Page 40 of Dreaming of You

He could hear a man's agitated voice on the line.

"Wait. Where are you?" Kate asked, then paused. "I'll come right away. It's going to be okay." She listened for another moment. "Don't think that way. Grandma is strong. She's a fighter. I'll be there as soon as I can."

"What's wrong?" he asked.

She looked at him with fear in her eyes. "My grandparents were in a car accident. My grandmother is hurt, and it sounds serious. I have to get to the hospital."

"I'll take you."

"They're in Oakland. I have to get my car. Oh, God, Barrett, what if…"

"Don't think that way," he said, repeating what she'd just told her grandfather. He made a U-turn at the next intersection, heading toward the Bay Bridge.

"You don't have to drive me."

"It's not a big deal. It will take longer for us to get back to your car."

"All right. Thank you," she said, twisting her fingers together. "I've been telling them both that they need to stop driving. I even put apps on their phones, so they could get rides, but they've always insisted that they don't go far, that they're fine." She looked over at him as he came to a light. "My grandmother raised me. My grandfather was the dad I never had. I love them so much. I can't lose either one of them. I just can't."

"I really hope you won't," he said heavily.

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