Page 111 of Surprised By Love

“Today when I took the kids for a playdate in the park, Amelia spilled the beans.” She holds a hand up again. “Emily and Jake didn’t hear, so they don’t know yet.”

I close my eyes and let out a breath.

My mom lowers her hand onto mine and squeezes it again. “She is a strong, healthy woman and what happened to Christine was tragic, but the likelihood of that happening again is very slim. You can’t let the fear ruin the best thing that’s happened to you in a long time. Why delay happiness when it’s standing right in front of you? If you find someone that truly makes you happy, and I can tell Sam does, you need to grab hold and not let go.”

She looks me in the eye. “Can I ask you a question?”

I nod.

“Do you love her?”

“Yeah, I do.” I admit with a sigh.

“Does she love you?”

“She does.” I nod. “She hasn’t said the words, but I can tell. I can feel it.”

“Josh. That girl is very special, and I can tell you want to be with her. You have been a grumpy mess for the last two weeks. What are you going to do about it?”

I stand up. “I’m going to go get my girl back.”

“That’s my boy. Now go. I’ll stay and watch the kids.”

I pull into the driveway of Sam’s place, and I see Vicki running out, pulling her jacket on as if the house was on fire.

“What’s wrong?” I say as I jump out of my car and run to her. There is a tightness in my stomach. I know there’s something wrong.

“It’s… It’s Sam,” she says, tears spilling from her eyes.

“What happened to Sam?” I say, raising my voice.

“She said she was being careful, but—”

“But what? Come on, Vicki please, is she okay?”

She shakes her head. “The snow was coming down hard and she was coming around the bend and she—”

“The bend?” I can’t believe she is driving in this weather. “Did you call 911?”

Vicki nods. “I did, then I called Becca to come watch Amelia.”

“I didn’t hear it on my scanner.”

“I don’t know Josh. But I need to go—”

“Not without me. We can take my car. Come on. You can tell me what happened on the way.”

We jump into my SUV, and I turn on my siren and head for the bend just as my radio goes off with the call. “We have an 11-79, multiple car collision on 73 by the bend. Fire and Ambo have been dispatched.”

“Is that?” Vicki asks, as she clicks her seatbelt in place.

I nod. “Tell me what you know about the accident.”

I listen as Vicki relays the story Jessica told her and I swear my heart stops.Is Sam okay? What about the baby? What if I’m too late?My chest is tight, and my heart races as I speed down the road. The snow is still falling.

Vicki grips the grab handle. “Josh, please slow down. We don’t want to get in an accident, too.”

I slow down a fraction and keep my eyes on the road. “What about Sam?”

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