I cool off my anger at Josh’s. My first instinct is to grab a beer when I get here, but I hesitate. Jackie’s words hit me hard. The truth hit me hard. She is right. Everything I hate about my old man, I’m doing. When I don’t want to deal with something, I drink it away.

My phone chimes, alerting me that I have a text. It’s Jackie.

Good going, McCandless, you managed to chase her away.

I look at the facts. Jackie knew about my past before she invited me to stay with her, so what’s the worst thing she did? Care?

She cares and what did I do? I got mad because she cares. I’m such an idiot. Jackie’s always cared about me, ever since she was that lost little girl. I finally get what I want, a girl to put me first for once, and I manage to chase her away.

There’s only one thing to do at this point.

Head back to Clover and get my girl.

The next afternoon, I pull up in front of the Winston house. The front of the house is decorated with red, white, and blue bunting on the porch rails. Old Glory is waving in the wind on a flagpole near the house.

The place is packed with vehicles, alerting me that I will have to face the entire Winston family now. I just hope I’m not run out of here before I have a chance to talk to Jackie. I would hope she wouldn’t invite me just so I could come over and get my ass kicked.

I knock on the door, praying it’s Jackie that answers. Just my luck, it’s the one I dread the most—big brother John answers the door.

“Tyler,” he says in his intimidating way.

“Officer John,” I say out of respect.

“Come in, and do me a favor?”

“What?” I ask, thinking he is about to ask me to leave.

“Just call me John, okay?” He smiles, putting his hand on my shoulder and leading me to the rest of the family.

“Tyler, I’m so glad you decided to come.” Mrs. Winston comes out, giving me a hug.

Everyone seems happy to see me, but the one I’m really concerned with is Jackie.

“There’s lots of food, and drinks are in the ice chest by the pool. It’s kind of crazy right now, but please make yourself at home.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Winston, but do you know where Jackie is? I need to talk to her.”

“I think her and Julie went to the living room to talk. They still might be there.”

“Julie?” I say, surprised to know she’s here.

“Yes, her and Ben are visiting. We’re having Julie’s baby shower tomorrow.”

“Great,” I say, pretending that I’m enthused that the girl that broke my heart and her hubby are here.

I walk into the living room to see Jackie and Julie in what appears to be a heated discussion by the way they are standing in front of each other. The moment they notice me walk in, they stop talking.

“Hello, Tyler,” Julie says as my eyes look into hers for a split second. No longer do I get the feelings I had for her months ago. She’s just a friend. My eyes search for the one that has my heart—Jackie.

Her eyes are wet with tears as she holds a box in her hands. Something big is going down right now.

“Jackie what’s wrong?” I go to her, hating that she is crying.

“I have to get out of here,” she says, looking at both Julie and me before dodging us both.

“Jackie, please, I didn’t mean to upset you,” I hear Julie call out as I follow Jackie outside.

“Jackie, hold up.” I finally catch her as she manages to make it outside and into her car, with the box sitting next to her. “What’s going on?”

“Tyler, please, I have to be alone right now. I’ll be back, I promise.”

“No, you’re upset. I can’t let you drive off upset. What’s in the box? What is it?”

“I have to go,” she says before starting the car and rolling the window up so I can’t stop her. She’s careful not to hit me with the car as she takes off, but she is determined to go.

I could get in my truck and chase after her, but first I need to know what the hell is going on. What did Julie say to her, and what is in the damn box?

I look up at the porch to see Julie out there watching with Ben by her side. I prepare to face my demons.

“What’s going on. Why is Jackie upset? What did you say to her?” I start interrogating Julie.

“Watch your tone around my wife,” Ben warns.

“Honey, it’s okay.” She pats his arm that is securely around her pregnant belly, holding her close … marking his territory.

“We were talking about my brother Jason,” she says.

“What about him?”

“The box she was holding … it was my brother’s belongings. They were the letters she wrote to him. Did you know they were seeing each other?”

“Yeah, she told me.”

“Well, I wish she would have told me,” Julie says, looking hurt.

“She has her reasons.”

“She told you?” she asks, looking surprised.

“Yes, but I promised to not say anything.”

“He was my brother,” Julie challenges.

“And she is my girlfriend, and I love her. If she wants to tell you then she will in her own time.”

The look on both of their faces over my declaration is priceless.

“Look, I got to go and make sure she’s all right,” I say before turning to head to my truck. I pause and turn back to them one more time. “I wish you both the best,” I say to them, burying the hatchet finally.

“Go after her. Make sure she is okay.” Julie smiles as Ben gives me a small smile and a nod.

I drive the rest of the afternoon, trying desperately to find her, but it’s no use. She is nowhere. It’s about to be dark soon, maybe she will head back home. She won’t answer her phone. Since she is upset about Jason, I even tried the cemetery, thinking maybe she went there to be near him, but she wasn’t there either.

I hear my phone ringing, and I hope that finally she is contacting me. But it isn’t Jackie calling me, it’s her sister Holly.

“Holly,” I answer.

“Tyler,” Holly says in a serious tone.

“Has Jackie made it back home?”

“No. Listen, you need to head to University Hospital in Berry.”

“Berry? That’s out of town. What’s happened?”

“Jackie was in a bad accident. They are sending her there by helicopter.”

I stare at the phone in silence, not believing what I’m hearing.

“Tyler?” Holly says again.

“I’m on my way,” I say.

“Be careful,” she says before hanging up.

Berry is about forty-five minutes out of Clover. Since Clover has a small hospital, all serious patients are usually sent to University Hospital. When I finally arrive, Jackie’s family is everywhere … in the waiting room, hallways, some are even outside as I race past them through the ER doors.

By now, the Med flight has got her here. I want to ask questions, but I’m not sure who to turn to. Even though I met everyone on Father’s Day, I still feel like a stranger to her family. Finally, I see Holly in the corner on the phone. She sees me and waves me over.

“I got to go, Julie. I’ll keep you posted,” she says before hanging up.

“How is she? Any news yet?”

“No, not yet. The helicopter arrived thirty minutes ago. We all raced down here but they are not telling us anything.”

“Do you know what happened?”

“Mike was on duty. He said it was a drunk driver. The guy came over to her lane and she tried to avoid hitting him, they suppose. She rolled the car several times. They had to cut her out with the Jaws of Life,” Holly says, shaking. I reach out and hug her, knowing that at any second she is going to break down.

“But she was alive right?” I ask, barely hanging on myself.

“Yes, barely Mike said. She was conscious, though, and talking to him while they waited for the helicopter. That’s a good sign, right?”

“Yes, that’s a good sign,” I assure her before finally releasing her.

“Where is Mike now?” I ask.

“On his way. He had to finish the report and go home and change.”

“Where’s your mom?”

She points to the other side of the room where Mrs. Winston sits as her family rallies around her. What must be going through her head right now? She only buried her husband a few months ago and now her baby daughter is fighting for her life.

When the doctor comes out from the exam room, he heads immediately to her. My body is shaking. Please, God, don’t let her die. Not her. He is talking to the family but I’m too far back to hear. Holly worms her way into the hurdle. There is no screaming or crying, just words before the doctor heads back into the exam room. The family is still gathered around talking. I feel a slap on my shoulder as Mike walks up next to me.

“Any word yet?”

“The doctor came out and talked to them. I don’t know.”

Holly turns, and seeing Mike, walks back to us, straight into his arms.

“You okay, babe?” He hugs her close, kissing the top of her head.

“They are taking her to the operating room. She has some internal bleeding they’re concerned about. Right now, that’s all they are telling us.”

I step away, wanting to hit something or someone, especially the drunk driver that according to Mike, came out of the accident unscathed. It should be him on that operating table fighting for his life, not her.

“You okay?” I hear the deep voice of Officer John next to me. He’s probably worried that I’m about to lose my shit. He should be, because I’m at my breaking point.

“Come on, let’s go outside a minute,” he says, putting his arm around my shoulders and walking with me outside.

“Please, tell me you have that asshole in jail right now.” I look at him after we step outside.

“He is.” John nods.

“That should be him in that operating room right now, not her,” I growl.

“I agree,” he says calmly.

“She has to be okay.” I look at him, not afraid to let him see the tears in my eyes. “I love her. She has to be okay.” I finally break.

“She will be. My baby sister is a fighter. She’ll make it,” he says, hugging me like a friend, like a brother.

It’s a long night with no word from the doctors. Everyone is scattered. Some go home to tend to little ones, while others are waiting for any word and rallying by Mrs. Winston. I spend most of the night pacing back and forth.

At around one o’clock in the morning, the doctor makes his way down the corridor and straight to Mrs. Winston, sitting next to her as the rest of the family gathers. I manage to join in as John makes sure I’m close by to hear what the doctor has to say.

“It was touch and go. There was quite a bit of internal bleeding because her spleen was ruptured. We ended up having to remove it, but her other organs are fine. She has multiple fractures on both of her legs, so she is going to be immobile for a while until they heal, but luckily she has no head or spinal injuries,” the doctor says before pausing.

“Your daughter is one hell of a fighter. She is still critical, but I’m confident she is going to pull through this. We are sending her to the ICU, just so she can be monitored closely for the next twenty-four hours. The ICU is closed to visitors during this time. I suggest you all go home and get some sleep and be back when visiting hours start, at seven o’clock.”

Everyone starts hugging, relieved to hear the news. I step away, letting them have their moment in private.

“Hey, man, Holly and I are headed home. Why don’t you come back and crash at our place for a few hours?” Mike says to me.

“I appreciate it, but I want to be here, so I can see her soon.”

Mike nods and heads back to the crowd. Most of the family heads home like the doctor advised, except for Mrs. Winston, John, and me. We sit in the ICU waiting room, but no one is really talking. We are all exhausted from the late night. I lean back and rest my eyes.

Mrs. Winston touches my shoulder, giving me a little shake. “Tyler,” she says quietly as I open my eyes.

“What’s wrong? Is she okay?” I sit up alarmed as I must have fallen asleep.

“Yes. They are going to let us visit her. Would you like to come with me?”

I look over at John.

“Go be with her,” he says.

Mrs. Winston and I are allowed into the ICU and we look for her room. I start getting queasy as I step into the ICU. Monitors beeping everywhere remind me of years ago, when I was in the very same hospital. We finally make it to her room.

I reach in for every ounce of strength I have when I step into the room. I stand at the foot of the bed, looking at my beautiful girl. Her face is unscathed except for a few scratches. If it wasn’t for the oxygen mask, you would swear she was just in here sleeping.

Both of her legs are in casts, reminding me that she does have some serious injuries and months of physical therapy ahead of her. Not to mention, she still isn’t completely out of the woods.

The nurse is at her bedside, checking her vitals.

“Has she been awake?” Mrs. Winston asks her.

“Yes, she has opened her eyes a few times. It’s okay, I’m done now, you can come closer,” the nurse says before stepping away.

Mrs. Winston steps to her side, while I step to the other.

“Honey, it’s Mommy. I’m here, baby,” she says as she kisses her forehead and holds her hand.

“Mom?” she says weakly but her eyes remain closed.

“I’m here, honey, and so is Tyler.”

Upon the mention of my name, she opens her eyes to look at me.

“Hey, there.” I smile.

“Hi,” she whispers, giving me a smile before turning her head slowly to look at her mom.

“Oh, honey, I’m so glad you’re okay,” Mrs. Winston says as she starts to cry.

“Don’t cry, Mom,” she says slowly.

“They’re only happy tears, baby,” she says.

Jackie raises her hand that is next to me, and I take it, giving it a gentle squeeze. She turns her head once more to look at me, but the medication kicks in, and once more she closes her eyes.

I don’t want to leave her side, but as her family starts showing up, I realize I can’t be selfish. I wait in the waiting room while John takes his mother home and the rest of the family take their turns to see Jackie. When Mike and Holly finally come back to the waiting room after their visit, I stand to greet them.

“Does the offer still stand to crash at your place for a bit?”

“Sure, man. We’re about to go home now. Leave your truck here. You are too exhausted to be driving.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it,” I say as I follow them out.