I’d tried to show Grayden what he meant to me. Show him that nothing he’d told me gave me any doubts about him.
Then this morning, the way he’d smiled at me conveyed nothing but relief and happiness. I loved making him feel that way.
There was a knock at my office door, and Rina poked her head in. “Hey, Piper. The payment system is being weird again.”
I sighed. “Coming.”
After solving that problem and dealing with a few other issues, I returned to my office, where I’d left my phone. There was a message from Grayden waiting.
As I read it, a fist closed around my heart.
Piper, Danny’s at the hospital. He’s hurt. Don’t know what happened. But I found him.
WHAT??? Where are you?
I called Grayden. No answer. My stomach was in knots.
My phone rang in my hand, but I didn’t recognize the number.
“Hello? This is Piper,” I said breathlessly.
“Ms. Carmichael? I’m a nurse at Hart County General Hospital. I’m very sorry to call like this, but it’s about your husband, Daniel Carmichael.”
“Ex-husband,” I corrected automatically. But the rest of my brain was frozen in shock.
“Daniel has been admitted as a patient,” the nurse said. “You’re listed as his emergency contact.”
“What happened?”
“I can’t give too many details over the phone. He was brought in about an hour ago, and his injuries are serious. The doctor needs to speak to someone as soon as possible.”
“Oh my God,” I whispered. “Okay, um, I’ll come.” My heart was in my throat.
“Drive safely,” she added. “Come to the front desk at the main entrance and give your name. Someone will be ready to bring you back.”
I tried calling Grayden again. Voicemail.
What on earth was happening?
I drove way too fast to the hospital, calling Grayden’s phone again and again. Finally I gave up and called Grace instead. “Danny’s hurt, and Ollie’s at school, and I don’t know where Grayden is?—”
“Piper, slow down, okay?” Grace asked. “Tell me exactly what happened.”
“I don’t know!”
“Just start at the beginning.”
Hart County General was a good half hour away, even driving at top speeds. When I finally reached the hospital, they took me to a family waiting room. I felt like I was going to crawl out of my skin.
They told me Danny had beenstabbed. That news blindsided me. And Grayden had found him? It just didn’t make any sense.
And Ollie. My baby was at school instead of with me. He was going to be terrified. I wanted him here. I had to hold him, know he was safe.
But I was stuck here, waiting for news while Danny was in surgery.
About an hour and a half later, Grace and Ollie came rushing in.
“Momma,” he sobbed as I caught him in my arms. “Is Dad okay? Aunt Grace said he’s hurt.”
