Page 27 of Fractured Grief (Hope’s Ridge #2)

Indy

I enjoyed the feel of Seb’s hand in mine as we drove in silence.

How could I be this sick from a cut?

My mind was racing at my stupidity. If the cut was infected, then I didn’t clean it properly. I knew better. At least I had been there and been the one to clean everything up. I couldn’t imagine what would have happened if Hazel had been cut or gotten this sort of infection.

An involuntary shiver racked my body. I hope she was okay and not scared that I wasn’t there to pick her up. Fear ate at my insides as I thought about the last time I wasn’t right there for her. The day that changed our lives forever.

Almost a year ago

I paced back and forth, at the back of the auditorium, filled with classmates and other students.

I was so excited to finally be graduating, and with honors.

It was the last step to complete before we could escape.

It had been such a long time coming, but it was all worth it to be able to leave this town, this state.

I’d left early to get here and try on my cap and gown. I was so anxious to get this piece of paper and then celebrate with my girls. Then we’d have to start packing and finally leave this hellish place in two months.

I knew how excited Lexi was, and I couldn’t wait to see her and Hazel’s faces beaming at me from the crowd.

I checked my watch; it wasn’t long now. I could feel the anticipation growing in the air around me.

I was sure Lex and Haze were out there ready to cheer for me as loudly as possible to ensure I blushed.

Lex loved to embarrass me whenever she could, and she’d already warned me she was ready to cheer her heart out and be louder than all those around her.

“If you’d all take your seats, we’re about to begin,” the MC spoke, and the Dean ushered us all into the lines we were supposed to be in.

He strode out on stage and gave his welcome before diving into reading out the graduates.

Thankfully, with the last name of Clark, I was earlier on the list. I was about to go on stage when my phone vibrated in my pocket.

I went to reach for it, but I was nudged from behind as my name had already been called, and I missed it.

Almost stumbling onto the stage, I strode across, with a lightness in my chest at my hard-earned success.

I shook the Dean’s hand and moved my cap’s tassel from one side to the other.

But there was no cheering, no heckles, just the polite clapping the crowd did for everyone. I scanned the crowd as quickly as I could, but I couldn’t see my two stunning redheads anywhere.

Something was wrong.

I quickly followed the lead of those in front of me so I could get out and find Lex and Hazel. They wouldn’t miss this. Lex was as invested in this as I was. She knew how much this meant to me. She had to be here, somewhere.

I rushed out of the auditorium, anxiously looking around, when my phone vibrated again.

Shit! I quickly fumbled with the robes to get to it and answered the unknown number.

“Hello?”

“Hello, is this Indianna Clark?” A stoic male voice spoke.

“Speaking.”

“I’m sorry to inform you, but there’s been an accident. I need you to come down to Memorial Hospital right away.” His voice was clipped and no-nonsense.

“Wait, hospital! Where’s Lex? Is Hazel okay?” Panic gripped my chest as I stood in shock at his words. “Where’s my family?”

“We’ll talk when you get here. Let the nurse in the ER know when you arrive.” And the line went dead.

Hospital. Accident. Hospital. Accident.

The words played on a loop in my head before my body came back to me, and I rushed into action. I threw off my robe, cap, and sash and ran for my car. I had to get to Lex and Hazel. They needed me, and I needed to see them and ensure they were okay.

I don’t remember the drive to the hospital, but I made it and rushed into the ER, and up to the nurse at the counter.

“I’m Indianna Clark. My family was in some sort of accident. Can I see them, please?” I asked, trying to catch my breath.

The nurse’s eyes turned sad as she took me in. “One moment, sir.” She reached for her phone to call someone, and a moment later, a beefy, officer rounded the corner, coming straight for me.

I held my breath.

“Indianna Clark?” He asked and I nodded, “Come with me,” he said as he led me through the ER doors and down the bleak, noisy hallway to a room with four beds in it.

My little Hazel was in the closest one, and I rushed to her side.

She was so small, with cables attached to her tiny body. She looked like she was sleeping.

“Haze, honey, I’m here.” I brushed her mahogany curls off her cheeks and kissed her forehead. She didn’t rouse at all. Turning to the officer, “Is she okay?”

His face looked so bleak, but he nodded. “They had to sedate her. She’s been through a terrible ordeal, Mr. Clark. She has a concussion and a broken arm, but other than that, she is fine and will heal.”

The relief that rocketed through me was short-lived. “Where’s Lexi, ah, Alexandra?”

“I’m so sorry, sir. Your wife didn’t make it. She died at the scene.” His eyes shone with compassion, but that couldn’t be right. Lexi was here somewhere. She had to be. Lexi couldn’t be gone.

“No, she’s here. She’s fine. She’s the strongest person I know. She wouldn’t leave us.” I couldn’t believe his words; it couldn’t be real.

“I’m sorry, sir. She’s dead.” He gently pushed my swaying body back into the chair by Hazel’s bed. “I’ll give you a moment.” He left the room as his words finally sank in, and my hands gripped my chest as agony lanced through me.

Lexi was dead…

“Indy?” A voice that brought warmth to my soul broke through my daze. I was so lost in the past, I didn’t register Seb’s large body filling the car’s door frame. He held his hand out and helped me to my feet.

I still felt weak and shaking, but thankfully, the nausea seemed to have passed, for now.

Entering Doc’s clinic, it was surprisingly inviting and not dark or depressing like I’d feared. Knowing Hazel was on her way, I didn’t want it to feel anything like a hospital. The poor girl was still scared after losing her mother.

Lyric and Seb helped me to one of the backrooms; Doc guided us to it. Seb spoke quickly to Lyric while Doc helped me up onto the bed. Seb came around to my other side and held my hand .

“Lyric’s gone to wait outside for Emmy and Hazel,” he said reassuringly. “They’ll be here soon.”

“Thank you,” I said in a whisper.

Doc got to work, narrating what he was doing as he cleaned my wound, numbed the area, and cut out a piece of porcelain that had been healed over. He then set me up with an IV antibiotic drip. I needed to stay for half an hour for the infusion to finish, then I could go home.

“Although I don’t want you driving,” Doc warned.

“He can stay with me,” Seb spoke hesitantly.

“No, I can’t. What about Hazel? I don’t have any of her things.” My mind was racing.

“You can both stay with me. I’ll get Ma to grab some things for Hazel. It will be okay,” Seb’s voice soothed me.

Leaning on Seb was as easy as breathing. He’d take care of us. I closed my eyes and let the drip work its magic.

It felt like my eyes had only been closed for a second when Hazel’s voice broke through my drowsy state.

“Daddy!” Hazel was up on the bed, hugging my chest before anyone could stop her.

“Shhh, Daddy’s okay, sweetheart. I’m okay.” I held her close and kissed her flyaway curls. “Did you have fun riding with Miss Emerson?”

“Oh yes, she let me pick any music I wanted.” Hazel sat up to beam at me, ready to start her usual play-by-play of all I’d missed, until she saw my arm. “What’s wrong, Daddy?”

“I have a little infection, and this is the medicine that will make me feel better,” I gestured to the IV .

“So, you’ll be okay?” She asked as she put her hands on my cheeks and forced me to look at her.

“I’ll be fine,” I said, smiling at her.

“Okay.” She flopped back onto my chest to cuddle. She settled in and was not likely to move until we left.

“Hi, Indy,” Miss Emerson waved from the foot of the bed. “I’m glad that you’ll be okay.”

“Thank you so much for bringing Haze. It was such a huge help. Thank you.”

“It was no problem. She’s a sweetheart.” Emily’s smile was sad as she took in the way Hazel was burrowing into my chest. She turned to Seb. “Small world, huh?”

“Yeah, it is,” Seb smiled at her, with a little too much familiarity, before turning to me.

“You two know each other? I guess in a small town, everyone knows everyone.” I felt awkward for some reason, but I couldn’t place why.

Seb scratched the back of his neck. “Ah, yes, we were high school sweethearts.”

“Really? So, you two go way back, then.” Miss Emerson was Seb’s ex. Wow.

Lyric broke the tension, as I’d come to expect from him. “Yeah, yeah, these two were their year’s prom king and queen and all that, but they are way better as friends. Right, guys?”

“Lyric,” Seb sounded exasperated.

“It was a small town, not many options,” Emily said with a fond smile on her face. “Better Seb than you.” She playfully ruffled Lyric’s hair .

“Hey! Don’t touch the do,” he said as he jumped back. “You’d have been lucky to snag me,” he added with a cheeky wink.

With the weird tension broken, Emily said her goodbyes and left.

“I’m going to step out and give you a moment,” Lyric added leaving the three of us alone.

Hazel was happy lying on my chest, and I was just glad to have her close.

“Please come stay with me.” Seb caressed my cheek, and the look in his eyes made my heart melt.

“Okay, thank you,” I whispered.