Page 11 of Smoke
“I-I like to make things. I just got a new bracelet kit.”
“Oh! What color bracelet are you going to make first?”
“P-pink. It’s for my friend, Eloise.”
“Oh, I love Eloise. Her Daddy does my tattoos and we play together sometimes at The Thirsty Turtle.”
Ah, that explained a lot. Thinking about it, I remembered the woman’s name was Lennon.
“I want to visit. Eloise says they have play parties,” Ash said, closing her eyes again.
“Hey, baby, keep those pretty hazel eyes open for me, okay?” I encouraged, trying to keep her awake.
“Head hurts,” she said, “and my ears are ringing.”
“I know you hurt, baby. I’m so sorry.”
“If you go to sleep, I’m going to have to get the yucky smelling salt again, and you don’t want that, do you?”
“Nooo,” Ashley moaned.
“Kay, can you call Elliot and ask if he can meet us at the hospital?” I whispered, not wanting to disrupt the distraction.
“On it,” she replied, rushing off to do as I asked.
“Dawson?”
“Hey, baby, I’m right here.” I put my hand on her upper arm gently.
“I’m so sorry,” she said. Tears made tracks through the blood streaked across her face.
“Hey, you didn’t cause any of this. None of this is your fault, baby.”
“She came looking for me. I should have just given her the money.”
More rage built inside of me.
“No, baby, you shouldn’t have. It’s your money. Your granna wanted you to have it. Diamond is just a greedy bitch. Nobody thinks this is your fault.”
“Fuck you, you—” Diamond was silenced by Bash; I didn’t bother looking back to see how.
“She’s still here?” Ashley cried in disbelief.
“Shhhh, it’s okay, baby. She is still here, but so am I, and Bash, and Kay, and even Lennon. So many people are here who care about you. You’re safe.”
“Yeah, we’re not going to let that old hag do anything else to you,” Lennon promised.
“The police are here!” someone yelled from the back.
“Hear that, baby? Soon we can get you out of here,” I promised.
Sirens filled the silence of the lobby. “That’s your ride, kiddo,” Lennon said, trying to lighten the situation. I made a mental note to call Blade and make sure she got free sessions for the rest of her life. Gratitude filled my heart at her kindness.
“Have you ever ridden in an ambulance before?” Lennon asked.
“Elliot is going to meet you there,” Kay whispered, coming back to kneel beside me. “The medics are coming in the back now.”
“One time, but I don’t remember much of it,” Ashley answered. I shuddered at the mention of her first ambulance ride after the explosion. I’d always been worried she’d beenterrified and that it haunted her. I was glad to know she didn’t remember it.
