I’ve always known that, but in this moment, I no longer feel that finding my birth mother is paramount. I’m still curious, and I’ll probably still look her up.
But it no longer matters to my emotional recovery from the shooting.
I have everything I need in my own family.
Except for one thing.
My mother smooths the sheet over me, the way she used to when I was a boy. “I’m sure Sage has Tabitha’s number. I’ll get it from her.”
I close my eyes as relief sweeps through me.
The worst is behind me. My parents are here. Zach is safe. Tabitha will come.
I know she will.
Seven
Tabitha
My eyes shoot open.
The sun is up, and?—
“Oh no!” I say out loud.
I forgot to set my alarm last night. I grab for my phone on the nightstand, but in my haste, I end up pushing it onto the floor with a clatter.
I scramble out of bed, pick it up?—
“Shit!”
My seminar starts in exactly twenty minutes.
“Oh my God. Oh my God…”
No time for a shower or to do my hair. I rush into the bathroom and look in the mirror.
Remnants of last night. Swollen eyes from crying, red nose. I turn on the faucet and splash cold water onto my face.
“Great,” I say to my reflection. “Now I look worse.” I take a washcloth, wet it, and scrub my face clean of yesterday’s mess.
The attacker. The fear. The police.
No.
Can’t think about any of that now.
I brush my hair out and pull it into a messy bun. My face is red from the scrubbing, but I don’t have time to care. I throw on a pair of loose jeans and a Steel Vineyards T-shirt that Angie gave me, grab my purse, iPad, textbooks, and backpack, and race down to my car.
Bad move.
Traffic is awful. I should have walked. I’d be there by now.
I arrive at the medical school with only two minutes to spare. I pull into a parking space that isn’t mine. Who cares? It’s summer break. No one is here. I’ll pay the ticket if I get one.
By the time I reach the classroom, I’m the last to arrive.
“Ah, you must be Ms. Haynes,” the instructor says.
