Page 7 of Lost Memories (Secrets of Mackinac Island 1)

“What’s up? Matt again?” Mia asked.

“No. It’s my mother’s boyfriend,” Elise said softly.

As she lifted the phone, panic wrapped itself around her heart. She found it difficult to breathe.

“That’s right. The guy your mom always dumps, who always comes crawling back.” Haley said, grinning widely. “She’s such a wild card, your mom. I want to take a lesson from her on how to grow older and sexier than ever.”

“Peter has never called me,” Elise offered.

Mia and Haley’s faces fell. The air over the table grew tense.

“At least, not that I can remember,” Elise said hurriedly.

She didn’t want to jump to conclusions.

“I’m going to run downstairs to call him back,” she said as the call ended. “It’s too loud up here.”

Elise drew her purse over her shoulder, turned toward the staircase, and hustled toward the front entrance. Once outside again, she huddled toward a palm tree, lifted her phone, and dialed Peter again. Her heart pounded in her chest.

It was fine. Surely, it was all fine.

Peter’s phone rang only once before he picked up.

“Elise.” His voice was strained and scratchy.

Elise had never heard him speak like that.

“Peter, hi,” she said. Already, her eyes filled with tears. She stared at the last of the evening sun, that fingernail-like crescent over the water, and pleaded with time to give her something other than this.

“Elise, I’m at the hospital. Your mom, she—she collapsed after dinner. I don’t know. I don’t know what will happen. I...”

“Which hospital?” Elise demanded.

“West Hills,” Peter returned.

“I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

Elise hung up the phone and blinked skyward, where Mia and Haley hung over the side of the second-floor balcony of the restaurant and waved their hands. They looked worried. Elise felt as though she might crumple to the ground. To them, she mouthed,I have to go. I’ll call you later

Mia and Haley exchanged glances, then nodded and shooed her along. In the next few seconds, Elise ordered an Uber for herself and then crumpled into the back seat and wrapped her arms around her knees. She suddenly felt silly in her “going out” clothes. What had she been thinking? She felt like a child.

Of course, nobody expected any night to end at the hospital.

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