Stepping-Stone for Mia novel · Chapter 18 of 24

Chapter 18: The Board

I took the stairs to the ER two at a time.

Tim was right behind me. Bennett took the elevator.

My mother was in Bay 4, sitting up on the stretcher in her cashmere wrap, with EKG leads stuck to her chest.

She was putting on lipstick in a compact mirror.

The ER attending was writing at the computer outside the curtain.

"Normal EKG," he said, before I could ask. "Normal troponin. Normal everything. Panic attack. She can go home in an hour."

My shoulders finally dropped.

Then I went in.

My mother snapped the compact shut.

"Sarah. You didn't have to come down."

"Bennett said you were dying."

"Bennett worries." She smoothed her hair. "I'm fine. I've had a terrible weekend. Everyone has seen that awful video."

"Kelly Beal's husband sees it every time he closes his eyes."

She looked at me.

"I've been asked to speak at the hearing in July," she said. "For Mia. As a character witness."

"Are you going to?"

"Someone in this family has to stand by her."

I nodded slowly.

"Okay," I said. "Then I'll see you there."

The hearing room on Patterson Avenue was too small for the people who came.

← Chapter 17 · All chapters · Chapter 19 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend