Page 35 of Beneath the Stars (Sugarlake 1)

“A Craig and Gail Carson were brought to us about an hour ago after being involved in a collision.”

“What?” I suck in a breath. “Those are my folks. Are they okay?”

“Mr. Carson escaped with minor injuries. Mrs. Carson suffered severe cranial trauma and was airlifted to our facility. I’m sorry to be blunt, but the sooner you can get here, the better.”

My vision goes blurry. The phone drops from my hand and clatters to the floor as I try to steady myself on the wall.

I can’t breathe.

“Alina?” I hear my name, but it’s distant, muddled.

Why can’t I breathe?

Jax’s face appears in front of me. “Sweetheart? What’s the matter? Your director sent me to find you. They’re ready to start.”

I look up at him. I’m trying to find the words, but I can’t talk because I. Can’t. Breathe.

My hands claw at my blouse, the silky fabric suddenly choking me. If I can just get it off maybe it will relieve the pressure pushing down on my chest.

“Whoa, Alina.” I feel hands grab mine, pulling them from my body. “Alina.” His voice is sharp and authoritative. It cuts through the fog and helps me focus. Worried forest-green eyes stare into mine.

“Mama... hospital… please,” I rasp out. It’s barely coherent, but it’s the best I can do. I collapse into Jax’s arms, tears staining his shirt.

His torso pushes against my cheek with his abrupt intake of breath. “Your mom’s in the hospital?”

I nod against him.

“Which hospital, sweetheart? I need you to tell me where to take you.”

I rack my brain, trying to remember what the lady on the phone said. “CHI Medical.”

We make it to the car. Jax holds my hand while he shifts gears. It helps, but what I really need, who I really need, is Chase. I try to call him. Over and over and over.

Please, Chase. Pick up. Can’t you feel me breakin’?

No answer. Eventually, it goes straight to voicemail.

I can’t breathe.

The ride to the hospital

is a blur, but we make it. Daddy’s pacing in the waiting room with a white bandage on his arm and tears on his face. I rush into his arms and the pressure in my chest starts to ease.

“Daddy, what happened?” I cry. “Are you okay? Where’s Mama? Have you talked to Eli?”

He brushes my hair with his hand, shushing me. His voice cracks as he tells me everything will be alright. He says God has a plan, and all we have to do is pray.

So that’s what we do.

We sit in small plastic chairs and we pray.

A couple hours later and my panic has calmed. Jax’s solid grip on my hand and Daddy being alive and well has helped me fight through the shock. But I’m scared. Mama is still in surgery, and nobody has told us anything.

Jax curses beside me.

“What’s wrong?”

He’s on his phone, but as soon as I ask, he puts it away. “Nothing for you to worry about, sweetheart.”

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