"Ms. Meyer, all the court documents are ready. I just need to know when you''re avable so we can set the trial date."
Reese pressed her hand to her forehead. With everything happeningtely, she''dpletely lost track of this.
Once the date was set, the court would notify Sebastian right away.
But her mother''s ne was still with Zach. He''d promised to get it back for her.
If the trial went forward, chances were he''d stop caring.
"Let''s wait for now," Reese said. "I''ll let you know when I''m ready."
She hung up, tossed back the covers, and swung her legs out of bed. Time to head to ckOak.
Driving out of the hospital parking lot, Reese squinted against the harsh afternoon sun and flipped down the visor. She''d barely rounded a corner when she noticed a ck sedan in her rearview mirror.
At first, she didn''t think much of it. After three intersections with the same car still behind her never too close, never too far-she started to get uneasy.
Who sent them? Sebastian? Or someone else?
A wave of irritation and anxiety washed over her. Reese pressed the gas, hoping to lose them.
But the car stuck to her like a shadow. Every time she sped up, it did too. She switchednes; so did they, right away.
Her grip on the steering wheel tightened as panic crept in, twisting in her chest.
At a red light, Reese took a shaky breath, about to turn her head and check the license te. That''s when it happened.
A deafening crash erupted behind her.
The impact mmed her forward. The airbag exploded from the steering wheel, filling the car with the sharp, chemical smell.
Her forehead hit the airbag with a dull thud.
Through the haze, her mother Marie''s face shed before her eyes.
She was nine again, on a bright day just like this. Marie was driving her to see Bailey, her smile bright and hopeful, as if she was about to share something wonderful.
Then, out of nowhere, a truck barreled into the road. Marie screamed, yanking the wheel. In thosest seconds, she wrapped Reese in her arms, shielding her.
When Reese woke up, she was lying on the side of the road. Marie was slumped over the wheel, blood everywhere.
"Mom!"
Reese gasped, her heart crushing
inside her chest. She couldn''t
breathe. It felt like a rock was
pressing down on her her throat tightening, darkness creeping in at the edges of her vision.
All those old fears and helplessness came rushing back, threatening to drown her.
She slumped in her seat, shaking. Her vision blurred. Suddenly, someone pulled open her car door.
"Are you okay?"
A woman''s voice, clear and steady.
Reese forced herself to look over. Through the blur, she saw a woman in a cream trench coat, leaning in, concern on her face.
"The other driver''s hurt too. Someone already called 911. Hang in there-the ambnce ising..."
The woman''s voice faded away as everything went ck.
Not far away, Tara stood at the entrance of the mall, one hand resting on her belly.
The screech of brakes made her look up. She recognized Reese''s car at once.
She started to step forward but paused, ncing back at the person behind her. Biting her lip, she turned and hurried into the mall.
She couldn''t let Zach see.
She''d barely gotten inside before she bumped right into him, shopping bags dangling from his arms.
"What happened?" Zach caught her by the arm, frowning. "You look pale."
Tara nced at the intersection, her voice shaking. "There was a car ident."
Zach looked through the ss doors at the crowd gathering at the corner. He couldn''t see much just someone being pulled from the back ofa ck car, blood everywhere.
Tara saw him staring and clung to his arm. "Zach, I''m scared."
"Don''t be. I''m here." Zach turned, gently blocking her view with his hand.
"Okay." Tara touched her belly, the small curve hidden under her loose dress. "Let''s go out another exit. The baby''s scared too."
"Whatever you want." Zach wrapped an arm around her, leading her away.
As they walked, Zach nced back, almost involuntarily. Through the crowd, he caught a glimpse of a limp woman being lifted from the driver''s seat of a white car. fo