“Leave it to Louise not to notice.” Dale shakes his head and flips on the siren.
Louise jumps in her seat, swerves to the right, overcorrects to the left, nearly colliding with Elias’s new Boxter. Elias’s eyes are huge as he crisscrosses his hands, moving to his right to get out of the way. Thankfully, they miss each other and the curbs as they meet.
Louise glances in her rearview mirror and eases to the curb, giving us access to pass by.
“Jesus, this is why we don’t use our siren unless it’s an emergency. We about had to drive back to the city to take Elias in for a heart attack. Can you imagine his reaction to having a second vehicle totaled?”
“I’m sorry.” I cringe as I wave weakly at Louise. He’s only hurrying because of me. Her cheeks are pink as she smiles and waves back. I should’ve called and asked to change the date.
My eyes dart to the dashboard again. Twenty minutes late. My stomach rolls with worry. The last thing I ever wanted to do was show up late for Grace’s adoption hearing. Judge Keller is going to take one look at me and declare that I’m an unfit mother.
The next vehicle we come upon shifts to the curb and waits for us to pass. Why didn’t I call? I swipe my hands on my pants.
“Em, don’t fret. This is a big day, and it’s not like you meant for Louise to lose her shit over the siren.”
“I know,” I sigh and sag into the cushions. “I should’ve asked for a continuance as soon as I knew the hospital was backed up.” The scent of antiseptic, sweat, and the pine tree that dangles from the rearview mirror makes me nauseous.
I refuse to look in the mirror to see what I look like, but there’s no time to shower or even change clothes.
We should’ve been back over three hours ago, but the ER was at capacity, and our patient wasn’t in critical condition. He was moaning and groaning with his broken leg like he was dying, but he’ll be fine. And really, he could’ve driven himself.
Fine. It’s his right leg, so he shouldn’t have been driving, but….
I inhale and unclench my sweat-covered hands. This is so bad. Who shows up late for their own adoption hearing? It’s irresponsible. Inconsiderate. Disrespectful.
“Stop worrying.” Dale flicks on the blinker. “You called your attorney and Iris, and Judge Keller hasn’t even made it to your courtroom yet. She might not even know that you’re late.”
“That’s not my luck,” I mutter as we near the courthouse.
Laura Barron walks briskly down the sidewalk with one hand firmly gripping a leash and the other holding a cell phone to her ear. Both she and the black lab are wearing red sweater vests while Laura is clad in black sweatpants and a sweatshirt.
After the shitshow with Chad, she went straight to the pound, adopted the animal, and had it trained as a guard dog. She wasn’t about to have someone new move in next door without protection. I can’t say that I blame her.
Not that our stray cat, Princess Nugget, is any help. Unless you don’t stop to scratch her ears. Maybe we should get a dog.
“There’s Jake’s pickup.” Dale motions to a parking space near one of the entry doors. Next to it are several of our family members’ rides.
Everyone is here, but me. God, I’m such an idiot.
“Em, get your head out of your ass.”
“What?” I snap my head around to face him.
“You heard me.” He eases into a parking space. “The entire town has your back. You and Jake are our town heroes, and there’s no one better served to be Grace’s mom and dad.” Heshoves the ambulance shifter into park. “Now get inside before I have to beat your ass for having a pity party.”
“Fine.” I roll my eyes and glare at him. “I love you, too.”
“Back at ya, Em.” He unsnaps his seatbelt and clicks open the door.
“What’re you doing?”
Dale looks at me like I’m dense. “Providing backup in case Judge Keller gets a bee in her bonnet.”
“You don’t have to–” My eyes steal to the dashboard. I don’t have time to worry about what he’s doing. “Never mind.”
I don’t look back as I speedwalk to the courthouse steps with my heart lodged in my throat.
If I’m too late–
