If it had been anybody but Bethany, I would’ve assumed the weather had something to do with the accident. But she’s not a California native, and she’s a great driver, even in snow.
Ryder puts on shades and an old cap as I park the car. Renni and Gary are already in the waiting room by the time we make it inside. Oliver’s usually smiling face is devoid of color, and his narrow shoulders are hunched almost level with his ears. The rimless glasses sit skewed on his nose, but he doesn’t seem to notice.
I run over to him. “Bethany?”
“The doctors are with her right now,” Oliver says.
“What happened?”
“The police think somebody ran her off the road.” He drops his hands. “There were skid marks. But they aren’t telling us anything more.”
“How about the other driver?”
“Didn’t stop.”
Anger laces through my worry. I know some people are horrible about stopping and doing the right thing, but this is just awful. Ryder puts a hand on my shoulder and squeezes. I lean toward him, grateful for his support. My knees are unsteady, and I can’t help but imagine the worst.
“The baby?” I manage to ask.
“I don’t know.” Oliver wipes tears away. “There was blood on her, Paige. So much blood.” He covers his face with shaking hands.
My vision dims. Bethany and Oliver tried so long and hard for that baby. If anybody deserves one, it’s—
“Paige!” Ryder’s urgent voice rings in my ear. His arms are tight around me.
I blink a few times until my eyes focus. Ryder’s peering at me, his brows scrunched.
“What?” I ask, my voice low.
“You went limp, and I thought you fainted.”
Maybe I did faint for a moment. I have no idea. I find a seat and try to collect myself.
Ryder watches my every move. Eventually he turns back to Oliver and the other
s. “Is there anything we can do to help?”
Oliver shakes his head and sighs. “I doubt it. You should go home. I didn’t mean for all of you to come. I have no idea what I was thinking.”
I stand up—gingerly—and walk over to hug him. “You did the right thing. You deserve our support.” Gary and Renni nod.
I don’t know if Oliver can hear me though. His gaze is focused on something beyond us, and his mouth is tight with denial. I recall the terror I felt when I was brought to the hospital, bleeding, and I wasn’t going through the trauma of an accident on top of it. He and Bethany must be petrified. What if the unthinkable happens…?
Ryder checks his phone and texts for a moment. He probably needs to cancel whatever appointments he has for the afternoon. I realize that even though I’m supposed to be his assistant again, I don’t know what he has scheduled for the day.
Finally he gets up. I put a hand on his forearm. “Don’t go,” I say.
“I’m not leaving. Just need to check on something.”
“Let me come along.” I don’t want to be alone with my dark thoughts. Renni and Gary don’t seem to know what to do either, Gary staring at nothing and Renni tapping her feet two hundred beats per minute—her little tick when she’s tense and worried. It seems like Ryder is our only steady anchor, and I need that.
He debates a moment, then nods. “Okay. Come on.”
We take an elevator to the top floor. He leads me down a hall until we reach a section marked PRIVATE, which of course means nothing to Ryder. He pushes the door open and walks in. A secretary in a regular street outfit of a blouse and slacks looks up. “Do you have an appointment?”
“No, but I’m pretty sure Rob Sanders will see me, assuming he’s available,” Ryder says, taking off his cap and sunglasses.
The woman’s eyes go wide with recognition. “Oh my god… Um, of course. Right this way.”