Page 163 of Nocere

"My phone's on my desk. Did she tell you what it was?" All three of us hurried down the hall back to my office, and I swiped the phone from the drawer. Four missed calls and two texts all from Stella filled the screen.

"She didn't, but she sounded...normal."

Rebecca and I both stared at her.

"Normal?" Rebecca's brow furrowed. "That's bad?"

"Yes." Ainsley nodded, her eyes wide.

Rebecca looked at me and gestured wildly, with her best, "What the fuck is this?" face. I shook my head and pressed the return call button. It rang a few times before Stella answered.

"Rosie, hi."

"What's going on?" The second I heard her voice, a knot swirled in my belly.

"Everyone is okay. Did Sam call you?"

"No. Why?"

"I knew she wouldn't." Stella sighed softly. "Her mom is here in the E.R. She fell at the grocery store and hurt her wrist. Sam is with her now."

"Mrs. Flynn is okay?"

"Yes. She's fine. Just a small sprain, but we're running a few more tests." Stella paused, and like Ainsley said, her normal, calm doctor voice freaked me out way more than her regular voice. Rebecca gripped my hand and the gesture grounded me, though brought light to the way my heart pounded in my chest.

"Okay. That's good then."

"Yes." Stella paused again. "Check your texts."

"Okay…" I pulled the phone from my ear and tapped the text from Stella that just came through.

It read, Sam can see me. Her mom is okay, but she isn't. I think you need to be here with her. She refused to call you.

I showed the message to Rebecca then put the phone back to my ear. "Got it. Is she silent and panicking?"

"Yes."

"And bitchy?"

"Oh yeah." Stella let out a small chuckle.

"Okay. I'll be right down."

"Come in the E.D. and ask for me."

"I will. Thanks for calling me, Stell."

"Of course."

We hung up and I pocketed my phone while my hands shook. "Can one of you take me to the hospital?"

"I can," volunteered Rebecca. "Sirens will get us through traffic."

"Thank you." I hugged Ainsley before Rebecca and I broke away from her to hurry out of there.

I covered my ears in the car to muffle the sirens and attempt to calm myself down before we got there. Sam deserved a supportive girlfriend who wasn't a mess with worry. My biggest concern, however, was that her Uncle Farid would arrive before us.

Rebecca nearly flew to the hospital, and flashed her badge to get us through the emergency department right away. In the busy hospital, laden with bustling nurses, doctors, and a waiting room full of patients, Stella met us in the hallway beside the nurse's station. Despite the situation, and the fact that she had a splash of blood across her shoes, she wore her usual warm smile when she greeted us.

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