I call the newspaper, and after begging for Kayla to let me take the day off so I can help at home—which she only allows because I offer to work an extra day to pay for the missing hours—Spencer takes me to the ranch.
When he drops me with the promise that we’ll meet again tomorrow to solve things, I rush inside to change my clothes for the day and start with the house chores.
The place is empty, and I assume Dad returned to the hospital early in the morning to take something for Mom to eat and wait for Lauren to be discharged. I blast my playlist on the speaker while I clean the kitchen and decide to prepare a meal for when my sister comes home later today.
That’s when I have the coolest idea to welcome her back. Grabbing my phone from the kitchen table, I dial Chad’s number, waiting
