Page 260 of Love in Riverbend
I wrinkle my nose. “Is it bad?”
“No,” he answers quickly. “I think it’s good.”
I let out a long breath. “Tell Devan I’m on my way.”
My next call is to Jill. Ten minutes later, I’m getting into the back seat of Todd’s SUV. Once I’m settled, I look up to the front seat. “Todd, you didn’t have to come.”
“I’m not a fan of the two of you taking off in the dark on country roads.” He reaches across and lays his hand on Jill’s knee. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
Jill turns in my direction as Todd starts to drive. “Besides, we figured if you didn’t want to come back with us, Ricky might be able to give you a ride.” Her expression saddens. “Have you heard anything more about Justin?”
I shake my head. “Just what I told you.” I fight back tears. “We were just with them two weeks ago.”
Jill nods. “I know. And we made the guys leave.”
“They didn’t mind,” I say, recalling the breakfast the next morning. “They had a good time at Decoy Ducks.”
A little over an hour later, Todd finds a space to park in the visitor parking lot, and the three of us stuff our hands into our coat pockets and trudge forward through the icy air. By the time we reach the door, my ears are prickling with the cold.
It’s as we enter that I see the people checking in, showing their IDs for entrance.
Chapter 24
Marilyn
“Kandace,” I call as she and her husband, Dax, walk toward the elevators.
Kandace Richards, Justin’s sister, turns. She’s easy to spot with her bright auburn hair. Her eyes are puffy from crying. Seeing our group, she asks, “Are you here for Justin?”
I nod, wanting to get to her but needing to follow hospital procedures. “We are. Do you know where you’re going?”
“Surgery waiting room,” Dax says. “Second floor.”
“We’ll be up soon,” Todd says.
Jill leans into her husband and looks at me. “I’m surprised they weren’t already here.”
“I suppose they needed someone to watch the girls.”
“Oh, that kid thing,” she says with a half smile.
It’s nearly nine o’clock by the time we make it to the second floor. The first waiting room we come to is filled with people I’ve known all my life. Justin and Ricky’s friends were always older, but that doesn’t stop people from knowing one another. Scanning the group, I look for Devan.
She’s seated next to Bridget Sheers, Justin’s mom.
Todd stops to talk to a man from Riverbend I recognize, although his name is escaping me. Jill and I rush Devan’s direction, weaving through the sea of people.
When Devan sees us, her eyes fill with tears as she stands. Jill and I both wrap her in our arms. “How is he?” I ask.
Devan wipes her nose with the back of her hand. “We’ve only had one update since he went into surgery.”
“Can you tell us what happened?” Jill asks.
Devan turns toward her mother-in-law.
“Go and talk to your friends,” Bridget says. “Stay close.” She forces a smile. “I’m sure we’ll hear more soon.”
“Mrs. Sheers,” I say. “I’m so sorry.”
