"Are you sure?" Gage asked. "You haven't had to do it since she left."
"She said if she saw a pay phone that she'd give me a call," Carey said.
"Why don't you just admit you have something for her?"
"We've talked about this before," Carey said. "It would never work out."
"And what crystal ball did you get that information from?"
"I don't need this today, Sue."
"Because you miss Grace," the petite woman said. "Admit it." She set her hip on the comer of the desk. "You have to dig through the photo album to show me a picture of your mother but..." She tapped the framed photo of Carey and Grace on graduation day. “Do you want me to start on your refrigerator?"
"She's too young."
"Joanna Carey, you are a great big coward," Sue said. "You'll use any excuse in the book to avoid admitting what's right under your nose."
Carey sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Sue, she's going to wake up one day and realize that I'm not right for her."
"Better to keep her at a distance no matter what you feel so she doesn't break your heart, right?" Sue shook her head. "You're not doing a good job. Weekly phone calls, letters, visits, presents." She tapped the photo again. "Mixed messages, Carey."
"So what'd you think of that COBOL final?"
"Hey, Michelle," Grace said. "I think Professor Smith is a sadist. A hundred questions and write code?" She shook her head. "I'm glad I'm done with that. What are you up to?"
"June and I were going to head over to the Coffee Bean for a little while. You wanna tag along?"
Grace looked at her watch. "I have Spinnaker's final first thing tomorrow morning. I'd better go home and study."
"Grace Waters, you never take a break, do you?" Michelle made a clucking sound with her tongue. "I can get Linda to come along." She elbowed Grace. "You know she's dying to go out with you."
"I know and I'm not interested," Grace said. "I'd love to get a cappuccino but I can't be late getting back. I need to get a few more hours of studying in for Spinnaker's final."
"Look, it's not even five yet," Michelle said. "We'll head to the Bean then maybe grab a bite to eat afterwards. Come on, it'll be a blast."
Grace debated for a few seconds. "All right, but no Linda," she said. "She looks at me like I'm dinner."
"Deal," Michelle said. "Come on, June's waiting for me at the car." As they approached the beat-up hatchback, Grace saw June sitting on the hood, cigarette in mouth and a soda bottle with the label torn off in her hand.
"Hey, sexy," June said when she saw her.
"Hi, June," Grace said. "This thing runs?"
"Sure does," June said, patting the hood. "I had the engine souped up a bit. Purrs like a kitten or Michelle after a good night."
Always has to bring up sex, Grace thought. "I wouldn't know."
"I would," June said with a grin. She pulled the lever, flipping the driver's seat forward. "Climb in."
Grace looked at Michelle but seeing no concern on her face, squeezed into the small back seat. She reached between the seat bottom and back for the belt. "Where's the seat belt?"
"I don't know," Michelle said as she shut the passenger door.
"Don't worry about it," June said, starting the engine, then pressing the accelerator down several times. "I'm an excellent driver." She took the comer sharply, barely missing a cyclist. "Hey, after the Bean we can go over to the Brew and Beef. They've got the best steaks around."
"Don't you have to be twenty-one to get in there?" Grace asked. "I'm only nineteen."
June took her eyes off the road and looked at her lover. "She worries too much, doesn't she?"
"You only have to be twenty-one if you're at the bar," Michelle said. "If we sit in the back, we can usually get someone to bring us a few drinks."
"Watch the road," Grace said as they flew under the light just as it turned red. "The Bean is fine but I’ll pass on the Brew and Beef." She was nervous enough about June's driving without having to worry about her being intoxicated behind the wheel.
"Suit yourself," June said, taking another comer with enough speed to send Grace hard against the door. "Hey, Grace, you ever been to Gary's Go-Karts?"
“Oh we have to go," Michelle said. "You'll love it. They've got the greatest go-karts around and they just got a new foosball game in the arcade."
Carey rolled over and fumbled for the phone, finding it before the third ring. "Hello?"
"Miss Carey? This is Richard Waters."
The tone of his voice was enough to bring Carey to full wakefulness. "What's wrong?"
"I'm sorry to call so late." She heard a shuddering breath before he continued. "The hospital called...she's been in an accident."
"Oh God," Carey said. "How bad?"
“I don’t know." The pain and fear in his voice matched her own. "She was brought in by ambulance and the woman said...she said they were working on her."
"Mr. Waters, which hospital? The medical center?"
"Yes. The nurse said I need to get there b-but the airport's snowed in."
"Don't worry," Carey said as she stripped off her pajamas. "I'll get there as fast as I can and call you as soon I find out anything."
"I don't know her mother's number."
"Maybe the school had it on file for her," Carey said, pulling her jeans on. "If not we might have it here in the old records."
"I can't get there," he said just before there was a click on the line. "This could be the hospital. Hold on."
"Of course," she said, then heard a click as he switched over to pick up the call waiting. She took advantage to set the phone down and put her bra and shirt on, then put the receiver to her ear and sat down on the bed to put her socks on. Her mind raced with horrific images as she
feared the worst. Please be all right, Grace.
"Miss Carey?"
"Yes, I'm here," she said.
"That was Dr. Ma-I can't remember his name." There was another shuddering breath. "He's treating my daughter and I can't remember his name."
"It's all right," she said. "What did he say?"
"They're taking her for surgery."
"Surgery?" She fumbled with the laces on her sneakers.
She heard him move the phone away and sniffle. "She's bleeding inside."
Carey covered her eyes and took a deep breath. "I'll call you as soon as I get there," she said.
"You have the number?"
"Yes," she said, shoving a small address book into her back pocket. "Grace gave it to me a while ago." She pulled her jacket off the hook and pushed one arm through the sleeve. "Mr. Waters, I'm sure she's going to be fine," she said, trying her best to sound convincing. "I'm leaving now."
"Okay. When you see her, you give her a big hug for me."
"I will," she said. "Good-bye." Hitting the button, she waited briefly for the dial tone, then with a trembling finger dialed another number. "Come on, come on, answer," she said as she heard ring after ring.
"Hello?"
"Sue, it's Carey. I need you to cover morning formation and PT."
"Carey? It's...almost two in the morning."
"Grace was in an accident. I've got to go. Cover me in the morning." She hung up the phone, snatched her keys from the hook and headed out the door.
Carey moved quickly through the automatic doors of the emergency room and headed for the first nurse she saw. "Excuse me, they brought a friend of mine in. Grace Waters."
"Are you family?"
"A friend of the family. Her father's stuck in Alaska. He called me to come down."
"Just a moment," the nurse said, turning and typing some information into the computer. "She's still in recovery," she said. "You can wait over there. I'll let the doctor know someone is here for her."
"Hey there," Carey said, when she saw Grace's eyes flutter open. "It's about time you woke up. You gave us quite a scare." She reached down and used her fingers to brush Grace's hair back. "Your dad's snowed in."