She carefully looked over the side to see that Kent now had his arm wrapped around Abby’s waist. The other woman was pale as she stared up at Marisol in worry.
“I’m fine,” Marisol replied. Another shiver ran through her and her teeth started to chatter.
“Marisol climbed the ladder and then it started wobbling and scared her so she climbed onto the roof of the porch and now she won’t get down. And I can see how cold she is from here.”
A big red truck pulled up beside Kent’s and Linc fairly shot out of the driver’s seat. Relief flooded her. She was going to be all right. Linc was here.
Linc wouldn’t let anything happen to her.
“What the fuck is going on?”
She winced at his roar. He was yelling and swearing. That wasn’t a good combination. “Marisol! What are you doing up there?”
“She climbed up to wash the windows and now she’s too scared to climb down. The ladder was on the ground when I got here and she was clinging to the roof. But you have to get her down, she’s so cold,” Abby said worriedly.
She didn’t add that she’d been up here at least an hour before Abby arrived. Her whole body was starting to feel like a popsicle but especially her face and hands. She wished she could move, but she was too scared to.
“I’m coming up the ladder to get you, Mari-girl.”
She let out a small whimper but didn’t protest. She wanted down from this roof. And she knew now that Linc was here, she was safe.
He soon appeared at the edge of the roof.
“Linc,” she gasped out.
“Baby, it’s all right. I’m here. I want you to come towards me, though. I’m going to guide you back down the ladder.”
She shook her head.
“Come to me, teeny. I don’t want to add my extra weight to the roof in case it can’t take it.”
“I . . . I can’t.”
“Do you trust me, Mari-girl?” he asked calmly.
“Yes.”
“Do you know that I’d never let anything happen to you?”
“Yes.”
“Then come here, teeny.” His voice was firm. An order that was expected to be obeyed and her body was moving before her brain could even catch up. When she was close to him, he reached up and grabbed hold of her hips gently, drawing her closer to him until she was pressed against him, her legs hanging down, on either side of his torso. She wrapped her arms around his neck as she shook, both from the cold and with relief that she was in his arms.
“I’m going to guide you down, baby.”
She shook her head. “I can’t do it.”
“You can.” He took hold of her chin. “You can do this. You will do this. Understand me?”
His command filled her. His confidence calmed her. His presence kept her in the here and now with him.
“I am going to take care of you, teeny. All you have to do is listen to Daddy and do exactly what he tells you to. Understand?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“Good girl. Now, I want you to roll onto your belly. I’m not going to let you go. I promise. I won’t let you fall.”
She whimpered but rolled onto her belly. He kept his hands on her at all times, guiding her down, keeping her between him and the ladder. When he was on the ground, he grabbed her around the waist and lifted her down, turning her in his arms so she was cradled against his chest.
“She okay? She hurt?” Kent asked from behind her.
She burrowed in closer against Linc, breathing in his scent. He walked inside with her. Her teeth chattered.
“No, I don’t think so. Just scared and cold.”
“You want me to call Doc?” Kent asked.
“Yeah, thanks.”
“No,” she said. “N-no, I don’t need Doc. I’m just c-cold and tired.”
“Linc?” Kent asked.
“Call him,” he said grimly. “She’s freezing cold and I want to make sure she’s all right.”
“Linc, I don’t need Doc. I’m fine,” she protested as he laid her on the sofa with an admonishment to stay there.
Kent, who was on the phone, stepped towards the fireplace, throwing on more wood.
Linc returned seconds later with her bag so she could check her blood sugar.
“Is there something I can do?” Abby asked anxiously, hovering to the side. “A hot drink? Hot water bottle?”
“Actually, sweetheart, could you go into our bedroom, it’s just down the hall to the left, and grab Marisol’s doll and blanket that are on the bed?”
Abby nodded and took off.
“Linc,” she hissed in protest. Now Abby would know she slept with a snuggly and Princess Nana.
“Hush,” Linc said firmly. “When was the last time you ate?” She held out her finger for him to prick.
“Umm. Lunch time, I think. What time is it?” If she was honest, she was feeling a bit light-headed and woozy.
“What can I do?” Kent asked just as Abby raced back in and bounced into him. She would have fallen if he hadn’t grabbed hold of her.
“Whoops.” She handed Marisol her doll and blanket.
“Can you get me some blankets,” Linc said to Kent. “Her blood sugar is low.” He showed her the number before grabbing a small tube of glucose tabs from her kit. He opened up two and gave them to her.
Kent returned with a handful of blankets and they started piling them over her.
“I don’t need blankets,” she said irritably, pushing them back. She was sweaty and shaking.
Linc placed his hand over her forehead. “You feel cold to me. You’re irritable because your blood sugar is low.”
“I am not.” She scowled at him.
Linc moved to her feet, removing her shoes and rubbing her feet. She groaned in pleasure.
They heard a door open and close and then Doc strode in, carrying a big black bag. “What’s going on? What happened?”
“Marisol climbed up on the roof to clean those top windows and then the ladder fell giving her a fright,” Linc told him.
“That sounds like a damn foolish idea,” Doc said gruffly, coming over to stand over her. “You’ve taken your blood sugar levels?”
“We just did it,” Linc replied. “It’s low. She just had two glucose tabs.”
“Good. There a reason you guys are here?” Doc asked Kent as he set his bag down next to the sofa.
“Always nice to see you, Doc,” Kent said dryly. “We’ll go. Linc, let us know if you need anything.”
Linc gave a nod and sent a small smile to a worried Abby. “Thanks. She’ll be okay, sweetheart. I’ll see to that.”
“Take tomorrow off, I’ll get everything covered. I think I still remember what to do.” Kent winked at Marisol. “Feel better, honey.”
Abby gave Marisol a gentle hug on her way past. “Let me know if you need anything.”
“Thanks, Abby,” she said tiredly.
“Right, how long were you up there for, Marisol?” Doc asked as he took her pulse.
“I don’t know, about an hour or more.”
“And when did you last eat?”
“Umm, I think about four or five hours ago.”
“It will be written in her notebook.” Linc disappeared for a moment, returning with the notebook she used to record what she ate and when. “Nearly five hours.”