“In the ladies’ room.” She gestured over her shoulder. “At the diner. The floor was wet, and I guess I just . . . slipped.”

“I mean where on your head?”

“Oh. Here.” She took his hand and placed it gently on the lump.

He pressed his lips together. “You’ve got a good-sized lump going. Were you knocked unconscious?”

“I—I don’t know. I think so. Maybe?” She couldn’t even remember that!

He withdrew his hand, and she immediately missed the comfort of his fingers. Why wasn’t he touching her? Holding her? She needed comfort, daggonit!

“Lucy . . . you were unconscious, you’re dizzy, and you’ve got some time gaps. You need to get looked at.”

She looked at him pleadingly, tears welling up in her eyes. “No . . .”

“I’ll go with you. There’s no choice. We need to see what’s going on.”

Where was his warm voice? His tender touch?

“What about the wedding? We need to call people. I can’t believe this is happening.” Her breaths were coming hard and shallow, like her lungs couldn’t keep up.

“Slow down, you’re going to hyperventilate. Think you can make it to my truck?”

She didn’t want to go to the hospital! God, please. Don’t do this to me. She just wanted to go home and curl up in her bed. She wanted Zac to tuck her in like he did some nights when she was really bushed. And she was really bushed just now.

“Lucy, can you walk?” The impatience in his voice was like a dagger in her chest.

“I don’t want to go to the hospital.” She couldn’t control the tremble of her voice.

“Well, that’s where I’m taking you.”

She rocked back and forth, soothing herself. Only it wasn’t working. It wasn’t working at all. She knew he was right. Something was terribly wrong. She could get by if Zac stayed with her. Couldn’t she?

“Will you take me home afterward?”

“Yes.”

She tried to block the thoughts, but the memories surfaced anyway. The antiseptic smell, the beeping of machines, the cold, sterile floor. And her mama, what was left of her, still and pale in the bed.

“Maybe you can get someone to come look me over,” she said. “That nice EMT from before.” She looked at him hopefully.

“We’re in Portland, Lucy. I don’t know anyone here.”

He-uh.

“Oh . . . right.”

“That’s exactly why you need to get checked out. You don’t even know where you are, for heaven’s sake.”

She winced at his harsh tone, her eyes burning. He sounded put out. Like he didn’t give a flying fig about what was happening to her. That she might have bleeding on the brain or drop dead in two minutes!