Hazel didn’t seem convinced, however, and honestly, neither was I. Not with the mini waterfall that had followed me out of the driver door when I’d exited yesterday.
Once I’d given them my keys and Hazel promised me they wouldn’t use my ute as a kayak, they left, leaving me alone with some of the newest additions to the town.
“If we head to the house, I’ll grab you a clean towel so you guys can wash up.”
Nick bobbed his head and took hold of Murphy, who’d been sat at his other dad’s feet, picking up the few tools scattered on the ground. “Sounds good.”
“You need a cold drink, George?”
“Yeah, that’d be great, thanks, Ross,” he said, peeking out from behind the bonnet to answer.
“Give me five.”
“No worries.”
We headed up, and I set up Nick and Murphy in the guest bathroom while I went to my small en suite. Drying off my hands, I paused when I heard my phone ring. I dashed over to the chest of drawers where I’d left it, not wanting it to flip over to my voice mail in case it was Dan.
“Craig, hey,” I answered.
When there was no response, I frowned and looked at the screen, wondering if he’d butt dialled me. It wouldn’t be the first time. We were still connected.
I called louder, “Craig, you there?”
All at once, I was blasted with sound and a punch of dread.
“Shit. I’d hit mute,” Craig said. His voice sounded off, or maybe it was the indistinguishable loud noises in the background making me think that.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, fine,” he rushed to say. “Dan’s hurt. He’s just being taken to the hospital now.”
The punch of dread was nothing compared to the cold hit of fear sliding over my skin and sinking into my veins.
“I’m coming.” I didn’t recognise the icy calm of my voice. It was at complete odds with the heavy pounding of my heart or the rush of chaos churning my gut.
“Just hold your damn horses a second.”
I paused as he spoke to me, running through everything that happened, and explaining to me the situation. I heard it all, but not a single word sank in, my brain simply latching on the fact that Dan was hurt and I needed to be with him.
“Just let me keep you updated.”
“Nope.”
Craig sighed, the sound weary. “Listen, I’m not even sure if the roads are clear.”
“I said I’m coming. I’ll find a way to get through.” My tone offered no room for negotiation. I’d walk through any high water if I had to. “I won’t be long.”
I ended the call, more than aware I’d asked no clarifying questions. It didn’t matter what had happened, and the last thing I wanted to know was whether it was serious.
All I could think of was getting to Dan. Craig and Dan would be pissed off at me for sure, but fuck if I could even give a shit about that right now.
I just needed to get to the hospital.
The sound of the closing bathroom door jolted me into action.
I tugged on a clean shirt and bounded out the room, all but running into Nick and Murphy.
Wide-eyed, Nick stopped in his tracks, taking in my appearance. “What’s wrong?”
