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“Why should we leave it?” Laurel shouts, looking angry and upset. “They had no right to hurt you so cruelly. You’re just a child, for cryin’ out loud!”
“I’m not a child!”
“Yes, you are!” Laurel shouts harder, pulling Erin into a tight hug. “You might think you’re an adult but you’re not. You still need me to take care of you.”
Erin’s arms go around Laurel’s neck as she breaks down completely.
The sound of her sobs reminds me of my own pain and grief. I’d been the same emotional wreck when I went home to my dad.
I walk out of the room to give them the privacy they need. Both Erin and Laurel need to go through a reconciliation. They both need to understand that under all the ego and conflict, they love and care for each other.
Taking a seat on a bench outside, I watch a few nurses pass by. This part of the hospital is quiet and deserted, the perfect place for a traumatized patient to recover.
It’s almost an hour before Laurel steps out of the room.
“Hey,” she calls out softly. “Would you please come in?”
I nod and get up to follow her inside the room.
Erin looks much calmer now. She nods at me encouragingly and gestures toward one of the bedside chairs.
“How’re you doing?” I ask, sitting down close to her.
“I’m much better now. Thanks for getting in touch with Laurel and bringing her to see me.”
Only a while ago, Erin wasn’t sure if she was ready to see her foster mom, and now she’s thanking me for it.
“I’m glad I was able to help,” I say sincerely, glancing toward both Erin and Laurel.
“I can’t thank you enough, Rory,” Laurel says, staring at me with tear-filled eyes. “You have no idea how worried I was. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t go on with my life not knowing where Erin was.”
Her words remind me of my dad. He must’ve gone through the same pain when I’d disappeared without a word to him.
“You don’t have to thank me,” I tell Laurel. “I was doing what anyone in my place would’ve done.”
“Nah,” Erin says. “Most omegas would’ve run from a dangerous situation like that. You fought that evil alpha to rescue me.”
Her blue eyes are bright with awe and adoration.
With a start, I realize she thinks of me as someone strong and heroic.
“I keep telling Erin she shouldn’t feel inferior just because of her designation,” Laurel says from beside me. “Omegas can be strong and intelligent too.”
“I agree,” I say, even though I didn’t feel this way even a few months ago. “Omegas should allow themselves to get strong and smart. Don’t let your designation dictate your life. With hard work, you can achieve anything.”
Iris’s face bursts in my mind’s eye. She was my inspiration to get stronger. If I could motivate Erin, she’d do her best to overcome her trauma and strive to get back to her old life.
“Erin’s very smart,” Laurel says, squeezing her daughter’s hand. “It’s rare for her to receive a grade lower than a B.”
“Wow,” I breathe. “Is that true, Erin?”
Erin’s cheeks warm up at once. “Well, yeah.”
“Erin wants to be a doctor,” Laurel says. “Don’t you think she should focus on her schoolwork so she can achieve her dream?”
“Erin’s a smart girl,” I say, meeting Laurel’s gaze. “You should trust her to know that she’ll do what it takes to stay focused in school. If you keep badgering her too much, she’ll think you don’t take her seriously enough.”
Laurel’s eyes widen. “No way! Erin knows how much I believe in her.”
