“My car isn’t starting, and I can’t find Presley. Georgia might be out here but I can’t find her and I need to get to the hospital.”
“I’ll take you.”
“What?”
That’s clearly not what she had in mind when she came out here.
“C’mon. I’ll get you there.”
Grabbing her arm, I steer her toward my truck that’s sitting outside behind the barn.
“But…”
“You don’t have many options here, Joey. Let me help.”
She looks like she’s considering it before nodding her head.
“Let’s go.”
Chapter Thirty-One
JOEY
“Can’t this thing go any faster?”
I don’t think I’ve ever been more anxious in my life.
“Unless you want me flipping this truck on the way to the hospital, I don’t think I can push it any harder.”
I scrub my hand over my forehead, trying to keep the panic inside. I can't imagine how terrified Max is right now. My poor sweet little baby fell off the swings at school and broke his arm. I wish I had been there.
I rub my fist over the center of my chest, trying not to let every bad thought overtake me. It seems like we’re crawling into town, but no matter how fast Sam drives, the town just seems to get farther and farther away. “Hey.” He grabs my hand and squeezes it. “It’s going to be okay. This happened to Lennox all the time as a kid.”
“She broke her arm all the time?” I ask, trying to ignore his soothing touch.
“Well, bumps and bruises, but it happens with kids.” He gives me a wry smile. “Max is in good hands.”
“I don’t even know whose hands he’s in right now.” I throw my hands up. “God, I should have been there.”
“You can’t be there for everything, Joey. Look, we’re already in town. We’ll be there in five minutes.”
Thank God. Because if it took any longer, I don’t know if I could keep my feelings in check. It seems like all the men in my life have been pissing me off. Dad for freaking out on us. Sam for letting me go. With worrying about Max, I’m ready to break.
Max is the only thing that matters. My sweet baby boy is probably scared out of his mind. Sam pulls into the emergency room drop-off and I leap out before he even has a chance to put it in park. I ignore his shouts as I go running inside.
“I’m here for Max Andrews,” I call out as I rush over to the reception desk.
“And your relation?” An older nurse gives me a warm smile.
“I’m his mother. Joey, Josephine Andrews.”
“Give me one minute and I’ll see where he is. I think they just took him up to get X-rays.”
“Is anyone here with him?” I ask.
“I don’t know who, but I believe so, yes.”
“Thanks.”
