Page 105 of The Apple Tree

“I’m not sure. They left before four this morning. I imagine they’ll be home by dinner.” Mom sipped her coffee.

“Why? You miss Dad?” Gabby asked without glancing up from her book.

I didn’t respond, but I did the math. Mr. Collins would have been proud. Even if he went to sleep the second he got home, he had less than three hours of sleep. And he knew he was giving up sleep to be with me.

“Where are you going?”Gabby asked, nudging me aside as I curled my hair after we finished washing the breakfast dishes. She squeezed toothpaste onto her toothbrush.

“Nowhere. Just doing my hair.”

“For Kyle?”

I shrugged.

“Do you two have more pony rides planned?”

“Shut up.” I grinned just as the phone rang.

“I got it!” Gabby bolted toward her bedroom as I sprinted toward mine. It was probably Erin. I hadsomuch to tell her.

We both answered at the same time.

“Hello?”

“Gabby? Eve?” Dad said.

“Yes,” again, we answered at the same time.

“Hang up, Gabbs,” I said.

“You hang up.”

“Girls! I need to talk to your mom. And I need one of you to go to Kyle’s house and watch Josh.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Because Kyle fell out of the tree stand, and we’re at the hospital.”

“What? Is he okay?” I tried not to sound panicked, but I was beside myself.

“They’re taking him in for surgery. It’s not life-threatening. We’ll know more later. Now, please put your mom on the phone, and one of you go over to Kyle’s so Anne can come to the hospital.”

“Mom!” Gabby yelled.

I was torn between hanging up and heading to Kyle’s house. But I chose Josh. For some reason, I wanted to be close to him, and I thought Anne might have heard from Fred and know more. So I hurried down the stairs, shoved my feet into my sneakers, and ran to Kyle’s house.

Anne was sitting on the porch swing when I got there, reading a book to Josh as Clifford played with a toy at their feet.

“There she is,” Anne said, and Josh looked up at me, hopped down, and ran to hug me.

“Daddy got hurt,” he said.

I held on to him as if I were hugging Kyle. “I heard, buddy.” I kissed the side of his head.

“But we’ve already said a prayer, and God will take care of him,” Anne said. “In the meantime, Josh, Eve will stay with you.” She stood, setting the book on the bench. “There’s a casserole in the oven. If you could pull it out when the timer goes off and ensure he gets fed, I’d appreciate it. I don’t know when I’ll be back, but?—”

“It’s fine,” I said, shaking my head and acting brave despite every part of my body trembling with fear. “Um,” I swallowed hard. “I’ll take care of him. I know the routine. But would you mind calling me when you know more?”

Josh grabbed his book and went into the house.

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