Luke’s eyes met Nick’s and he shook his head slightly. “I won’t give up… not on her.” He glanced at the clock and pushed out of his chair. “I’m heading out.”
Nick’s eyes widened but he didn’t say a word as he watched Luke walk out of the office.
*
Later that night Luke was sitting across the kitchen table from Ava, sharing a pizza. Only the slice that sat in his dish was barely touched. He managed to smile, though when he stared across at his daughter who was licking the sauce off her thumb.
“You love pizza.” He told her as he handed her a napkin.
“Yep! It’s my favorite.” She said before she took another big bite. He laughed and folded his slice before taking a bite. He watched her enjoy her dinner and knew that Fridays were just as much her favorite night of the week as it was his.
“I bet they don’t have pizza at Melanie’s birthday party.” She said before taking another bite.
Luke’s eyebrows furrowed at her comment. “Was Melanie’s birthday party today?” She nodded as she chewed. “Well, how come you didn’t tell me?” He put his pizza down and looked at his daughter with concerned eyes, praying she hadn’t told him and he forgot.
She shrugged her shoulders. “Because Friday night is our night and besides it was a spa party and all the other girls moms were going.” She looked up at her dad. “Can I have another slice of pizza?”
Luke swiped his hands over his face before he placed another slice in her dish. He looked at her for a moment, trying to get his words right. “It would’ve been okay if you wanted to go to Melanie’s birthday party. We could’ve had our pizza date another night.”
“But then what would you have done? Eat pizza by yourself?” She stared down at the slice he had just put into her dish. “That isn’t nice.” She glanced up, her blue eyes meeting his.
He smiled at her as he pushed out his chair and patted his lap. “C’mere.” She slid off her chair and walked around the table jumping into her father’s waiting arms. Luke placed a kiss on her forehead. “I love you, Ava, more than anything in this whole world.” He said as he tucked some of her hair behind her ears. “I don’t want you to worry about me. You’re a kid you shouldn’t be worrying about anything. I want you to have fun and always smile.” He paused for a moment. “You could’ve told me about Melanie’s birthday party and we could’ve asked Aunt Sam to go with you. She loves spas and parties.” He winked at his little girl.
Ava looked up at her dad and she sucked in her bottom lip before she spoke. “Is it too late to go now?”
Luke glanced at the clock and then back towards Ava. “I tell you what. I’ll call Melanie’s mom and tell her you would like to go to the party, but the party will probably be over before Aunt Sam gets dressed and ready to take you. I can go with you if you’d like.”
Ava’s eyes widened and she wrapped her arms around Luke’s neck. “Dad, I love you, but I can’t take you to a spa party.” She kissed his cheek. “It’s okay, I can go by myself.”
Luke smiled at her and lifted her off his lap, settling her down on her own feet, before standing himself. “Okay then. Go get ready while I call Melanie’s mom.”
“Thanks daddy! You’re the best.” She said in a singing tone as she hurried out of the kitchen.
*
The Emergency Room was bustling and Leah felt as if she had been on the clock for two days straight. She placed the last chart on top of the nurse’s station and was just about to remove her stethoscope and call it a night when the head of the E.R. called over to her.
“Leah we have a trauma coming in.” The doctor called. Leah took a deep breath so much for going home and raiding her stock of ice cream. She ran to the door beside the doctor as the E.M.T.’s wheeled a patient on a stretcher.
“What do we got here?” asked the doctor beside Leah.
“Female Caucasian. Twenty-nine years old. Breathing on her own, but unconscious. She may be bleeding internally. She was the driver of the vehicle you might want to do a toxicology report.”
Leah stared down at the female body that was bruised and battered. She gasped when her eyes landed on her face. Cara laid on the gurney unresponsive. Her head was cradled by a brace and she was bleeding from her temple.
“Leah can you grab her identification and see if you can contact a next of kin.” The doctor ordered, forcing her out of her trance. She watched as a team of doctors wheeled her into the nearest trauma room and began to work on her.