. One minute I was skiing along just fine and the next I was falling. The only thing that stopped me was this tree.” She patted the gnarled, peeling trunk. She winced. “Maybe I’m not all right, Jeremy. My ankle really hurts ~ I don’t think I can stand.” She looked up at him. “How are we going to get down? I’ve probably just sprained it but I won’t be able to tell until I get my boot off.”
“Leave your boot strapped tight and let’s get the ski off. There, now sit against the tree. You’re probably really getting cold.” He shrugged off his ski jacket and put it around her. Taking his cell phone from one of the inside pockets he punched a few buttons. “Who are you calling?” He held up his hand. “Hello. Is this Rescue?” After giving them his name and their location, he hung up. “I don’t know how they’ll find us. I just gave him the ski run we're on but after that all I could do was guess how far down the run we are. The cold is probably helping your ankle but once it warms up - oops. I guess you don’t really need to know that.” He sat on the snow beside her and put his arms around her, hoping the rescue team would get there quickly or they would both freeze solid.
~~~~~
Ten minutes seemed like ten hours. Emelina fell into a fitful sleep on Jeremy’s shoulder. When the rescue team arrived, they took her out on a stretcher. Jeremy skied along side them. Taking her to the small local hospital, her ankle was x-rayed. Emelina had been right - it was a bad sprain. They both breathed a sigh of relief. And Jeremy was right ~ once the ankle was free of the boot and warmed up, the swelling and the sprain put her in excruciating pain. The physician wanted her to stay overnight in their overflow bed but Jeremy wouldn’t hear of it. “I’m taking her back to our suite. I’m a physician, lots of ER experience, and can take care of her. We’re leaving tomorrow anyway.” They were able to get narcotic pain killers from the hospital pharmacy, enough to get them back to Hartley.
Their plans altered, he had their ski equipment shipped to the Estate. “You’re a good friend, Richard. Anytime I can do anything for you, please let me know. And I do mean that, anything, anytime.” The next day, Jeremy helped Emelina as she hobbled to the shuttle taking them back to the ferry. “I’ve called Dez and Matt. They’ll meet us at the ferry and get us home. I also called Cook and she’ll have supper ready for all of us when we get there. I’ll help you upstairs whenever you’re ready.”
“Jeremy, I love you but you’re starting to hover. You can relax now. I’m all right ~ sore but all right. I’ll keep my foot up and take my pain pills when I need them. Are you all right? You look pretty exhausted.”
“You’re right, Em. I am exhausted. Sleep was not my friend last night. I may have dozed a bit but I had to sit up and just watch you. An easy chair isn’t the most comfortable place even for a nap.” His laugh was half hearted. Although their week away from it all had been wonderful, it had ended so badly. But he really knew how much he loved Emelina.
~~~~~
Dez and Matt were at the ferry terminal just outside of Hartley, both looking worried. “I’m ok, Dez. Just a little fall and I’ve got a sprained ankle but I’m really ok. It’s Jeremy you need to worry about. He’s got 24 hours before he’s back at work. He needs to get some sleep! He’s been my doctor, my nurse and go-fer.”
Matt and Jeremy practically carried Em to Matt’s car. She started to argue with them but found it was useless so gave in and soon found herself tucked in to the front seat. They had pushed it back so she had lots of leg room, strapped her seatbelt in. Jeremy was about to get in the driver’s seat, but Matt wouldn’t let him. “You heard her, doc. You’re exhausted. Get in the back seat with Dez and we’ll get going.” Dez spoke up. “Cook’s got supper cooking. You probably don’t know it but you’re both starving after all that’s gone on since yesterday.”
Just before he leaned his head back on the seat he said: “You’re right, Dez. I am really hungry. Wake me when we get there.” And he was sound asleep. Emelina watched in her little make-up mirror on the visor. She relaxed against her head rest, adjusted her foot with a little wince and fell asleep.
“I guess it’s just you and me, Matt. Let’s get on the road.” The choked ferry traffic finally let them through to the highway. Matt turned on some music, low and calm. Music, the noise of the traffic, and deep breathing rested in the quiet.
“The fall takes no time and forever.”
~ Courtney Summers, Cracked up to Be
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