Cole's expression sharpened. "Sometimes?"
Emily closed her eyes for a second. "It'll pass. Just give me a minute."
"How long has your knee been doing this?"
She did not answer.
"Emily."
There it was again. Her name, spoken like it mattered.
She looked at him. "Months."
Reese swore under his breath.
Cody stared at her as if he had never seen her before.
Cole lowered his voice. "Months? You have been walking around this shop for months with your leg giving out?"
"Not every day."
"That's not what I asked."
"I manage it."
Marcus came closer, shame already beginning to change his posture. He had spent the last three days explaining motorcycles loudly enough for everyone to hear. Now he stood almost silent.
Cole looked at Emily's face, then at the work floor, then toward the Harley. A thought occurred to him, and the anger that returned this time was not directed at her.
"You were hurting when you fixed the bike."
Emily said nothing.
"You got down on that floor with this knee."
Still nothing.
Reese looked toward the workbench. "That's why she braced herself against the counter when we came back in."
Emily shot him a look that told him he was not helping.
Cole ignored it. "Why didn't you tell anyone?"
"Because I need the job."
"That is not an answer."
"It's the only one I've got."
She took a slow breath as the pain began to loosen. "I don't have insurance that covers what I need. I don't have savings for a private orthopedic workup. I can stand most days. I can work most days. So I work."
Cole looked stunned. "And when it gives out?"
"I wait for it to stop."
"Alone?"
Emily's expression changed just enough for him to understand the answer.
Cole looked up. "Cody, call an ambulance."
"No." Emily grabbed his forearm. "No ambulance."
"You just collapsed."
"Do you know what an ambulance ride costs?"
"Do you know what happens if this is worse than you think?"
"It already is worse than I think. That doesn't mean I can pay for it."
Cole stared at her hand on his arm. Even in pain, she was calculating cost. Even after saving his motorcycle, she was trying to make herself less expensive to everyone around her.
"Fine," he said. "No ambulance."
Relief flashed across her face.
"I'm taking you myself."
"Mr. Walker-"
"Cole."
"Cole, I don't need-"
"That wasn't a question."