Page 16 of Since the Day We Kissed

“Ineedtoseeher!” Kara blurted out, breathless, as she reached the receptionist’s desk.

“Ma’am, may I ask who you are here to—”

“My daughter, Charlotte Walker—she’s been in an accident!”

The receptionist nodded, fingers flying over the keyboard. “Do you know when she was—”

“Look, I just got a call. She’s here somewhere. Please, which room?” Kara’s words tumbled out as her fingers drummed on the desk.

“Of course, ma’am,” the woman said, typing. “Room 237, second floor. Elevators are down the hall on the left.”

“Thank you.” She hurried around the desk and toward the elevators.

Kara pressed the button, waiting for the doors to part, but nothing happened.

She pressed it harder.

Still nothing.

“Come on,” she muttered through gritted teeth, jabbing the button.

It sat on three.

Kara’s gaze swept over the hallway. Spotting the stairwell sign, she darted through the door and raced up, two steps at a time, until she reached the second floor.

Once she emerged from the stairwell, she darted down the hall.234, 235, 236... The door to 237 stood open.

Kara looked at the first bed as she slipped inside. “Charlotte?”

But it was empty.

A sheet divided the room, the second half out of sight but not out of mind. Her chest tightened. She swallowed hard—and drew the sheet back.

“Mom?”

“Charlotte!” Kara closed the distance between them. “What happened? Are you all right?”

“Mom, breathe. I’m okay.” Charlotte smiled. “Just a few scrapes and bruises.”

“And your cheek.” Kara reached out and touched Charlotte’s chin.

“Courtesy of the five-star safety airbag. Right to the face. Not exactly the big soft balloon you’d imagine. They hit harder than you’d think.”

“They barely told me anything on the phone, I—” Kara’s vision blurred with unshed tears. “Are you sure you’re all right, honey?”

“I am, Mom. Really.”

“Well, what happened?”

“It was a deer. Out of nowhere. I swerved, then—a tree. Things got fuzzy after that, but I’m pretty sure the car is totaled.” Charlotte’s lips quirked into a half-smile. “And hey, no concussion. That’s a win, right?”

Kara sighed, sinking into the plastic chair next to the bed. “What did the doctor say, honey? Shouldn’t they be here?”

“Mom, seriously, they were just here,” Charlotte said, reaching over and squeezing Kara’s hand. “No need for the panic face, okay? They did x-rays and everything.”

Knock. Knock.

The sheet rustled as a man stepped into view, his white jacket crisp, and his grayish-white hair neatly combed. “Ah, you must be Ms. Walker.”

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