“Olivia!” I scream across the store. She gives me a quick wave before dragging poor Mrs. Townsend to the greenhouse out back.

I wait for a text from Griffin, but nothing comes.

Just as Olivia and I are leaving, my phone vibrates in my hand. I almost ignore it until I catch a glimpse of Mom’s name on the screen.

“Mom?”

“Hey, Sophie.” Her voice sounds wobbly.

I sink down on the front steps and Olivia drops down beside me. “What’s wrong?” she whispers. I hold the phone between us so she can hear, too.

“It’s been pretty rough today,” Mom says. “Just wanted to keep you up-to-date with what’s going on here.”

I haven’t even heard what’s wrong yet and I already feel like I’m about to vomit. “Tell me everything.”

Mom takes a deep breath. “Anna’s oxygen saturation is around eighty. That’s not good.”

“Oh God! So what are they going to do?”

“Well, they’re going to sedate her and put her on a ventilator. Her little body needs to rest to get strong, and the machine will breathe for her for a while.”

A muffled cry escapes. I feel like I got punched in the stomach.

“Sophie, it sounds worse than it is, I promise. The doctors think if they give her some time, she should be okay. Hopefully, she’ll only be on the vent for a day or so, and then they’ll start weaning her off.”

“Should,” I squeak out. “That’s the best they can say? She should be okay?”

“Well, they can’t make any guarantees right now, but they feel very confident.”

I swallow the lump in my throat. “How’s Margot?”

Mom takes another deep breath, and now I’m bracing myself for what’s coming.

“I told you last night that she’s been really weak and dizzy. She lost a lot of blood when she delivered and hasn’t bounced back the way she should have. Her hemoglobin is at six, which is really low. She’s probably going to need a blood transfusion. The doctors are in with her now, so we should know shortly what they’re going to do.”

Olivia clutches my hand. My heart is thumping so hard right now. “Mom, are they going to be okay?”

“I know I’m hitting you with a lot right now, but I promise you, the doctors have assured us that it’s not unexpected. Everyone fully expects both of them to get past this and hopefully be on their way home soon. It’s like a bump in the road.”

More like a mountain.

“Should I come down?” I ask.

“No, sweetie,” Mom says. “Stay there and I’ll keep you posted. Once Margot and the baby are home, we’ll come back for a visit. You can’t see Anna right now anyway, and Margot needs to rest.”

“You’ll call me and let me know everything that’s happening, right?”

“Yes, of course,” she says. “Oh, and as much as I hate it, I don’t think we’ll be back for Nonna’s birthday party. We just can’t leave here until we know everything is okay.”

“How’s Dad? He’s texted me a few times but I haven’t really talked to him.”

Mom lets out a quiet chuckle. “He’s climbing the walls. He hates that he can’t fix this.” Her voice drops to a whisper. “Brad’s dad keeps trying to sell him insurance.”

I can’t help but smile when I picture Dad stuffed into one of those uncomfortable hospital chairs while Brad’s dad drones on and on.

“So he’s basically miserable.”

“Pretty much. I’ll let you know about Margot. Don’t worry, okay?”

“Okay.”

When we hang up, Olivia hugs me, then pulls me up. “C’mon, let’s head to Nonna’s. Your date should be there soon.”

Tonight’s date is the absolute last thing on my mind. There’s no way I’m going. I’m heading south to check on Margot and Anna.

***

I throw my clothes into a bag upstairs. I can hear everyone downstairs, just like last night, laughing it up and chatting. It makes my stomach hurt.

Mom’s name flashes across my screen and I grab my phone.

“Hello,” I say.

“Hey, sweetie.”

“How are they doing?” I ask immediately.

“The doctors say a few units of blood will help Margot bounce back. While I wish she didn’t need a transfusion, I’m glad there’s something they can do for her to make her better.”

“I don’t like this. I feel like everything is falling apart.”

“It’s just another bump in the road. I’ll keep you updated. As scary as it sounds, it won’t take long to do the transfusion. Anna seems to be resting well. They’ll check her oxygen levels in the morning. Tomorrow will be a better day.”

I talk to Mom a few more minutes, then she ends the call.

Yep, not waiting until tomorrow.

I’m digging under the bed when I hear that familiar thump of the basketball next door. I crawl over to the window and there he is, standing in his driveway. Wes is dressed in jeans and a hoodie, and he looks really good. He’s not shooting the ball, just bouncing it while looking out toward the street.

What’s he looking at?

No matter how hard I press my face against my window, I can’t see more than ten feet in front of him. I’m just about to give up and get back to packing when the car pulling into the driveway stops me.

Wes walks up to the driver’s-side window and leans down. I can’t see who he’s talking to and it’s killing me. He stays like that for a few minutes, then straightens and moves to the passenger side. Just before Wes slides into the seat, he glances up at my window. I hit the floor.

I count to ten. Slowly. Then lift up just enough to peek out of the window. I get a glimpse of the driver just before the car moves out of sight.

It’s Laurel.

I slide back down and lean against the wall under the window. He’s leaving with Laurel.

“Sophie!” Olivia says, popping inside the room. “It’s ten to four. Are you going to come down?”

It takes everything in me to heave myself off the floor. “I’m done. I’m driving down to check on Margot and Anna.”

Olivia looks at the bag in my hand. “Want me to go with you?”

“No. I may stay there until the break’s over. I haven’t decided.” I gather up all the clothes off the floor and shove them in the bag.

“Okay. Are you going to tell the family? Or are you just going to leave?” I don’t miss her tone. She thinks I’m being rude or cold or whatever, but I just want to be with my parents and Margot and Anna right now.

“I’ll call Nonna from the road. I don’t want her to stop me.” I pause on the way to the door. “Do me a favor? Put my bag in my car for me so she doesn’t ask questions?”

We look at each other for a long moment, then she finally takes my bag and leaves the room without another word.

I follow her downstairs, still wearing the jeans and T-shirt I had on for work today. My hair is in a messy ponytail, and I have zero makeup on. I just need to send this date away and get on the road.

Uncle Charles takes one look at me and turns to Charlie. “Go change my bet. Pick the four spot.”

Uncle Ronnie laughs from across the room. “Too late. Already took it.”

Right on time, the doorbell rings, and Sara sprints to it, swinging the door open wide. The entire room falls silent.

“No way,” Charlie mumbles.

Standing in the open doorway is Griffin.

Charlie steps in front of me and says, “Uh-uh. No way. Not happening.”

Griffin moves forward. “Sophie, just talk to me for a second. If you don’t want to go out with me, I’ll completely understand.”

“What’s going on?” Uncle Sal whispers behind me. “He looks like a nice enough guy.”

Banks says, “That’s the ex-boyfriend.”

“Oh,” Uncle Sal responds, drawing out the sound.

I look at Aunt Maggie Mae, who’s smiling. “Sophie, Griffin reached out to me and practically begged me to pick him.”

Nonna comes up behind me and puts an arm around my waist. “You don’t have to go, sweetie.”

Griffin’s eyes are pleading with me. “Talk to me for just a few minutes before you decide. Please.”

I nod, only because I need to get out of this room. But I turn back just before I leave.

“I’m using the card,” I say, then shut the front door behind me.

We walk out to the front porch for some privacy. When he comes to a stop, I turn to face him, keeping several feet of distance between us. “Your aunt is right,” he says. “I called Mary Jo to ask who was picking your dates for the rest of the week, and she gave me her mom’s number.”

Oh, I’ll bet she did. Out of all my cousins he could have reached out to, that’s the one he picks?

“I can’t go on a date with you tonight,” I say. I see his mouth open — probably to argue with me — and I cut him off before he can start. “This has nothing to do with you. I’m actually canceling the rest of my dates and heading down to the hospital. My sister and niece aren’t doing well, and I need to be with them.”

“Then I’ll drive you,” he says.

“You don’t need to do that,” I say as I walk down the front steps toward my car.

He catches up with me. “You’re upset. It would be safer for me to drive you down. Then you can ride back with your parents.”

I stop in the middle of the front walk and look at him. “You’ll drive me. Just like that, you’ll drive me three hours to see my sister? Then what?”

His head tilts to the side. “Whatever it takes. If I need to wait there with you, I will. Or if you want me to leave, I’ll drive back.”

I stare at him a few seconds and then nod toward his truck. “Okay.”

We head toward the curb just as the front door opens. Charlie and Olivia step outside.

“Let me grab my bag,” I say to Griffin.

I head toward my car, and Charlie and Olivia meet me there.