Chapter 24
There were moments when I was extra grateful to be the Sheriff. This wasn”t an easy job, but I knew I was meant to do it. The drive to the hospital from the trailhead should have taken us twenty-five minutes, but as soon as I pulled out of the gravel lot, I flipped my lights and sirens on and floored it. I kept stealing glances at Karis to see how she was holding up, only to find her sitting completely still as silent tears streamed down her rosy cheeks. Occasionally, I”d catch her chest shaking from what I guessed was a sob, but the whole drive, she didn”t say a word. The only time I heard her was the slight sniffle every few minutes.
I was both proud and concerned with how she was holding herself together. I don”t know if I”d be able to keep my composure if the roles were reversed. Sure, I was trained to keep calm in chaotic situations, but when it”s your family, sometimes that training goes straight out the window.
As I neared the hospital, I turned off my sirens. ”Is your mom in the emergency room?” I asked softly, trying not to startle her. Karis seems to be in her own little world since she got the phone call from her dad. It was as if she was on autopilot, just going through the motions. I hated it. I hated to see her bottle up her emotions and drop the curtain over her eyes.
The only response I got to my question was a slight nod of her head. Her ponytail gently bounced with the movement.
I pulled to the front of the ER doors, killed the engine, and hopped out to run around and open the passenger door for Karis. She quickly slid out and rushed for the doors. I left the lights on but took my keys with me as I jogged in after her. When I entered the waiting room, I found Karis frantically asking where her mom was. The nurse rubbed her hand along Karis” arm before motioning for her to follow.
Staying a step behind, I followed Karis and the nurse through the doors and down a hall. When we reached Barbra”s room, Karis pulled back the curtain before a small gasp left her lips. She rushed to her mom’s side.
Pastor Walter sat in a chair on one side of Barbra”s bed while Karis took a spot on the other. His eyes flashed to mine, and he mouthed Thank you before turning his attention to his daughter. Karis spent the next few minutes sobbing into her mother”s chest, and it ripped my heart open to watch her go through this. I wished there was something I could do to take away the pain. But knowing there wasn”t anything more I could do for them, I moved to stand in the corner of the room.
After a few moments, Eden bursts through the curtain and flew to her mother”s side next to Karis. They hugged each other while hugging their mom. Feeling like an intruder, I decided to give them some space. I nodded my head at Pastor Walter before slipping silently into the hall. I followed the path back to the waiting room and found a seat. Leaning forward with my head in my hands, I did the only thing I could at this moment. I prayed.