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clear.” The nurse turned and headed for one of the trauma bays at the rear of the ER, shouting the information. “Female patient, age twenty-four…”
    Olivia wanted to cup her hands over her ears to shut it out. She’d spoken to Judy Bartholomew just over an hour ago about where Jack Trayborne lived. She’d been the only one willing to give her any information. The image of Gracie staring up at her mother flashed in her mind, followed by a wave of disbelief that threatened to overwhelm her. She reached out and sagged against the wall.
    “Miss Morgan? Are you all right?”
    “I’m fine, I just need to sit down for a moment.” She spotted a chair near the end of the hall and headed for it, with a nurse next to her.
    “Do you need to see Doctor Rawlings again?”
    “No. I’ll be fine. I just need to sit.”
    “I’ll be back to check on you in a few minutes.”
    “Thanks.” She watched Nurse Jackson join the others, busy preparing for their critical patient.
    Olivia closed her eyes, but couldn’t get the image of Judy and Gracie out of her mind. What did a suicidal person look like anyway? Had Judy been wearing the signs right under her nose? Did her smile and friendly help only mask a deep-seated problem?
    She didn’t want to believe she’d attempted to kill herself, but she really didn’t know her.
    Flashing red and white strobe lights reflected off the walls of the ambulance bay in a dizzying cycle.
    Tension squeezed every muscle in Olivia’s body until she thought she’d suffocate. She bolted to her feet, watching the ambulance doors swing open and the gurney roll out, assisted by a couple of EMTs.
    Right behind them a man climbed out holding a baby girl. Gracie. He must be Judy’s husband.
    Olivia’s heart squeezed and she searched for air, pulling a haggard breath into her lungs. The uncertainty and fear he must be feeling was etched in deep lines across his forehead.
    She stepped back against the wall to avoid being in the way as the ER doors slid open and they rolled the gurney past her.
    All of the commotion had upset Gracie. She stared wide-eyed around the room and burst into tears.
    “It’s okay, Grace. I promise mommy’s going to be okay.” The tremor in his voice rocked Olivia’s world.There was a chance Grace would never see her mother again, or him his wife. That fact pushed her forward.
    “Mr. Bartholomew.”
    He looked at her. “Yes.”
    “Let me help. I’ll take her. You need to be with your wife.”
    Gracie turned her damp baby brown gaze on Olivia and stopped crying.
    “You know my wife?”
    “I met her and Gracie this morning. I’m Olivia Morgan.”
    His hesitation evaporated. “Thank you. Judy’s mom, Charlotte, is on her way now. She’ll be here any minute.” He handed Grace off and raced down the hall to the trauma room where the medical staff worked to save Judy Bartholomew’s life.
    Without conscious effort Olivia cuddled the baby and began to sway gently, rocking her in her arms in a timeless maternal rhythm.
    The mechanical grind of the ER doors pulled her attention to the entrance as a man came inside holding his arm next to his body.
    A nurse spotted him and moved forward at a brisk pace. “Mr. Dowdy. Come this way and we’ll get your shoulder taken care of.”
    Olivia turned her back to the man, obscuring Gracie’s view. She didn’t need another stranger passing through her little world; as it was, her eyelids flicked open every time there was a loud sound.
    “I took a header off my ATV. Good thing I waswearing a helmet.” The injured man’s voice trailed off as he followed the nurse into an exam room somewhere down the hall.
    Staring down at Grace, Olivia realized that the child was finally asleep, oblivious to the fight going on just down the hall.
    Sadness flooded her heart. What would happen to Grace if Judy didn’t survive? She’d seen how much they loved each other.
    The automatic doors slid open and an older woman rushed into the ER, spotting