Page 58 of Return to You

Kade was about to point out one of his dozen or so scars to Ricky to show him that they weren’t so bad, but before he got a chance the kid’s face lit up.

“Cool.”

“Okay, we’re ready.” Ali joined them with a stack of papers.

“Let’s go,” Kade said as he turned and walked down the hallway toward the waiting room.

On the way out both he and Ali thanked the doctor that had treated Ricky. Then pushed the silver touch bar and held the door open.

Ethan and KJ crossed the waiting room to them as soon as they stepped out.

“First broken bone?” Ethan asked.

Ricky nodded. “Yep.”

“It’s a rite of passage.” He ruffled Ricky’s hair.

“Someone signed it already?” KJ pointed at the lone signature on his brother’s cast. “I thought I was gonna sign it first.”

“She was House Hufflepuff,” Ricky stated plainly.

“What?”

“And she was hot,” Ali added quietly.

“Oh, okay.” KJ’s face relaxed.

“Alright, let’s get out of here.” They’d been in the ER for close to eight hours and Kade was ready to take his family home.

“Kade?”

All five of them looked over and saw Nancy Peterson approaching them.

“Hi, Nancy.” Ali smiled.

“Hi.” Nancy lifted her hand awkwardly before turning to Kade, her brows furrowed in confusion. “How did you beat me here?”

“Beat you here?”

“Yeah. Didn’t you get my message?”

“No.” Kade pulled his phone out of his pocket and saw that he didn’t have any bars. “I don’t have service.”

“What’s wrong?” Ali stepped beside Kade.

“It’s George.” Nancy told Ali before looking back to Kade. “I went out to check on your dad and found him unconscious. I called an ambulance, they said they were bringing him here because it’s closer than the VA.”

“He’s here?” Kade repeated as he felt Ali’s hand rest on his arm.

“Yes. I don’t know more than that. But you can probably find out more—”

“No.” Kade shook his head. “I need to get them home.”

“Ricky got in a dirt bike accident.” Ali told Nancy before turning to Kade. “But we’re fine. You should stay.”

“I can take them home,” Ethan offered.

“No.” Kade wanted to take his family home. His dad could wait. “I can come back after I—”

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