The doctor finished suturingCrockett’s arm. “You’re lucky. No tendons were severed. I’ll write you a physical therapy prescription for after the stitches come out. Do it. It will help ensure a full recovery, especially if you plan on continuing with martialarts.”
After thanking the doctor, he inquired as to where he could find his sister. Before he headed down the corridor, he pulled his cell phone out of hispocket.
“Sorry to call so late,” hesaid.
“What’s going on?” Colton asked, his voicegroggy.
“I need your help. Can you fly to Uvalde and bring back my mom and dad? Alexandra found my sister.” Crockett gritted his teeth to keep fromcrying.
“Absolutely,” said Colton. “Whatever you need. Text me their address and phone number. I’ll update you when I get to Dulles. That’s the best news.” He hungup.
Crockett powered through the ER anxious to find his sister andAlexandra.
The following morning,whileCrockett paced in the hospital lobby, his phone rang. It wasColton.
“Flight go okay?” Crockettasked.
“Smooth sailing,” his best friend replied. “How are you doing? How’sSophia?”
“Good, I’m good. Sophia’s so damned strong. Alexandra hasn’t left her side. Thanks for flying my mom and dadhere.”
“Absolutely. Someone from my security team is dropping them at the hospital. Should be there in the nextfew.”
“I appreciate yourhelp.”
“You’ve waited a long time for this day. Try to enjoy it. I’ll talk to you later.” Colton hungup.
Relief and gratitudeswept over Crockett.I have waited a long time for this.As soon as Colton’s Bentley pulled up, Crockett’s parents racedinside.
His mom hugged him. “This doesn’t feelreal.”
Crockett hugged his dad. “You guysokay?”
“We’re nervous, elated, in disbelief,” Ron Wilde said. “How are you, son? How’sSophia?”
As Crockett guided them toward the elevator, he updated them. “She’s got some health issues, so she was moved to aroom.”
Linda Wilde wiped her eyes with a soakedtissue.
“The physical ones she’ll heal from,” Crockett said. “The emotional ones will take a long time. Be prepared. I didn’t recognize her. It’s ashock.”
Linda grasped her husband’s hand. “We’ll get through everythingtogether. Whatever it takes, for as long as ittakes.”
The elevator doors opened and they squeezed inside. When they arrived at Sophia’s floor, Crockett hustled them down thehallway.
They stepped into the room to find Alexandra sitting at Sophia’s bedside, holding her hand. When Sophia locked eyes with her mom and dad, she burst into tears. Though she had an IV in her arm, she pushed out of bed and into her mother’s arms. Both sobbed while Linda clung to herchild.
Crockett’s dad, overcome with emotion, pulled Crockett into an embrace and cried. For the past thirteen years, Crockett had envisioned this moment hundreds of times, but the reality of the reunion was beyond the scope of hisimagination.
Sophia broke from her mother’s embrace to hug her father. “Daddy,” Sophia said as he held his baby gently in his arms andwept.
Alexandra rose and inched toward the door, but Crockett slid an arm around her waist. “Please don’t leave,” hewhispered.
“I don’t want to interfere,” she murmured. “This time is so precious andprivate.”
“You’re the reason for this miracle.” When Crockett wrapped her in his arms, he could no longer contain himself. As the magnitude of what Alexandra had done for him, for Sophia, and for their entire family overtook him, he released thirteen years of pent-up pain and anger in a tidal wave of tears. When he pulled it together, he kissed Alexandra’s tear-streakedcheeks.
“Mom, Dad, you remember Alexandra Mitus,” Crockettsaid.
