Crystal Bay

Chapter Twelve

Melody laughs, watching me attempt to hang an ornament on the Christmas tree in our finally finished and now much larger house, my swollen belly bumping the tree and knocking it back a little. "Maybe you should let the rest of us handle the tree," she giggles. "Before you knock it right over!" 

"You are an evil child," I chuckle. 

"Me? Paul's the one who's recording this!" She points. 

"Tattletale!" Paul turns the phone on her and she sticks out her tongue. "She has a point though babe," he says. "Maybe you should stick to setting up the village on the sideboard, probably safer. We don't want to trash the place after all of the work that's been done." 

"Listen," I begin, but before I can say more, I hear my phone ring. "You're lucky I have to get that," I tell them, leaving to retrieve it from the kitchen counter.

"Hi Sophie," I greet cheerfully on my way back to the living room. "How are you? Too fat to decorate your tree, like I am?" 

"It's Ryan," she sobs into the phone. "He fell off the roof...he was supposed to wait...May it's bad." I almost drop the phone, my heart sinking like a stone. "I know you're far, but can you please come?" 

"Of course," It's taking all of my strength not to fall apart, knowing I need to be strong for her right now. "I'll leave right away. How did it happen?" 

"I'll tell you everything when you get here. Can you call Joe, too? I called Ryan's mom and mine already, but I don't think I can handle anymore phone calls right now." 

"I'll call him from the car and I'll be there as quickly as I can." 

"Thank you," she chokes through her tears, before hanging up. The instant she disconnects, I crumble, leaning against the wall to stop myself from falling to the floor.

"Baby?" Paul asks, rushing over to pull me into his arms. "What is it? What happened?" Pulling away from him, I hurry to get my shoes on, telling him what I know as I do. 

"I have to get to Pinewood right away!" I stress. 

"I'm coming too," Melody states firmly. "If Uncle Ryan's hurt, I want to be there for him and Aunt Sophie." 

"Let me call Mom," Paul says. "See if she'll watch David and Chelsea, I'm coming with you. I'll drive while you make your calls." 

"Thank you, but we really need to hurry." I strain again. 

"I know baby, we'll be out of here in two minutes and I'll get us there as fast as I possibly can. Mom?" He says into his phone when she picks up. "There's an emergency in Pinewood, I need to get May there now. Can I drop Dave and Chelsea off at your place for the night? Thanks, we'll be right over."

Within ten minutes, we're on the highway, driving as fast as we're able through the rapidly falling snow. Joe doesn't answer his phone, but when I try Paige she picks up. "Is Joe with you?" I ask her. "You both need to get to the hospital right away!" 

"He just ran to the store for me before he heads to Ryan and Sophie's place; he left his phone here. What's going on?" 

"Sophie called me, apparently Ryan fell off the roof, she said he's hurt badly. I'm on my way but it's going to be about an hour before I can get there and I'm pretty sure she's alone right now." 

"Joe's just pulled up, we'll drop Alexa off at my parents' house and head over there right away. I hope he's ok, Joe was supposed to go over there and help him put up his lights and some new roof decorations he bought yesterday. He must have decided to get started while he waited for Joe to get there. Anyway, I'll fill your brother in and we'll see you at the hospital."