Pushing hair back from her face, Holly sat on the side of the bed. She felt as tired now as she had when she’d retired for the night. Sleep hadn’t come until the wee hours, and even that had been restless. Her mind had churned with thoughts of Jed, with the feelings she was afraid to feel but felt all the same.
She hadn’t seen him yesterday. She didn’t know if that was because she’d been so busy at the restaurant and then with her sister or if it was because he’d avoided her for some reason. Maybe, after learning about Willow and AJ, he was ready to leave Boise and didn’t know how to tell her. But that didn’t sound like him. He wasn’t a fearful sort. She was the fearful one. Not him.
A glance at the clock told her she was running late. She hurried through her morning routine and was feeding Pumpkin when her phone rang. The cat purred contentedly as Holly set the bowl on the floor, then looked at the phone screen. The call was from the Lighthouse.
“Holly, it’s Madalyn. There’s been an accident.”
“An accident.”
“It’s Willow. She got scalded in the kitchen. Not even sure how she did it. They’ve taken her to the hospital. She asked me to call you. She wants you to go there if you could, please.”
“Of course I’ll go. Which hospital?”
Madalyn told her, then said, “Hurry. I think she’s hurt bad.”
“I’m on my way. Five minutes at most.”
Her heart pounding, she raced to the bedroom and slipped on some shoes. On her way back to the kitchen, she grabbed her phone, purse, and car keys from the small table in the living room. Then she was out the back door. In her rush, she nearly collided with Jed.
“Whoa!” He steadied her with hands on her upper arms. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Willow. She’s hurt. I’ve got to get to the hospital.”
“I’ll take you.”
“I don’t want to—”
“I’ll take you,” he interrupted firmly.
Relief flowed through her. “Thanks.”
He guided her to his rental car, and she got into the passenger seat.
“Which hospital?” he asked as he started the engine.
“St. Al’s.”
He didn’t ask for directions, but she supposed he’d driven around Boise enough in recent weeks to know the way. The large hospital complex was easily seen when driving on the connector into the heart of downtown. She was thankful she didn’t need to speak, because her thoughts were racing. Wondering how the accident happened. Wondering how serious the young mother’s injuries were.
At the hospital Jed found a parking space not far from the entrance to the emergency room. He took her arm as soon as she was out of the car. It was a gentle but steadying touch, and she felt calmer because of it as they passed through the electronic doors.
“I’m here to see Willow Flynn,” she told the young man behind the counter. “They brought her in a short while ago. I think by ambulance.”
He looked at the computer screen and moved the mouse with his right hand. After a few moments he said, “She’s here. Have a seat, and as soon as she’s allowed to have visitors, we’ll let you know.”
Holly nodded, hating the wait, hating not being able to ask questions and get some answers. She moved to the chairs lined up with their backs to the windows.
“Could be a while,” Jed said, stating the obvious.
“I know.”
“Care to tell me what happened?”
“I don’t really know. She got scalded. A kitchen accident, Madalyn said. I assume Willow was boiling water for breakfast.” She drew in a shaky breath. “I’ve seen my share of scald burns. They’re not uncommon in the food services industry. Water has to be kept at a high temperature to kill bacteria and properly clean the cookware. If you’re not careful . . .” She let her words drift into silence.
“Maybe it’s not too bad.” He looked toward the doors that separated them from the ER’s treatment rooms. “Hopefully you’ll be able to see her soon.”
Holly wanted to believe it wasn’t bad. But if it wasn’t, they probably could have treated Willow at the shelter or at an urgent-care facility, not taken her to the hospital. Then again, maybe they were only being extra careful.
Please, God, let that be the reason.
* * *
When Jed left his apartment half an hour earlier, he’d wanted to see Holly. He’d wanted to tell her how he felt about her, how much she’d come to mean to him in these past weeks. He’d wanted to see if they could figure out a way to keep seeing each other, even after he returned to Tacoma. It wouldn’t be easy. He knew that. He had obligations. She had obligations. But some people managed long-distance relationships.
But he couldn’t tell her any of that while sitting beside her in an ER waiting room. He would have to be patient.
“Jed.” She looked at him, face tight with worry. “Shouldn’t you call Chris and let him know what’s happened to her?”
For a moment he couldn’t answer. He wasn’t sure. Chris knew Willow had planned to tell Jed about AJ, so that wouldn’t come as a surprise. Then again, the two of them weren’t married. Willow had said Chris wanted to be part of his son’s life. She hadn’t said Chris wanted to be part of hers. Would Willow even want him to know?
“I think you should,” Holly added, softly but firmly.
“Okay.” He took out his phone and pressed his brother’s name. The call went straight to voice mail. “Chris, it’s Jed. I need you to call me when you get this message. It’s important.” He hung up, his gaze going to Holly. “He didn’t answer. Must have turned off his phone while he’s at work.”
“You didn’t tell him it was about Willow.”
“I didn’t think I should in a voice mail.”
Her eyes pleaded with him.
“I’ll say more in a text.”
He opened his message app and began to type: Willow hurt in accident. At hospital now with her friend Holly. Call me ASAP. A whooshing sound sent the message on its way.
“Miss Stanford?”
They both looked toward a woman wearing hospital scrubs who stood in the doorway to the ER.
“Are you Holly Stanford?”
“Yes.” She stood.
“Miss Flynn has asked to see you.”
Holly looked at Jed.
“Go on,” he said. “I’ll be right here. Waiting.”