Chapter 4

I got out of the car at the next light.

"Where are you going?" Kate asked, annoyed.

"To see my son," I said, and walked away.

I took a cab to Forest Lawn. The service was small. A few of Ethan's friends, a teacher. I stood there, a stone in my chest.

Then the world went black.

I woke up in a hospital. Not County General this time, a local one. A nurse was checking my vitals.

"Mr. Peterson? You collapsed. You're at St. Mary's. Your wife is here."

My wife.

A few minutes later, I needed to use the restroom. A different nurse helped me. As we walked slowly down the hall, I saw her.

Kate.

She was in a private VIP wing of the hospital. Through an open door, I saw her tenderly sponging Josh Carter's forehead. He was lying in a hospital bed, looking pale but not exactly at death's door.

Liam Carter stood in the hallway, arms crossed, a smug look on his face. He saw me.

He sauntered over, blocking my path.

"Well, well. Peterson. Looks like you're having a rough time."

I just stared at him.

"Kate's a saint, isn't she?" Liam sneered. "Taking care of my boy. He had a nasty scare. That new car Kate got him? Beautiful machine. He, uh, clipped some delivery biker a few nights back. Totaled the car, but Josh is fine, thank God. Kid's a bit shaken, though."

Delivery biker.

A few nights back.

The blood roared in my ears. Ethan. My Ethan.

The world narrowed to Liam's smirking face.