Page 44 of Love Like Ours

“How are you holding up?” she asked softly.

“What happened to him?” she asked as a tear slipped down her cheek.

“We’ll find out more when he wakes up. Parker went to check on his status.” Sara motioned to him as he disappeared, heading to the nurse’s station.

“He was supposed to come have dinner. I saved him his favorite table,” Sophia said with a sniffle as she used the sleeve of her coat to wipe her face. Fears of what had happened with her mother bled into her feelings towards Palmer.

“Parker was going to tell Palmer tomorrow,” Sara started but stopped when Parker returned.

“He’s getting a CT and X-ray,” he said, sitting beside his wife.

Moments later, the kids rushed back in, arguing about who got what from the vending machines. While Parker took all three kids back down the hall with a promise to get them what they wanted, Sara turned to her and finished.

“Parker should have warned him tonight. When we got home, we found out that Joanne and Jack were released from prison last week. We only found out tonight. He was going to warn Palmer… in the morning.”

“You think…” Sophia sat up a little straighter. “You think they tried to kill him? Their own son?”

“They did try to kill us. Their dad tried to throw Parker off a cliff after ramming us with his truck.”

Sophia remembered the sight of Palmer’s truck sitting sideways in the ditch and felt her stomach lurch. Rushing over, she locked herself in the bathroom and threw up everything she’d eaten that day until she could only dry heave.

She heard Sara knocking on the door and asking her if she was alright. She rinsed her mouth, wiped her face, and stepped out once she felt a little steadier.

Sara hugged her. “Are you okay?”

She nodded.

Parker and the kids looked at them from across the room. The three kids were watching cartoons on the television and enjoying their chips and sodas.

“Would you like something? The cafeteria might still be open?” Sara suggested.

“No.” The thought of food had her stomach lurching. “Not until I know he’s okay.”

Sara nodded. “Does Palmer know?”

She frowned at her, unsure of what she was asking. “What?”

Sara smiled slightly. “That you’re in love with him?”

The realization hit her like a ton of bricks and caused her to sway a little. Sara’s hands tightened on her arm and then wrapped around her waist.

“I’ll take that as a no.” She helped her to sit back down.

Just then, a nurse came and called out for Parker. Sophia stood up and walked over to hear the latest update.

“We’re waiting for the scans to come back, but your brother is awake and asking for you.” She turned her attention to Sophia. “Are you Sophia?” She nodded quickly. “He’s asking for you too. We only have room for one of you to⁠—”

“Sophia can go first,” Parker said as he touched her arm. “I’ll wait.” He winked at her.

“Thank you,” she said, feeling her entire body shake as she followed the nurse back down the long hallway. They made several turns and she doubted she could find her way to the spot again if she had to. Finally, the woman pulled back a curtain and she saw Palmer sitting up in bed, holding an ice pack to his head. When he saw her, he smiled.

She rushed to him and wrapped her arms around him.

“You scared me,” she said against his chest.

His arms circled her body, and she relaxed for the first time in hours.

“I’m sorry,” he said and the feeling of his voice vibrating against her ear had the tears rolling down her cheeks again.