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“Mom. What is it? Why do you keep calling me? I told you that I needed some space for a while.” Callie hated to sound so curt, but she needed her boundaries to be respected until she could heal and sort everything out. Why couldn’t her mother just understand that?

“Callie!” Her mother’s voice sounded like a wounded animal.

A chill shot straight through her. “Mama. What is it?”

“It’s Luke. There’s been an accident. He’s in a coma and you have to come to Memorial Hospital right now. They’re not sure he’s going to make it.”

“Oh no! I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Callie gripped the phone tightly in her hand and pressed her eyes closed. She began to pray as she had never prayed before.

Dear Lord. Please protect Luke. Heal him, Lord. In your divine wisdom, please show him mercy. Bring him back to us, Lord.

In a daze she walked back out to the patio. Olivia jumped up from her seat and reached her side in seconds. “Callie. What’s wrong? You’re as pale as a ghost.”

“It’s Luke,” she said in a stilted voice. “He’s been in an accident. It’s very serious.” Olivia steadied her as she began to sway. Suddenly, she felt a wave of dizziness grip her.

“No!” Morgan called out, raising her hands to her face. She began breathing heavily with tears running down her face. Pearl sent her daughter a surprised glance. Hope put her arms around Morgan to console her.

“Let me drive you to the hospital,” Olivia volunteered. “An

d Fancy can drive your car behind us. I don’t think you should be driving at a time like this.”

Callie nodded. She wasn’t about to argue the point. Fear held her in its grip. Luke—her sweet, gentle brother was in a coma. He might die. She might never get the chance to speak to him again. What had happened? She hadn’t even asked her mother the details.

“Can we go now? I need to be with him,” Callie said, as little hiccup-cries began to consume her. Olivia reached for Callie’s purse and led her toward the front door.

Callie turned to Olivia. “Is Morgan okay? I didn’t even know she was that close to Luke.”

Olivia shrugged. “I didn’t either, but she’s clearly broken up about it.”

Although it wasn’t a pressing matter at the moment, Callie felt confused about Morgan’s reaction. Although her friends cared about her brother, none of them had reacted like Morgan. She seemed to be coming apart at the seams.

With Fancy following behind them in Callie’s car, Olivia and Callie headed to Memorial Hospital. Callie practically jumped from the car the moment they arrived. Olivia and Fancy rushed inside with her, accompanying her to the family waiting room on the fifth floor. The moment they walked in to the room, they spotted Callie’s parents sitting together with their arms around each other. Callie choked back a sob. They looked so desperate. So completely and utterly lost. She wasn’t used to seeing her parents looking anything other than strong and regal.

“Callie!” The sound of her mother’s wail caused goose bumps to pop up on her arms. Before she knew it, her mother had enveloped her in the world’s tightest hug. Callie could hardly breathe. She could feel her mother’s body heaving against her. The sound of her sniffling tugged at her heart strings.

Her father stood there, looking awkward and disconnected. His complexion appeared ashen. “There’s been no update since your mother called you. He’s still in critical condition.” He shut his eyes and shuddered. “I need to go find the chapel and pray.” Lionel staggered out of the room, resembling a shattered man.

“I’ll go sit with your father,” Olivia volunteered. “He shouldn’t be alone at a time like this.”

Callie appreciated her best friend’s gesture. She and Olivia had grown up in each other’s pockets. Olivia had always adored her father. And vice versa.

“Why don’t I go get some sodas and something to nibble on,” Fancy suggested, earning a grateful smile from Davinia.

Callie wet her lips. Her throat felt dry. “Mama, what happened to Luke? You said there was an accident.”

Davinia pulled out a tissue from her purse and blew loudly into it. “He was hit by a car, Callie. Luke was crossing Broughton Street during his lunch hour and someone mowed him down. It was a hit and run. They didn’t even stop to make sure he was all right. The police have said the driver must have been going at least fifty miles an hour.” She began to sob again. “If he had been going any faster Luke would be dead right now.”

“How could someone just drive away and leave him like that?” Callie asked. Anger rose up inside her at the notion that any human being could be so heartless.

“I surely don’t know,” Davinia murmured. “I’ve already lost a child. My sweet Kate. I don’t want to ever go through that nightmare again, Callie.” Her mother was tightly gripping her hand. Her makeup was smeared all over her face due to her crying. “If it wasn’t for adopting you, I’m not sure I would have made it through that dark time.”

“We’re not going to lose him,” Callie said in a fierce tone. “Luke is strong. He’s a fighter. He’s got lots of life left in him yet.” Callie hoped her words turned out to be true. She couldn’t imagine how painful it would be for her parents to lose another child. Just the thought of losing Luke was terrifying. As much as Mac was the link to her early years, Luke was the one who had shepherded her through her childhood and teen years. To lose him would be as devastating as the loss of Mac all those years ago.

For the next hour, Callie sat with her mother in the family room while Fancy fussed over them. Olivia came back after a bit stating that her father wanted to stay put in the chapel.

“Would you guys mind staying with my mom for a bit? I have a call I’d like to make.”

“Of course,” Olivia said. “That’s what we’re here for.”

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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