Page 84 of That Conflicted Feeling

Sheslumps back in the seat and drops the phone to her lap. “Mom.She’shad a bad fall.Carly’sat the hospital with her.”

“Shit.Howbadly hurt is she?”

“Don’tknow.They’rewaiting forX-rays.”

Myheart sinks, not only forGloria’ssuffering, but also becauseIknowPollyis going to blame herself for not being there.

Ineed to get her to that hospital as fast as possible. “Whichhospital?”

“St.LawrenceMemorial.”

Iclick a switch on my headset soIcan talk to the pilot and lean forward to touch him on the arm.“Canwe land atSt.LawrenceMemorialHospital?"

“I’llcheck, sir.”

Lewissays some pilot things into his microphone and starts having flight conversations about hospitals and helipads.

Polly’shands are shaking as she texts at a frantic pace. “Christ, it’s too noisy in here to call.”

Ineed to be the calm, supportive one, the person she relies on in a crisis.Itake a deep breath and put my arm around her but can’t pull her to me because of the seatbelts. “I’llget you there as quickly asIcan.Ipromise.”

Sheshakes off my arm and doesn’t look up from her phone.

“IfIhadn’t come here with you, this wouldn’t have happened at all.”Shealmost spits the words into the mic.

Aknot forms in my guts and tightens.Ourfirst best day is ruined already.Andthere’s a chance she might be remembering all the reasons she hated me in the first place.

“Mr.Dashwood.”Thepilot’s voice in our ears. “Ican’t land at the hospital, butIcan land atCranbrookAirfieldnearby.”

Iturn toPolly. “Isthat closer than landing back at your house?”

Shenods without looking up.

“Okay, do that,”Itell the pilot.ThenItextCharlotteto book a car to meet us there.Iplace my hand gently onPolly’sleg and rub it with my thumb.

“It’sall going to be okay.I’mright here,”Itell her.

Shesnatches her leg away, drops her phone into her lap, and turns her body to stare out of the chopper in silence.

She’sgoing to blame me.Iknow she’ll blame me.

Ipunch my leg in frustration.

Imight lose her, right asI’vefound her.

* * *

Polly’sfeet barely touch the ground as she sprints across the tarmac from the helicopter to the waiting blackSUV.

Ijust about keep up and jump in beside her.

“St.LawrenceMemorialHospital.Asfast as you can,”Itell the driver.

“Onit, sir.”

Aswe speed away,Pollyhits the call button on her phone.

“We’llbe there soon,”Itell her.