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“Of course, she is,” Maggie agrees.
But I saw it, too. “She went over.”
I reach for my phone and immediately dial her number. It goes to voicemail.
“I can’t reach her.”
“It’s been seconds,” Da reminds me. “Give it a beat. Look, they’re coming back on.”
“Welcome back to news at six. We are still trying to make contact with Izzy in the storm chaser van. We’re not sure what the status is, but we have emergency personnel on the way to their location. We will update you when we have more information.”
“Such a scary situation, Bob, and proof of just how dangerous it is down there right now. If you’re in Portland tonight, hunker down and stay safe.”
“I need to get to her.” I pace behind the bar. “Who do we know with a private plane? Luke?”
“You can’t go down there in the storm,” Shawn says. “Keegan, she’s going to be just fine. We’ll know more in a few minutes. I’ll bet she calls any second.”
“She’s pregnant,” I blurt out. “It’s both of them that I’m worried about.”
“I didn’t tell,” Maggie announces. “For the record, it came from him.”
“She’s pregnant?” Ma asks and clutches her hands at her breast. “Oh, darling, this is wonderful news.”
The pub erupts with chatter and gasps of joy.
“Does this mean I can’t marry her, then?” Frank asks, making me smile for the first time.
“It does. I’ll be marrying her myself if I can get her home safely. Damn it, why won’t she answer the bloody phone?”
“Because it’s probably not nearby,” Kane says. “I never answer my phone, and I’m perfectly fine.”
“Something we’re working on,” Stasia says, rolling her eyes.
“And we’re back with information,” Bob says on the television. “As you can see, we’re using the live feed from our sister station in Portland. From their vantage point on the freeway below, it looks like the van is hanging precariously over the side of the overpass.”
“Fuck me,” I say and rub my hand over my lips. The woman I love more than life itself is hanging off the side of an overpass in an ice storm. My stomach climbs into my throat, and my bowels turn to liquid.
I’m going to be sick.
“We can’t see inside the van, but as you can see, fire trucks are arriving to help as we speak.”
“They didn’t fall,” Da says and pats my shoulder. “She’s okay.”
“The front of the van is smashed,” I reply. “She could be hurt.”
Lights flash on the screen as the men in the trucks jump into action.
I’ve never been so scared in my life.
“I feel so damn helpless. I’m just standing here.”
“There’s nothing else you can do,” Cameron says. He’s been quietly watching the screen from his perch on a stool. The pub is perfectly quiet as we watch it all unfold.
Then the screen changes back to the studio.
“We think it’s best to come back to the studio in case the families are watching this and something goes wrong. But don’t worry, we’ll keep you posted as we learn more.”
“Damn it!”
“Hey.” Da cups my face in his hands. “She’s safe right now, and that’s what you need to keep reminding yourself. Right this minute, she’s safe. Dozens of people are there right now to help her.”
“But I’m not there.”
“And you can’t do anything about that, son. So, you need to trust in those professionals—and in Izzy to keep a straight head. She’s a smart woman, our girl, and she’s going to be back on solid ground in just a few moments.”
I nod and take a deep breath. He’s right, losing my shit won’t change this or make it better.
But, damn it, I want to get to her and pull her into my arms to make sure she’s okay.
“When were you going to tell us that you’re having a baby?” Maeve asks.
“In a couple of weeks.” I turn to her. “Isabella wanted to make sure everything was okay before we told everyone, just in case.”
“We did that,” Stasia says. “It’s understandable. And she and the baby are going to be great.”
I nod and turn back to the TV, hoping they’ll show me the van again. Or better yet, Izzy herself.
She has to be okay. There is no other option.
Chapter 19
~Izzy~
“Are you okay?”
I can’t speak. I can only stare down the front end of the van to the freeway below.
“Izzy, are you okay?”
“I don’t know.”
“Oh my God,” Phil says next to me. We’re both perfectly still. “I don’t know if we’re teetering or if we’re hung up on the guardrail.”
“It’s icy.” I swallow hard. “We could slip off.”
I hear him take a long, deep breath. I’m doing my best not to freak the hell out. My heart is hammering, my blood rushing through my ears.
I feel sick, and it has nothing at all to do with the pregnancy.
“I’m pregnant,” I blurt. “Not how I planned to tell anyone, but here we are.”
