AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Same as she imagined the lips that were pressed to her forehead.
It was a nice dream.
But it would never be her reality. And she had to remember that.
20
Aloud crashing noise followed by a yell woke her with a fright. She sat up, sliding her thumb from her mouth as her heart raced frantically.
What happened? What was that?
Pushing the covers back, Maggie stumbled from the bed and out the door. She heard someone yell downstairs. That sounded like Jack!
Without a thought to what was going on or to her own safety, she ran toward the stairs, launching herself down them. Someone had turned the lights on and she could see Jack was crouched at the bottom of the stairs.
There was something else there . . . no, someoneelse.
“Uncle Willy!” she cried out.
Ian appeared, his phone to his ear, staring up at her in concern.
He ended the call and rushed toward her as she continued down the stairs, nearly tripping in her haste.
“Be careful!” he barked.
“Uncle Willy! Oh my God. What happened?”
“He fell,” Ian told her, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her close to him.
“Is he all right? Please tell me he’s all right,” she begged, trying to free herself from Ian’s hold.
“Stay calm, Little girl,” Ian said. “He’s going to be all right.”
A sob escaped. “Why isn’t he waking up? Let me go. I need to go to him. He needs me.”
“He’s hit his head,” Jack told her. “It knocked him unconscious, but his pulse is steady.”
“Promise?” Tears raced down her cheeks as she swiped at them and her nose.
“I promise.”
She nodded, trying to slow her frantic breaths.
“An ambulance is on the way,” Ian said. “The best thing you can do for your uncle is to get dressed. And grab your handbag. Can you do that?”
“Yes . . . yes, I can do that.”
Instead of letting her go, he carried her up the stairs and put her down.
“I-Ian?”
“Yes.”
“He’ll be all right?”
“He’s going to be just fine. Now, go.”
She ran.
