But he didn’t.
Her heart lurched in her chest, and the voice in the back of her head said she was being a grade-A bonehead. She ignored both and walked barefoot across the courtyard and into the small lobby. She put her shoes on and the rideshare pulled up. It matched the picture, and the driver was a middle-aged Latina. Safe as houses.
The driver rolled down the window. “Everything okay, chica?”
“Yes—no. I’m fine, but my mom’s in the hospital in Tucson.”
“Okay, I’ll get you there.”
She settled into the back seat, refusing to watch the B and B shrink into the distance. Instead, she pulled out her phone to read all the messages. Ami’s grew more unhinged, her dad’s were simple, but she could hear the coolness that came over him in emergencies, and Leo’s were plain emojis. Long strings of them, and she was too tired to parse out what the hell they meant. She sent a text to Ami, figuring her dad needed to focus on whatever was going on with Mom.
E: On my way.
She looked at the two from Karina.
K: Yes, take the weekend. The HR manager is out today and tomorrow, so we’ll talk Friday and discuss with you on Monday.
The second was more personal.
K: Your father called. Get in touch with him ASAP, there’s been an emergency. Stay safe, Elissa.
At least she hadn’t ruined her personal relationship with Karina.
Elissa leaned her head against the window, watching the shadowy shrubs and trees pass in the headlights on the curvy state highway. Part of her heart lay ahead, part behind. She’d made her choice, and now she’d have to live with it.
“Hey, chica, we’re here.”
The rideshare driver’s voice woke Elissa. She must’ve dozed off as they hit I-10. She rubbed her eyes and wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth.
“Thank you,” she said, pulling out her phone. Only a bit past one in the morning. The driver had made great time, and Elissa added a generous tip.
“Hope your mom is okay.”
Elissa got out. “Me too.”
She watched the red taillights pull away and called her sister as she walked into the hospital. Ami answered on the first ring.
“Where the fuck have you been?”
“It…it doesn’t matter. I’m at the hospital. Where are you?”
“Emergency waiting room. I see you.”
Elissa hung up and looked around. Her sister waved frantically, and Elissa hurried over. Her brother was curled up in a chair, looking so small for a boy so tall. Her dad sat on the other side of Leo, his head in hands braced on his knees. She’d never seen her family so forlorn.
“Hi,” she said, standing in front of them.
Her dad wiped away the tears brimming in his eyes.
“Hi, kiddo.” He stood and encircled her with his arms.
“I’m sorry, Dad.” Her voice quavered. Guilt settled in her heart, dark, heavy, and intimately familiar after the past few weeks.
He released her. “You’re here now. That’s what counts.”
Elissa wasn’t too sure but didn’t have time to think as Leo uncoiled himself from his chair and hugged her tight, resting his head on top of hers.
“I’m glad you’re here, Lissa. We were starting to worry about you, too.”
