Page 8 of Good Girls Don't Kiss and Tell (Rock Canyon, Idaho 7)

Through the big bay windows, Eric saw the ambulance pull up. Everyone moved into the backyard to make room for the paramedics and the gurney, except for immediate family and Gracie, Mike, and Eric. The EMT’s took Gemma’s vitals and then lifted her onto the gurney gently.

Travis went to his son and hugged him. “I’m going to ride with Mom, and Uncle Mike’s going to drive you, Grandma, and Aunt Dawn to the hospital, okay?”

Charlie nodded, and Travis followed behind the gurney, closing the door behind them.

Eric could tell Gracie was trembling before him. He squeezed Gracie’s shoulders, and when she turned toward him, the tear-filled green eyes were like a sucker punch to the gut.

“She’s going to be okay.” He pulled her against him, squeezing her tight as she cried. “She’ll be fine, I promise.”

“Eric, can you give Gracie a ride?” Mike asked.

Eric nodded at him, and Mike led the rest of Gemma’s family out the front door. When it was just the two of them, Eric bent down and kissed Gracie’s forehead.

“Go on out to my car. I’m just going to let everyone know what’s happening, and I’ll meet you out there.”

Gracie sniffled and wiped at her face as she pulled away. “I can drive myself.”

“I know, but humor me, okay?”

Eric was actually surprised she didn’t argue. “Okay.”

Chapter Three

“There’s a theory that stressful situations can really bring the truth to the surface. This explains all those blurted feelings at the end of romantic comedies.” - Miss Know-It-All’s Gossip Column.

Gracie couldn’t stop tapping her feet in the waiting room of the hospital, the beat of “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” drumming through her head. It might have been a bit upbeat for the situation, but it was song she and Gemma had spent most of their childhood singing at the top of their lungs and it made her feel a little better.

They’d been waiting for over an hour for Travis or Gemma’s mother to come out and tell them anything, and Gracie was slowly losing patience.

Suddenly, Eric’s hand was on her knee. “You’re tapping your toes off over here.”

“I can’t help it. It’s either that or pacing the room.”

“I get it, believe me, but it’s not going to make the time go by faster. We need to stay calm, at least for Charlie’s sake.”

Gracie looked over at Charlie, who was sitting between Gemma’s sister, Dawn, and Mike. The poor kid was pale and his face drawn with worry.

She willed her legs to be still.

Seconds later, Travis came into the room, and they all leapt out of their chairs, circling him.

“Sorry, we’ve been waiting on tests,” Travis said, wrapping Charlie in a hug.

“And?” Gracie pressed.

Travis looked up from the top of Charlie’s head. “And her blood pressure is high, so they want to keep an eye on her. They’re worried about preeclampsia, but they don’t know for sure yet. Her mom and I are going to stay with her.”

“Charlie can hang with me tonight if he wants,” Mike said.

“No, I want to stay with Mom!” Charlie cried.

Gracie’s heart broke for the young boy, and for some reason, she found herself reaching back for Eric’s hand, as if she was the one who needed comforting.

Travis bent over until he was eye level with Charlie. “I know, son. But there isn’t enough room, and you need to get a good night’s sleep.”

“But—”

“Charlie, I need you to be a man about this, okay?”