“Let me try calling her mom,” Anders says, dialing Kathy. He shakes his head as the phone continues to ring. “No answer.”
“We have to go to Vermont.” What other option is there? Charlotte isn’t this dramatic. Something must have happened. She wouldn’t just give up on us like this.
They both nod their heads, and we’re packing up our shit, tossing it all into bags haphazardly as we attempt to make our flight. We’ll drive to her house after we land, explain ourselves and why we were out of contact for so many days.
“This seems a little dramatic for not hearing from us for a few days,” Mikael says, and I nod my head. Fear weighs heavily on my stomach, and I think of all the possible awful scenarios. What would have Charlotte that upset that she would dodge our calls and have her best friend tell us to go fuck ourselves?
All of us get the same notification at the same time while we’re waiting for our car to pick us up. My stomach falls completely when I read the email.
Fuck.
Chapter twenty-eight
3 days ago
AfterIgetbackhome from my date with Piper, I feel so much lighter. We got coffee, went shopping, and saw a movie. I didn’t realize how much I needed time with my best friend. She really thinks I can do this, that I can make my pack work. This long distance stuff will be hard, but I think being with one of them at a time will make it easier.
Plus, Piper said if they ever have long stretches of games, I can always come and stay with her. It sounds like I’m going to be doing a lot of flying. The idea is a little scary, all of this is still really scary. But I’m trying to keep a positive attitude for myself and for the guys. I want them to enjoy this huge accomplishment and not worry about the future. They deserve it. And that’s another reason I wanted them to go alone. So that they can really celebrate what a big deal this is without me there freaking out about logistics.
When I put my key in the door, I already hear Hank barking on the other side. My eyebrows are furrowed as I walk over the threshold. I walk in to find my mom on the floor, clutching her fist against her chest as Hank licks her face in between barks.
“Mom!” I’m down on my knees next to her in a second, feeling her face and noticing how sweaty and warm she is.
“Hospital,” she rasps out.
“Come on, let’s get you in the car.”
I’m able to get her on her feet and wrap her arm around my shoulder. She’s heavy, but the adrenaline is fueling me. Hank is barking, and I make a note to call Piper and have her let Hank out. My mom is gasping for breath, and I have tears streaming down my face as I get her into the passenger side door. “It’s going to be okay, Mom.”
Her fist is clenched against her chest as she breathes heavily and I put my seat belt on before flooring it and heading to the hospital. I call 9-1-1 as I’m driving, frantic and crying.
“9-1-1, what is your emergency?”
“My… my mom is having a heart attack, I think. We’re on our way to the hospital.”
“How far out are you?” There’s a fucking red light, and I stop the car and bang my hand on the steering wheel in frustration.
“Maybe ten minutes.” My mom gasps next to me, and I cry even harder on the phone.
“Okay, are you the one driving the car, ma’am?”
“Yes.”
“I need you to pay attention to the road. Do you know where you are, so I can get you an escort to the hospital?” The light turns green, and I floor it as I look around for a street sign.
“I… I don’t—”
The clash of metal on metal is severe, the pressure on my right arm intense and the impact on my face is starling. It smells like motor oil, metal, and powder. I gasp for air as I look around and blink, realizing that a car just hit us on my side of the car. As I look to my right, I see that my mom’s airbag also activated. I nudge her arm.
“Mom.” I shake her right arm hard, but she doesn’t move. “Mom,” my voice cracks as I try to get her attention. I wince as I remove the seatbelt from my chest and lean over the console to check for a pulse.
Nothing.
“Mom,” I gasp out, looking at her pale face that is bruised from impact. “No.” I lean against her chest and cry. My arm and face hurt, but nothing compares to this. It’s summer, but her skin is cold. Someone needs to do compressions. Something.
I unbuckle her seatbelt and wince at the pain in my shoulder. “We’ve got to get you out. Get help. Help!” I shout as I try to get her ready to be extracted. They’ll be able to help. She just needs CPR. “Help!”
“Are you okay?” a voice asks from the side. I don’t have the energy to answer as I clutch against my mother's shirt and cry. I hold onto her tightly, like maybe if I hold her close enough to me, she’ll wake up. “Oh, fuck. Get EMS and police over here!” the voice yells.
