Page 93

“Well, hi, Dottie. We don’t have an appointment today,” CeCe said, hoping she hadn’t misread her appointment book.

“No, honey. I came by to get a bottle of wine from your sister.” Dottie giggled. “I giggle every time I say the name of her store.”

CeCe chuckled. “It is funny.”

“Anyway, I just wanted to come by to say hello and Ryan said you were gone to your spa day you do for the patients at the hospital.”

“I was. I left something in the back and came to get it.”

“That is such a good thing you do. Here,” Dottie said, rummaging in her purse. She handed CeCe a one hundred dollar bill.

“Dottie!”

“You remind me next year when you’re getting ready for it and I’ll give you more,” she said.

CeCe tilted her head then gave Dottie a hug. “Thank you.”

“My daughter had cancer and I sat with her when she had her chemo treatments. You gave her the cutest style when her hair grew back.”

“I remember that,” CeCe said. “She was at the spa day and Nora did her nails.”

“That’s right. She still remembers your kindness.”

CeCe smiled and nodded.

“Go on, now,” Dottie said. “I didn’t mean to hold you up. Those women are waiting on you.”

“Thank you, Dottie,” CeCe said. “I’ll see you next week.”

“You sure will.”

CeCe smiled at Ryan as she left through the back of the salon. As she hurried back to the hospital, she wondered how many women had experienced the annual spa day. They had been doing it for eight years now and each year they tried to add something to make it even better.

With the donations from Alexis’s friends, they were able to make sure each nurse in the department received a gift basket this year. The same gift baskets which were now in the back of her SUV. She glanced into the rearview mirror and could see them stacked in the box. A quick glance at the clock on her dash and she knew she had plenty of time to get back to the event.

A smile grew on CeCe’s face as she thought about having lunch with Alexis. She was looking forward to showing Alexis what the spa day was all about. Just then she heard an engine roar and looked in her rearview mirror then back to the front. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a blur.

“Oh shit!”

* * *

CeCe tried to open her eyes. She could hear beeping and someone talking. What was that pounding in her head? She was moving, but she wasn’t driving. Then she remembered. Her eyes opened.

“Hey, just stay still. We’re taking you to the hospital,” a kind voice said.

CeCe looked around her then back to the paramedic who had spoken to her. The hospital. Alexis!

“M–m–my…” CeCe stuttered.

“It’s okay. You’ve been in a car accident. Someone hit you,” the paramedic said. “You’ve got a nasty bump on your head.”

CeCe tried to nod, but the pain was excruciating and she winced.

“Easy, Ms. Sloan,” the paramedic said.

“I’m CeCe,” CeCe said hoarsely.

The paramedic smiled. “They’re going to take good care of you at the hospital.”