Sweet and Salty (Marshall My Heart #1)

46. Chapter Forty-Six

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

J esse

Driving aimlessly is an exercise in torture. I need a destination, and there is only really one way out of Door County without somehow growing a hovercraft on the bottom of Laura’s car.

Laura glances up from her phone screen, where she’s been texting like her life depended on it. “Okay. Davey is safe at the babysitter’s house. Mom says to head for the hospital.”

“The hospital?”

“Yeah. It has security.”

I grip the steering wheel more tightly. “It has a guy named Frank who looks more like a patient than a security guard.”

“Pfft.” Laura opens another texting window on her phone. “Don’t be ageist. Frank might surprise you.”

Yeah, by keeling over mid-gunfight, leaving Laura and the Marshalls open to danger. Okay, maybe I’m being a little ageist, but the stress is giving me varicose veins.

I have to remember. I trust Laura and her family, as much as Einstein trusts that if he just follows the arc of the sun, he will be warm. As much as Lucretia Borgia trusts that carrots will solve all her problems. As much as I trusted my grandmother to take care of me when my world fell apart.

Family. We’re family now.

“Okay.” To the hospital we will go.

The St. Olaf Hospital is attached to the medical clinic where Marie Marshall works and is a low concrete building that looks like it was built as an alternative to a bomb shelter. I still have my doubts about Frank the security guard, particularly as his arthritis seems to be flaring, from the way he barely stands when we approach the building. He looks like a horse with angry fetlock swelling.

I stride toward the door, but when I try to bring Laura with me, she stands stock still, staring across the parking lot toward the clinic.

“Laura, we need to get inside,” I say.

“My mom’s car is at the clinic,” she replies. Her voice sounds almost ethereal.

“What do you mean?”

“She shouldn’t be at the clinic. She had a shift at the hospital last night.”

“It’s right next door.” I take her hand again and try to pull her toward the entrance, where Frank yawns at his post. “Let’s go see if she’s inside.”

“Frank!” Laura turns to the security guard, her jaw tight. “Is my mom inside?”

“No, Ms. Marshall,” Frank says with a degree of respect that I’m sure is because he’s eaten at Laura’s bakery. “She went to the clinic with Dr. Sieber about thirty minutes ago. They said they needed to pick up a few things, but they haven’t come back yet.” He taps his radio. “I’ve got an eye out for them.”

Laura’s expression turns panicked. “Shit, Jesse, what if they’re in trouble? They should have been back by now. Right?”

“I don’t know.” I wish I did but she looks so distressed. “We don’t have a lot of time. Let’s go check.”

“I’ll call the sheriff and tell him to high tail it over here,” Frank says, settling a pair of glasses on his face and holding his radio at eye level. “Do you two want back up?”

While I turn to Frank to thank him, Laura doesn’t wait. She’s halfway across the parking lot, her hair flying in a cloud behind her, before I can take my first step.

I really hope they’re okay.