“Okay. I’m on my way now.”
“You can come straight to the emergency room. And again, sir. Your son is fine. Please drive safely.”
“Thank you.”
Swiping his keys and wallet from the drawer in the hall table, he jogged out to his car. The rain had stopped, but some standing water remained on the streets, and he knew the recently repaved roads would be slick. Luckily, the hospital was close by.
When he entered the emergency room, his son spotted him right away.
Ezra burst from his seat and ran to him. “Dad!”
Hugging the boy tightly, he put his chin to Ezra’s head and breathed a deep sigh of relief. While the officer had told him his son was okay, like most parents, it wasn’t real until he saw it for himself. “You okay, son?”
“Yeah. Kennedy took the worst of it. She’s still in a room. Hit her head and it was bleeding like a motherfu—a mother bucket.”
Lucas grunted a single laugh at the boy’s correction. He let go of him and looked around. “Everyone else okay?”
“Mostly. Gemma went home already. She has a concussion, but she was pretty alert when she left. Oscar broke his nose, and Ryker’s in a sling.” He rolled his eyes. “His dad hauled him out of here already. He didn't even bother to stay and see how Kennedy was. I get why Gemma went home, but everyone else stuck around. He should be here since he was driving.”
“How did he hurt his arm?”
“Who knows.” Ezra huffed. "Doubtful he truly injured himself, but when the lady stopped at the window and asked about injuries, he probably felt the need to be a 'star' and invented a story."
That did sound like Ryker. At one time, the boy would have been more aware of scrutiny since his father was the superintendent, but over the last year or so, he’d changed. Instead of being the straitlaced kid everyone had watched grow up, now he had a reputation for being a show-off and a know-it-all. He was quite popular among the jock crowd at school, but most of the staff he’d come into contact with disliked him. There’d been several incidents over the last year involving insubordination and suspicions of drinking, but he always seemed to wiggle out of trouble with the old principal, including when Lucas had him in class, and he suspected the boy had cheated on an essay. Yeah. He also was not a fan.
A lone woman got up from her seat and walked their way. He wasn’t sure, but she looked familiar to him. Was she a mom to one of the kids here? He scanned the waiting room, but all the students appeared to be claimed by a set of parents.
Wet hair hung to her shoulders, framing a heart-shaped face and beautiful green eyes. Despite the wet clothing that gave her a bedraggled appearance, he could tell she’d be a stunner when dry and cleaned up. His heart beat a slight tattoo as she walked toward them.
Ezra noticed her approach. “Dad, this is Officer Hookstead. She was the first one at the accident.”
He reached out a hand. “Thank you. You stopped, and you’re not on duty?”
A quick glance as she shook his hand showed no sign of a wedding ring. It meant nothing. Maybe she wasn’t wearing it, or maybe she had a boyfriend.
She smiled, and it seemed almost impish, as if she knew something he didn’t. “I’m not part of the SAPD, but I was an officer in New Orleans and just moved back to San Antonio. There was no way I wouldn’t stop and check on everyone.”
Oh, she was just a Good Samaritan?
“Thank you. That car was full of my students. I’m the principal at Tejeda Springs. Lucas Vaughn.”
“I’m aware.” Her grin got a little bigger.
Huh?
“Dad,” Ezra said. “She’s our new school resource officer.”
Well, shit. That’s why she looked familiar. He hadn’t been involved in her hiring because it happened at almost the same time he received his promotion to the principal position. He had seen her picture, but it was small, and she had her hair pulled back, so he didn't recognize her.
“Well, I’m glad you were there.”
“Right place, right time.”
He looked at Ezra. “You okay to hang out and wait while we see about Kennedy?”
“Yes, please.” His face reddened. “I’m sorry, Dad.”
With his arm around his son’s shoulder, he hugged him to his side. “Don’t worry about it now. We’ll talk about it tomorrow. I’m just glad you’re all still with us.” He let go of him. “Go on and sit down.”
