Page 93 of Nanny for the Doctor

“What?!”

The pound of blood in my ears is nearly deafening, and then Johnny blinks, clearing his throat around the lump forming.

“Mae’s been in an accident. She’s just been brought in to the hospital.”

I don’t know why, but I rush to my pager and double-check the message.

Car accident. Landed on its hood. Female with head trauma, approximately twenty-five.

Nausea clenches my gut, and I almost throw up.

“Mae.” My voice is small and quiet.

“Go. Both of you. I’ll stay and watch Henry.” Johnny and I look at Stevie in shock. “Go!”

Not bothering with my bag, I rush to my car, Johnny hot on my heels. We slip inside, and in moments, I turn over the ignition, and we’re on the road to the hospital.

The interior is silent and I drive as fast as safety allows. My heart rate is too high to even guess, and my chest feels so tight, I can barely breathe.

This can’t be happening again. I have to get to her.

The rain coats my windshield, which makes visibility a nightmare, but then I feel something warm on my cheeks. Swiping across one, I realize I’m crying.

Great, just great.

Soon, I’m hyperventilating, and all I can think is that I’m going to someone else because of a car crash. I’m going to lose Mae…

I’m going to lose my child.

Suddenly, I can’t breathe at all, and everything goes foggy, my vision tunneling. I quickly pull over to the side of the road and leap out.

Emptying the contents of my stomach into the ditch, my body shakes so hard, I nearly fall over.

“Dude!” Johnny is at my side. “Are you alright?”

“I…I…” Trying to swallow down more rising bile, I shake my head. “I need you to drive.”

I don’t want to meet his eyes and find that terrible pity everyone always flings at me when I’m gripped by panic. Still, I have to at least acknowledge he’s taken the key because my fingers are numb.

“I got it.”

Johnny just nods, opening the door for me without another word, and I remember why I actually like the guy.

He takes over behind the wheel, and we’re back on the road to the hospital in seconds. However, the panic doesn’t back off, even as I recognize it’s there.

My mind just churns like a goddamn blender, and I close my eyes against the swell of nausea rising up again.

I can’t lose her. Not like this. I…I…

And then it hits me like a Mack Truck. I love her. I love Mae with everything I have.

I didn’t want to admit it. I wanted to protect myself like I always do, but it’s clearly too late for that.

I’m already in way too deep, and if I lose her right now, I won’t survive it.

“I’ll get us there, Reed. I promise.”

Looking over at Johnny, I completely abandon any leftover anger toward him. I don’t care anymore.

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