Never Doubt Me: Judge Me Not #2(61)

“Um,” I lower my voice, “how is she doing?”

Missy’s mom shakes her head and starts to cry. “The doctors don’t know much yet. They’re examining her now.” Her shoulders slump, but she continues. “This is so terrible, Kay. My poor Missy, she looks so broken. Her face is bruised. Her body is banged up.”

When she’s finished speaking, she sucks in a labored breath. Her grief is palpable, and I give her a loose hug, hoping she feels a tiny bit better knowing there are people who care.

“Please pray for Missy,” Mrs. Metzger pleads, her voice cracking. She hugs me back. “And pray for the baby. The doctors are very worried since it’s so early in her pregnancy.” She sighs, steps back, and dabs a tissue to her eyes. “Oh, I can’t even think about that right now.”

“I’ll say a prayer for both of them,” I assure her. “I promise.”

“Kay, one more thing…”

My eyes meet hers, and she says, “It was sweet of you to ride here with Missy in the ambulance. I just wanted to thank you for staying with her.”

“Of course,” I reply. “I didn’t want her to be alone.”

Mrs. Metzger glances back to where the exam rooms are.

“You go ahead and get back to Missy. I’ll be in the waiting room. Let me know when you know more, okay?”

Mrs. Metzger smiles sadly. “Okay, sweetheart. I’ll come out and give you an update as soon as I hear anything, I promise.”

I nod and thank her. I then decide to forgo the coffee. I just head into the waiting room.

Time ticks by ever so slowly. I tap my foot, waiting and waiting. There’s a TV suspended from the ceiling, and it is blaring. Additionally, two screaming young kids are running amok, smacking each other with magazines. One starts to cry, and I decide it’s time for a break.

When I step out of the ER, into the fresh nighttime air, I take the opportunity to check in with Chase.

Following a quick greeting, he asks, “How’s Missy?”

“Well, her mom is here. But there’s no real news yet. Mrs. Metzger promised to keep me updated, though.”

“That’s nice of her,” Chase says.

“Uh-huh.” I pause, then add in a low voice, “How’s Will? Is he at the house?”

Chase lets out a breath. “Yeah, he’s here.”

“Is he okay?”

Chase knows I’m asking if Will is messed up, and he answers accordingly.

“Surprisingly, he’s fine.”

Now it’s my turn to release a stifled breath. “So he and Jared really did go swimming at the lake?”

“I guess so,” Chase replies, sighing. “I mean, Will spouted off the same story as Jared, so I suppose it’s the truth.”

In a very low voice, I ask, “Do you believe him?”

“I do, actually. I think they really did go to the lake. My brother has a tan, so they were definitely outdoors.”

Before I can ask why, then, would the boys stop at Kyle Tanner’s, Chase says, “Oh, I’m supposed to relay a message to you from Will.”

“Okay.”

“He said to tell you he’s sorry for running out on you this morning, said he needed to get his head straight about Cassie, same as what Jared said about him.”

Chase sounds kind of defeated, and I wonder why. What else is going on?

But before I start asking questions, I say, “Well, tell Will it’s fine. I’m not mad.”

“I’ll tell him,” he says.

Now, I get to my questions. First, I ask, “What’s going on with Cassie? Any updates?”

“None that Will is sharing…” Chase trails off, and I imagine him dragging his fingers through his hair. “I mean, I don’t know, Kay. There’s nothing new to report as far as I know.”

From his clipped tone, I know for sure something is wrong.

“What else is going on, Chase? Did your brother say anything about that stop at Kyle Tanner’s house?”

“No, not a word.” He sighs. “Actually, I haven’t even asked him yet. But I don’t think Will’s going to tell me anything, babe. And, frankly, I just don’t have the energy to get into it with him right now.”

“That’s probably a good idea,” I agree. “You can talk to him about it another day.”

“Yeah. It will have to be within the next few days, though,” Chase mutters distractedly.

“Wait, what?”

This must be what’s bothering Chase, why he sounds kind of off.

Sure enough, he says. “Oh yeah, wait until you hear the latest development.”

“Oh no,” I say, cringing as I think of what could be going on now. “What happened?”

Chase chuckles, but it’s devoid of humor. “Will apparently spoke with our mother this morning, and she gave him the green light to go home early.”

I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “No way,” I gasp. “You’re kidding.”

“I wish I were,” Chase says, sighing. “But, no, it’s no joke. Will leaves for Las Vegas on Tuesday.”

I’m shocked by this turn of events. Chase’s brother must have really pressed his mom to convince her to allow him to come home early.