Page 62 of Whisper of Love (Whisper Lake 1)

He pulled to a stop behind it and they both jumped out of the truck.

A burst of cool air hit her face as the automatic doors opened with a swoosh. Her eyes scanned the room and she saw KJ sitting in the far corner. They rushed over to him and he stood. When he did, Ali noticed blood on his hands and arms.

Doing her best not to show the panic that flooded her system she asked as calmly as she could. “Is he okay? Where is he?”

“I don’t know, they took him back.” KJ pointed to the door beneath the clock. “Ethan went with him.”

Tears were already filling Ali’s eyes and she could barely breathe as hysteria threatened to consume her. She hurried toward the same desk that she had stood at so many times the night Patrick died. Each time pleading for information that they couldn’t give. The linoleum tile was slick, and the next thing she knew her feet were flying out from beneath her. Instinctively, her entire body tensed and she squeezed her eyes and prepared to land flat on her rear. But instead, she found herself in Kade’s arms.

The entire thing only lasted a few seconds, but feeling Kade’s arms around her, having him cocoon her in his strength and solidness, was exactly what she’d needed. A calm settled over her and she found her footing again and she felt her brother smiling. She didn’t see Patrick’s face, but rather, she felt him. She closed her eyes, and without willing it to be she heard his voice say, “You got this” clear as day.

He was letting her know that everything was going to be okay. He was there, with them. And she wondered if maybe it wasn’t the tile being slippery that had caused her fall, but instead her older brother from beyond. A memory of her brother teasing her about believing in ghosts when she was around ten years old came back to her. He’d joked that if he was a ghost he’d go around and sweep people’s legs Karate Kid style. She smiled to herself picturing his ghost doing that exact move on her.

Real funny, Patrick.

He was there with them. Maybe not physically, but he was there.

“Are you okay?” Kade asked as he steadied her. “Your ankle?”

“It’s fine. I’m fine.” She nodded, answering that question honestly for the first time in a long time.

A peace settled over her as she stepped up to the counter and waited for the nurse to get off a call. Suddenly, Ethan walked through the doors.

“Where is he? Is he okay?” This time when she asked that question she felt stronger.

“He’s fine. He’s got a cut a on his head that was bleeding pretty bad, he’s gonna need stitches but it’s not serious, and he broke his arm. They’re fixing him up now.”

“Can I see him?” Tears pooled in her bottom lids, but for the first time in a long time they were from sheer relief.

“Yeah.”

As Ali followed Ethan down the hall, she reminded herself of the promise that she’d made to herself. Live life to the fullest. Love to the fullest.

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