Secret Indiscretions (Carson Cove Scandals 2)

“It’s going to be okay, baby. I promise.” I squeezed Charley’s hand as the paramedic worked on her arm. “It’s just a scratch. It’ll heal…”

“It hurts, Mommy.” Charley winced when the paramedic rubbed something across her wound.

“You’re very lucky.” The paramedic tried to be calm and reassuring. “You could be going to the hospital right now to get stitches—all I have to do is put a band-aid on this, and you’ll be all set.”

“How is she.” Jon walked up behind me and put his hand on my shoulder.

“I’m fine.” Charley’s face went from verge-of-tears to a big smile immediately when she saw Jon. “He said it’s just a scratch.”

“Apparently she’s all fine now that you’re here.” I looked back at Jon. “Oh god, how’s my mom?”

I didn’t even check on the woman that’s been by my side since the day I was born. I’m a terrible daughter…

“They think she has a concussion,” Jon sighed. “She’s lucid though. That’s a really good sign.”

“Will you stay with Charley for a moment?” I squeezed his hand.

“Of course.” He nodded and sat down on the edge of the ambulance.

Jon started talking to Charley, and I ran over to check on my mother. The paramedics had her loaded in the ambulance, but they let me climb up and talk to her. She didn’t seem to be seriously injured by any means, but she was out of it. All I got to do was ask her if she was okay before the paramedics insisted that I let th

em take her to the hospital. I stood behind the ambulance until it drove away and looked over the edge of the embankment, where my mother’s car had crashed. They really had been extremely lucky. I always teased my mother because she drove like an old lady—even when I was a kid—but for once in my life, I was glad she wasn’t going that fast.

“Leo is going to get Charley’s booster seat out of the car, and then we can go. It still needs to be replaced as soon as possible, but it will work for now.” Jon walked up beside me.

“Does she still seem to be okay?” I looked over my shoulder at Charley.

“Yeah, I told her that paramedics are real-life superheroes, and now she’s obsessed with the guy who carried her to the ambulance.” Jon’s lips formed a half-smile.

“You’re really good at the dad thing; you know that?” I looked at him and finally let the anger that had been teetering on the edge of my thoughts flow freely through my veins. “I wish she had a father like you instead of a maniac. He’s obviously the one who did this. I’m going to kill him—there isn’t going to a damn trial now—he’s won’t make it that long.”

“Jackson didn’t do this…” Jon looked down at the ground and exhaled sharply. “Leo’s guy and your mom said a woman was driving the car.”

“A woman?” I blinked in surprise. “Who the hell—I know Jackson’s mother is crazy, but I don’t think she would try to kill her own granddaughter…”

“I didn’t get a chance to show you this.” Jon pulled a pink envelope out of his pocket. “I think the woman that has been sending these is the one who ran you mother off the road…”

“What?” I snatched the envelope out of his hand and read the letter inside of it. “Oh my god!”

“I have a feeling that whoever did this had no idea Leo’s guys were following your family…” Jon shook his head angrily.

“Do you think she was going to try and kidnap Charley!?” My anger melted into hysterics, and I began to hyperventilate.

“I don’t know.” Jon pulled me into a tight embrace. “She didn’t—that’s what is important. Let’s go to the hospital and check on your mom; then we can figure out what we’re going to do next.”

“Okay.” I squeezed my eyes shut to stop the tears from coming.

The trip to the hospital was rather solemn. Charley got upset once she realized that her grandmother had left in the other ambulance. I was trying to process everything in my head. Jon appeared to be doing the same. There wasn’t much in the way of news once we finally arrived. My mother had been admitted, and they were doing some tests. The doctor told us that it was standard protocol for anyone that appeared to have a head injury, since it wasn’t always obvious how serious they were until it was too late. That didn’t make me feel any better, especially after believing that my mother was relatively okay after talking to her in the ambulance.

“I’m sure she’ll be fine.” Jon put his arm around me. “Remember, they did all of those tests on me after I was brought to the hospital—it’s just a precaution.”

“I know…” I leaned against him. “I need to get in touch with Anna. She saw the woman at the wedding—she could at least give us a description.”

“Yeah.” Jon nodded. “I guess we’re past the point of not wanting to ruin Taylor’s wedding day now.”

“Hey, I’ve got news…” Leo walked up to us.

“You found her!?” I looked up at him with a little hope forming inside me.