Page 35 of Tides That Bind

“The hospital?”

I fly into the kitchen, finding Caroline grabbing her bag from the counter.

“Okay. Where is it exactly?”

I reach out grabbing her shoulder. “What happened?”

Caroline turns to face me but continues talking into the phone. “I’ll call you when I have it. I’m leaving now.” She brings the phone down from her ear. “I need your keys to the house.”

“What happened?” I repeat.

“I don’t know, she says she’s fine. The doctor was coming in so she had to hang up. I have to get Harper’s new insurance cards, she doesn’t have them on her.”

I rush into my room, grabbing my keys from the counter and fly out the door of the condo before Caroline even has a chance to tell me to wait for her.

The tires screech when I stop the car, sliding the gear shift into Park. “Go get the cards. Let me see what’s going on.”

I don’t even look back at my sister. All my focus is racing through the Emergency Room doors and finding Harper. I’m a hair away from setting off the censors of the doors when a bark makes me freeze.

To my left a man leans against the building, trying to get a reign on Tides who tugs at the leash to get to me.

“Heel,” I command. Tides sits but continues to whimper, his body bouncing. “Who are you? Why do you have him?”

It’s a cool day but the guy holding the leash is covered in sweat. He adjusts his glasses and looks relieved now that Tides has calmed down. “I…I’m Ben. I was at the park. Are you Harper’s husband?”

I’m about to quickly tell this guy no.

“Are you Lucas's dad?”

His question nails me in my chest. But I don’t have time to explain how the heart inside beats for a kid who isn’t mine.

“Stay,” I tell Tides before addressing the man again, “I’ll have someone pick him up.” Caroline is coming back with the insurance cards, but I know if I ask Finn to come he’ll get here faster. I pull out my phone and fire off a voice note before I enter the hospital.

A woman at the front desk raises her head, focusing on my sling. “Can I help you?”

“I’m here for Harper Jones.”

She tilts her head. “You’re family?”

“Yes.” I cock my tongue against my cheek. I’m not risking having to wait and find out anything. "Her husband.”

The receptionist returns her attention to the computer and I look around, trying to listen above the coughing patients and caring staff for Harper’s voice.

“Bay eight. Through there.” She points.

I march through the double doors, trying not to slip on the slick, linoleum tile as I hurry past all the partitioned curtains until I find number eight. Without thinking, I pull open the curtain.

“Excuse me.”

Harper sits on the bed with a hospital gown loosely hanging off her shoulders. I cringe when I follow the arm the nurse tends to, the one with an open wound.

“What happened?”

“Sir?”

“Riley—”

“And you are?” The nurse asks.

---