They were cute together, always meeting in groups and rarely seen in public, just the two of them, unless it was to walk Mr. Higginbotham. It was as if they tried to hide their relationship. Forget that everyone rooted for them. They wanted privacy and their fellow residents let them have it, pretend though it was.

She blew out a long breath, trying to shut down all the questions bombarding her brain. All the what-ifs and possibilities about what to do next. Evan’s orders. That talk with Connor.

She sat next to Connor, holding his hand, but even that didn’t calm her mental frenzy this time. Standing up, she started to pace. She’d burn the energy off however she could.

It was the two of them in the room and Ben by the door. Evan had stayed behind to secure the scene with one of Ben’s volunteer assistants. An older couple waited in the chairs by the window. Maddie couldn’t remember their names but the man’s hacking cough had been steady since they arrived.

The building buzzed with activity, which seemed wrong for the time of day and where they were. An early-morning car accident kept all of the medical personnel jumping. Ben reported everyone was fine but a pregnant woman was in one of the cars on the way to deliver, so everyone rushed in—family and friends—to check on her. She and her baby boy were now resting somewhere in the building along with the usual variety of broken bones from the accident and respiratory infections from the weather.

Poor Captain Rogers, the fire chief, ran around checking on people. More than once he stepped into the room to talk with Ben then left again. The captain did double duty, racing to help whenever needed. This morning he handled the emergency baby delivery.

He and Ben worked well together, but nothing prepared anyone for seeing Paul wheeled in. He hadn’t woken up since they found him.

When the captain left the room again, Ben seemed to relax. “He’s going to check on Winnie and bring her in. Everyone agrees Paul would want her here and no one wants her to be alone.”

Maddie felt sick. It didn’t dawn on her that Winnie should be here. Grand love affair or not, and Maddie suspected it was, Winnie cared about Paul and deserved to be by his side. But then other thoughts entered Maddie’s mind. Horrible ones. “She has to be okay.”

Ben shook his head. “There’s no reason to think she isn’t.”

Maddie didn’t agree with that. She could be hurt or worse. Mr. Higginbotham went wild for a reason.

Connor stood up right as Doc Lela walked in. She looked rushed and harried but totally in control, as usual. A nurse raced in beside her, handing her a form of some sort to sign.