Dr.

Hayes stood at the foot of the rolling hospital bed, studying the vitals monitor with a quiet frown.

He reached down and pressed his fingers gently around Emma’s neck and right shoulder.

“She has a moderate concussion,” Dr.

Hayes said.

“We’re keeping her for observation in pediatric trauma until her chest scans come back clear.”

Jennifer undid the short sleeve of Emma’s yellow flowered sundress so she could wrap a smaller child-size blood pressure cuff around her upper arm.

As the thin cotton slid back, Jennifer’s hand stopped in midair.