“I have to go to the hospital.” Hannah leaped out of the chair. “I need to find my keys.”
“Put on your jacket,” Claire said quickly. “I’ll drive.”
“I could take you to the hospital,” Jason said.
“We’ll need a vehicle to get backward and forward,” Claire said as she ran to the kitchen.
Jason helped Hannah with her jacket.
Claire ran into the living room. “Are you ready?”
“You can follow me,” Jason said. “I want to make sure you get to the hospital in one piece.”
Hannah locked the front door. She didn’t care how they got to the hospital. All she cared about was Brett.
***
By the time Claire drove into the hospital’s main entrance, Hannah was a nervous wreck. She didn’t have Mary-Beth’s phone number, so couldn’t call her to see if Brett was all right.
Claire glanced across the cab. “I’ll drop you off at the entrance. I’ll find you after I’ve parked the truck.”
Hannah nodded. The drop-off and pick-up zone was packed with vehicles. “Stop here. It will be quicker than waiting for someone to move.”
“Are you sure? It’s snowing outside.”
“I’m sure. Here’s fine.”
Claire pulled to the curb. “I’ll see you as soon as I can.”
“Okay.” Hannah unbuckled her seatbelt and followed the path toward the hospital.
The large, glass entrance doors opened with a swish. She rushed toward the main reception desk and stood behind two groups of people waiting for help.
Hannah looked around the ground floor and saw the doors to the Emergency Department. If she left this line, she could end up in another one, and still not know where Brett had been taken. She frowned at the people standing at the front of the line. They were still talking to the receptionist. Hopefully, they wouldn’t take all night to figure out what they wanted.
Finally, they moved away and the next people stepped forward. She unzipped her jacket and watched a toddler run across the room. A man raced after her. The little girl giggled and tears filled Hannah’s eyes. Brett had talked about being a dad, about giving his children all the love and time he’d never had from his parents. She just hoped he would be able to make that dream come true.
“Can I help you?”
Hannah stepped closer to the receptionist. “I’m looking for Brett Forster. He was involved in a motor vehicle accident tonight.”
The woman behind the desk tapped her keyboard. “Mr. Forster is still in the Emergency Department. If you go through the double doors straight ahead of us, a nurse will help you.”
“Thank you.” Hannah walked across the foyer. As soon as she was through the doors, she looked for a nurse.
“Hannah!”
She spun around.
Pat was pulling himself out of a chair.
She rushed across the room and helped him to his feet. “Have you seen Brett?”
“He’s in the Radiology Department having chest, neck, and head X-rays. He’s got a concussion and some bruising and cuts. The doctors think he might have broken his ribs, but they won’t know for sure until they see the X-rays.”
Hannah’s legs buckled.
Pat grabbed her arm. “Sit down. I’ll get you a glass of water.”
