Page 105 of Found in Wild Sage

They’ve already removed his intubation tube, but he has a canula for oxygen in his nose and of course an IV snaking out from under the covers.

“He’s not moving yet. May take a while. We’ve got to see eyeballs here, if possible, before we take him into a room for the night.” This comes from a nurse who’s notating something on a computer next to his bed. “I’ll get you another chair.”

Dr. Herdez excuses herself and says she’ll be back to check on him in a bit. Nurse Erica, as she introduced herself, brings another chair, and Mary and I take our seats at Dec’s bedside.

There’s no stopping myself from touching him once they’re gone. I reach for his arm and pull in a long breath as some of the vise-like tightness in my chest eases at the feel of his warm skin.

“I’m so sorry. I should’ve known.”

Mary’s voice halts me and I move toward her, grabbing her hands. “How could you possibly have known? And it’s me who should apologize. If I hadn’t married him—” My words cut off with a soul-deep ache at the thought.

If I hadn’t married him, I would be missing so much. So much fullness and joy and delight and love.

But if I hadn’t married him, he wouldn’t be here right now. He wouldn’t be pale and wounded in this bed after literally throwing himself in front of me to save me.

“No, no. None of that.” She squeezes my hands right back and waits until I give her my eyes. “You and Charlie are a part of this family. We love you. Declan loves you. And what that woman did is her own fault. Can we agree on that? Can we agree you did nothing to bring this on yourself?”

These are words I’ve heard before, and words I do believe. I know fighting for sole custody of Charlie was right—it wasn’t vengeful or selfish. I know leaving Trevor when I did was also right, and likely the only way I made it out of the pregnancy alive.

It’s like a gift for her to say these words because it reminds me of what’s true. I didn’t cause this, and she certainly didn’t. The person responsible for all of this is Katrina Trundle, and no one else.

“Thank you. I’m so grateful to you, Mary.”

She wraps me in a hug and whispers into my hair. “Love you, darling girl.”

“Love you, too.”

And oh, how clearly I feel it, how my heart can be broken and completely full at the same time.

CHAPTER FIFTY

Declan

Disoriented. I am.

Blurry. And… so pretty.

She’s so pretty standing there but she’s also a bit blurry.

“You’re so pretty. I love you so much.”

Evie’s smile grows into a sunburst.

“I’m…” I force my eyelids open wider, which takes effort. “I’m so tired.”

“You’re in the hospital surgical recovery unit. You were shot by Katrina Trundle and they had to bring you in to fix you up.”

Her words slowly penetrate my brain. It’s sluggish, muddy. I’m at the hospital. I was… shot.

Awareness clicks in my head and I jolt, trying to sit up. “Where’s Charlie? Is he okay? Are you okay? What about Grant?”

“No, love, don’t sit up yet.”

Evie’s hands are gentle and insistent, and when I swing my head to the other side of the bed, Ma’s there.

“Hey, Ma.”

“Hi, Dec. Charlie is just fine. He’s at home with Clementine. And Grant is in the waiting room. Everyone’s very eager to see you.”