Inescapable Read Free Page B

strangers, all of them staring at me with wide eyes and worried expressions. I struggled to sit up. What was I doing in the street?
    â€œMaybe you should wait for the ambulance,” Doris said, trying to push me back down.
    â€œNo. I . . . I’m okay. What happened?”
    Even as she started to explain that I’d been hit by a car, I remembered. I pushed myself up to a sitting position, running my hands over my arms and legs. The only pain I felt was in my left hip and the back of my head.
    â€œI’m all right,” I insisted, feeling embarrassed to be the center of attention due to my sheer stupidity. I could hear Father’s voice. “I swear you don’t have an ounce of sense in your head, Elizabeth Lynn.” “R-really, I’m not hurt at all.”
    â€œAre you sure, miss?” An older man knelt beside me, his face pale and his voice unsteady. “You ran out in front of me. I tried to stop but couldn’t.”
    â€œIt’s not your fault. I wasn’t watching.” I struggled to my feet, feeling flushed by all the unwanted interest. “Please, I’m fine. I really am.”
    â€œI still don’t think you should get up until the ambulance arrives,” Doris said, frowning. “You could have internal injuries.”
    â€œNo. Just a bump on the head.” I glanced quickly across the street. The man with the red cap was gone.
    In the distance, the sound of a siren began to grow louder. I glanced up at my apartment window. “Charity’s alone. I need to get back. . . .”
    â€œYou stop worrying about that little girl of yours,” Doris said. “Wait here and let the paramedics look you over. I’ll take care of Charity.” She looked over at her husband. “Charles, you stay here with Lizzie. If they decide she needs to go to the hospital, you come let me know.” She smiled reassuringly at me. “We’ll keep Charity until you’re released, honey.”
    Go to the hospital? A blanket of fear fell over me like a shroud. Although Harbor House carries insurance on all their full-time employees, it’s not very good. A trip to the hospital could cost me a lot of money and create bills I had no way to pay. “No, I’m not going to the hospital. It’s not necessary.”
    Just then an ambulance pulled up, and two men in uniforms jumped out.
    â€œSomeone get hit by a car?” one of them asked.
    â€œRight here,” a man said. “She’s right here.”
    â€œI’m okay,” I said to the first paramedic who reached me. “I was knocked down, but nothing’s broken. No damage done.” I could feel beads of sweat form along my hairline. “Please,” I pleaded, “I’ve got to get back to my little girl.”
    The other paramedic, who was very good-looking, said, “Why don’t you just let us check you out? It won’t take long. Better safe than sorry.”
    â€œNo thank you. Really.” I knew I sounded manic, but the idea of more bills terrified me. Was my insurance even in force? Would being fired for theft disqualify me from benefits? I couldn’t risk finding out.
    The first paramedic, who was a little older, folded his arms across his chest. “Ma’am, are you refusing treatment?”
    I nodded quickly. “Yes, I’m refusing.” I glanced back and forth between the two men, who appeared irritated that I wouldn’t allow them to toss me in the back of their ambulance and cart me off to the emergency room “So I can do that? Refuse, I mean?”
    â€œYes, of course you can. It’s a free country.” The first guy looked at his partner. “Grab a release form.”
    The younger paramedic jogged back to the ambulance, muttering something about wasting everyone’s time.
    â€œYou really should let them look you over,” an elderly woman said harshly. “It’s irresponsible