The Noel Bridge

Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

W hen Alicia woke to the gray light coming through the window, she’d had another completely uninterrupted, full night of sleep. And while it had been restorative, and she’d slept like a baby, it meant Dean hadn’t returned.

The clink of dishes and the rich aroma of coffee coming from the kitchen captured her attention. She pushed off the blankets, folded them, and set them on the sofa. Then she went to the kitchen to see who was up.

Leo was already dressed and stood at the sink rinsing the glasses from last night and loading the dishwasher.

“Good morning,” he said when she joined him.

“Morning.” She ran her fingers through her tangled hair.

“I hope I didn’t wake you.”

She shook her head. “You didn’t.”

He dried off his hands on a kitchen towel and draped it on the sink. “Coffee?”

“Yes, please. ”

Leo retrieved two mugs from the cabinet, filled them, and then handed her one. “Cream and sugar?” He slid the container of cream her way.

She got a spoon from the drawer and added a little cream, stirring as she peered out the window at the newly fallen snow. Not a single track through the backyard.

“No word from the sheriff?” she asked.

“Nothing. I already called this morning and left a message.” He drank from his mug, thoughts evident in his gaze. “I’m going to work on digging out our cars and then try to clear the driveway. It looks like the plows have been by, so if I can get us out the driveway, I can get you to the hospital, and then we can start looking for Dad.” He finished his coffee in a gulp and then put his mug in the sink.

“Sounds good. Want me to help you?”

“No thanks. Stay inside in case Dad comes back.”

“Okay.”

He put on his boots and coat and went outside. Alicia went into the living room, grabbed her phone, and took the folded paper from her coat pocket. She unfolded it and then rummaged for a pen in a catchall basket in the kitchen. She sat at the kitchen table and filled out the hospital volunteer form.

“Hey there, sunshine,” Evelyn said as she came into the room. “Ooh, coffee.” She set about preparing herself a mug and then sat down next to Alicia. “What’re you doing?’

“I thought since you still need to spend some quality time with your parents, I’d get out of your hair and volunteer at the hospital next week. So I’m filling out an application.”

“That sounds like a great use of your time. Tabitha Brice is a nurse there, did you know that? ”

“Yeah, I saw her when I stopped by the other day. We talked a little.”

“She told me the Fergusons need help.”

“With what?”

“She said Dr. Mitchell and Dr. Rose are getting older, and they don’t run the hospital as well as they used to. It’s just getting too much. I’m sure they’d appreciate any assistance you could offer.”

Alicia hadn’t considered the fact that time had affected the two doctors as well. She wasn’t sure she could fill their shoes. “Well, I’m excited to get started.”

She finished the form and took a picture of it with her phone. While she sipped her coffee, she pulled up the website and selected the contact form. After typing in a message, she navigated to their upload button and attached the image.

Suddenly, Leo’s phone buzzed across the room, startling both of them. Alicia got up and went over to it. The screen identified the call as: “Miles County Sheriff’s Department.”

With Evelyn on her heels, Alicia snatched up the phone and ran to the door, opening it quickly.

“Leo!” she called waving the phone. “The sheriff’s calling!”

Out at the edge of the drive, Leo yelled back, “Answer it!” He dropped the shovel and trudged toward them.

Alicia swiped to answer and held the phone to her ear. “Hello, this is Alicia Silver answering for Leo Whitaker.”

“Hello, ma’am,” a deep Southern drawl said. “Is Mr. Whitaker available? We’ve got some news for him.”

“Yes, give me one second.” She held out the phone as a winded Leo pulled off his glove and took it from her.

They all stepped inside and shut out the cold. Leo’s boots dropped clumps of snow on the rug as he listened. Then his mouth fell open, his eyes widening.

Alicia’s heart began to thump and she consulted Evelyn. Could her friend make out the expression on Leo’s face? Because she certainly couldn’t. But then his lips curled up, excitement filling his features.

“I’ll be there as soon as I can dig the car out. Thank you.” He ended the call, scooped up Alicia into his arms, and spun her around, making her squeal. He put her down. “They found Dad and he’s okay,” he said, his eyes glistening.

“What? Where?”

“There’s a hunter’s lodge in Traverse County across the valley for rent. The back door was left unlocked. He’s been surviving on a few cans of food that were left there. He’s dehydrated and hungry, they said, but he’s okay. They took him to the hospital in Sandston, to make sure his vitals are all in check.” He let out a wild laugh of relief. “I’ve got to get the car out.”

“We’ll help!” Evelyn said, rushing over to her piled ski clothes and putting one leg into them.

“Go, go,” Alicia urged Leo. “We’ll meet you out there.”

Leo flung open the door and hurried outside while Alicia ran over to the chair and grabbed her own snow attire, putting it on as fast as she could. Once she and Evelyn were dressed warmly, they joined Leo outside. The car was almost cleaned off and Leo had already pulled two more shovels from the garage and handed them each one.

“We’ll make a path directly behind the car out to the road.”

They got started. The snow was deep, and the work was difficult. Alicia pushed with all her might and struggled to make progress. Leo must have noticed because he came over and jammed his shovel into the snow, crunching it. Underneath a layer of ice, the snow was powdery soft. He went over and did the same for Evelyn before he began pounding the top layer in a path to the street. Once the frozen layer was broken, they could move it a little easier, and they worked meticulously to clear out enough to allow the tires space to roll.

While she worked, Alicia kept trying to process the fact that Dean’s story hadn’t ended the way she’d originally feared. Maybe there was good in the world. For some reason, Bo had to go, but Dean needed to stay a little longer. Perhaps Dean getting lost and then being found was meant to teach them all not to give up when hope seemed lost.

She still wasn’t sure if the bridge had helped. But they could technically be one of those news stories now. And maybe that would give other people hope too.

As soon as they’d cleared a path, Alicia and Evelyn climbed into Leo’s Land Rover.

“Hey, I won’t be in today,” Leo told his manager at the diner while he shut the driver’s door and started the engine.

With the phone pressed to his ear, he caught Alicia’s eye and their gaze locked in unified resolve. A fizzle of happiness swam through her and, in that moment, she had a stunning feeling that there was nowhere else she should’ve been right then. Since Bo had passed, she hadn’t had any sense of direction until that very minute.

As he explained about his dad to the person on the other end of the line, Alicia twisted around to view Evelyn in the backseat, feeling euphoric. While Alicia could guess how much Leo probably had to do, certainly there was no way he could work. His family had been given back to him, and she understood how incredible that was. She could only imagine what it felt like to know his dad was safe.

Leo finished the call and dropped his phone into the center compartment between the seats. His tires protested against the icy driveway, spinning wildly as the engine revved. He put it in drive and the vehicle groaned, then he shifted back into reverse.

“Hang on,” he warned.

Alicia grabbed the handle on her door and held tightly.

Leo hit the gas and the engine growled once more, but they broke free and fishtailed before straightening and moving backward. Alicia was relieved when they’d made it down the long drive and bumped over the final pile of snow to pull onto the main road. Excitement whirred in the air as they drove toward Sandston, the next town over, and Traverse County Hospital.

When they passed the turnoff for the bridge, Alicia caught Evelyn looking down the road.

“You have to wonder if the bridge had anything to do with this,” Evelyn said.

“I don’t think it did,” Alicia decided. “Dean is an outdoorsman, and he had supplies and knew how to survive. Right, Leo?”

“Yep. He could live in the woods for months if he was prepared enough.”

“Even though his memory is failing him, he subconsciously knows how to make the best decisions for his survival. He fished, kept moving, and sought shelter.” Saying it out loud helped Alicia realize Dean’s safety undoubtedly had nothing to do with the bridge.

“You’re probably right…” Evelyn said, but the way her words trailed off, she didn’t sound co nvinced.

After driving through the snowy hills into Sandston, they pulled into Traverse County Hospital. Leo parked and they dashed across the icy lot. The hospital doors swished open, and Leo approached the front desk to tell them he was there. He got clearance and they were handed visitor stickers, then Leo led them to the elevator.

“He’s in room 302,” he said, stepping in and hitting the third-floor button.

When the elevator opened again, they stepped out.

“It’s probably better if I go in first,” Leo said. “He might be alarmed when he doesn’t recognize you two.”

“Of course. We’ll wait out here,” Alicia said.

They reached the room and Leo opened the door just as Dr. Mitchell from St. Francis West was on his way out. Leo nodded to him and continued into the room.

“Evelyn?” Dr. Mitchell said, recognizing her right away. “What are you doing here?”

“We’re here with Leo to check on his dad.” She gestured toward Alicia. “You remember Alicia Silver, don’t you?”

Dr. Mitchell broke into a smile that nearly split his face. “Alicia Silver, I haven’t seen you in years. How’s the family?”

“Everyone’s great,” she said.

“You just missed my wife. Rose would’ve loved to see you.”

“Well, I’m here until Friday, and I actually just emailed my volunteer form to St. Francis West. I thought I’d help out if you need it. I’m a nurse.”

“You’re an angel is what you are. Rose and I could definitely use the help—so much that she dragged me to the bridge to ask for it.” He shook his head. “Ridiculous, the things we do for our wives. ”

Evelyn lit up. “You asked for help at the bridge and you got it.”

“Fair enough,” he said with a laugh. “Are you volunteering here as well?”

“No,” Alicia replied. “I’m friends with Leo and I’ve been following his dad’s disappearance. I was actually in St. Francis West when the sheriff stopped by to talk to you the other day. I was going to say hello then, but you seemed busy.”

“Indeed.” He let out a breath.

“So what are you doing here? Helping out?”

“We came to visit Mr. Whitaker. I’ve been checking in with the police department daily. As soon as the sheriff told me he’d been found, I just had to know he was okay.”

“That’s so kind of you to come all this way in the snow.” But it wasn’t surprising. Kindness was what she remembered most about the Fergusons. She didn’t know a single doctor back in Savannah who had driven in a storm to see a patient out of the goodness of their heart. Not to say the doctors she worked with weren’t thoughtful, but it was different in Noel. It was the way of life in a small town.

“Well, I must go. I’ve got my own patients to tend to, and we’re shorthanded.”

“I’ll be there as soon as the paperwork clears,” Alicia said.

Dr. Mitchell patted her on the shoulder. “Consider it cleared.”

“Don’t you just love him?” Evelyn said after Dr. Mitchell had gone. “He’s the best. I don’t know what the hospital is going to do when he retires. He does so much for the community, going above and beyond what most people would do. I don’t think there are many doctors these days who’d make house calls or visit other hospitals to see patients. And I think he knows that too, which is why he’s still working.”

Leo opened the door and gestured to them. “Come on in, ladies.”

Inside the hospital room, Dean was sitting up in the bed wearing a blue-and-white hospital gown and sipping a can of soda. He brightened when Alicia and Evelyn entered.

“Hello,” he said, his bushy gray eyebrows rising. “I’m Dean Whitaker.” He seemed proud to have remembered his name.

Alicia grinned at him. After all she’d been through with helping Leo, she felt as if she knew Dean. “I’m Alicia Silver. And this is my friend Evelyn Baton. We’ve heard a lot about you.”

“All good things, I hope.”

“Yes,” she said, the significance of the moment taking her breath.

“I went out fishing and got lost,” he told her. “I couldn’t for the life of me remember our address or how to get home.” He recounted his treacherous walk through the woods, how he’d stopped at the small shack and then gone farther into the forest until he came upon the cabin, where he’d planned to stay until the storm passed. “From now on, I’m not going to leave Leo’s side.”

Leo’s eyes were glassy with emotion. “I’m perfectly fine with that.”

The staff brought Dean an early lunch, and Leo told him he’d be back shortly and would stay the rest of the day. Then he offered to take Evelyn and Alicia back to his house to dig out Evelyn’s car so they could get home and relax. Once they were in the hallway, Evelyn excused herself to use the ladies’ room and Leo pulled Alicia aside .

“I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done. I’m so grateful,” he said.

“I really didn’t do much, so it was no problem at all,” Alicia said.

His gaze swallowed her. “I want to see you again. Promise you won’t leave town without finding me.”

Her heart fluttered as she looked up at him. The truth was, she wanted to see him again too. “I promise.”