Page 41 of Clever Deceit

“So where is he?” I asked, peering around. “What is he waiting for?”

“He got called away to another hospital,” she replied. “It was an emergency, I’m told. He won’t be back until tomorrow morning, so I suppose I’ll be staying here another night.”

My heart dropped. No, I didn’t want to leave her here. We had come all this way—and besides, couldn’t someone else just sign her out so we could be done with this?

“And no, nobody else can sign the release forms,” she added, as though reading my mind. “It’s all right, Lily. I’m going to be fine. I’m sorry I couldn’t get in touch with you to let you know before you and Warren came up here, but it’s not a problem.”

“How did you know Warren was with me?” I asked, frowning. She chuckled.

“Just a lucky guess,” she replied. “I don’t see much of one of you without the other these days.”

My cheeks flushed. She was right. We really did spend as much time together as we could, and I kind of liked the idea of people seeing us as a pair like that. As a couple.

“Maybe you could find a motel nearby and shack up for the night?” she suggested. “Take an evening off. Come back and pick me up in the morning.”

I sank back into my seat. I was bummed, honestly. But maybe I could find a way to spin this into something good. Some quality time with Silver and Warren, so we could relax and forget about everything else for a while. A night off, just like Mom had said.

“The nurses are treating you okay?” I pressed. I wouldn’t feel right about walking out of here unless I was sure she was getting the very best care possible.

“Yes, they’ve all been wonderful,” she laughed. “Look at me—don't you think I’m glowing?”

I managed a smile. Mom really did look better, even though I knew her recovery was going to be a long and tough road for both of us. But her energy, her attitude, that was what was going to get me through.

“I really don’t want to leave you,” I muttered, reaching out to give her hand a squeeze.

“And I’m telling you that you have to,” she replied cheerfully. “And I’m your mother, so you’ve got to listen to me.”

I knew there would be no arguing with her. Besides, what was I going to do, wheel her out of here and hope nobody noticed? It wouldn’t even be long till I actually got her out, and I could have her home and help her get back on her feet.

“I guess I do,” I admitted, and I leaned forward to give her another hug. She squeezed me tightly, pressing her head into my shoulder.

“You give Silver a hug from me, okay?” she mumbled to me. “And say hello to Warren.”

“I will, Mom,” I promised her, and I pulled back once more reluctantly. She nodded to the door.

“Go!” she told me. “There won’t be many places open that still have rooms left. And I don’t want you to miss out on my behalf.”

“Thanks, Mom,” I replied, and I turned and headed down the corridor once more. It stung, walking away from her like this, but I didn’t have much of a choice. And now I was starting to think about it, a night spent holed up in a cheap motel with Warren actually sounded like a whole bunch of fun.

By the time I reached the car, Warren and Silver were waiting for me. Warren frowned when he saw me stepping out of the hospital on my own.

“Your mom’s okay, right?” he asked, and I nodded.

“Yeah, she’s going to be fine,” I replied. I filled him in quickly on the situation, and that we would need to find somewhere to stay nearby until it was all handled. He flashed me a smile.

“Oh, having to stay with you all night?” he murmured. “I can think of worse ways to spend an evening.”

I laughed, and he slipped an arm around my waist.

“Hey, sorry about your mom,” he told me. “But let’s try and just relax tonight, okay? Forget about everything and leave it all behind.”

“That sounds really nice,” I agreed. We climbed back into the car, and he pulled out his phone to start looking for pet-friendly motels nearby for the three of us tonight.

I gazed over at him as he peered down at the screen, his face lit by the blue light of his phone. I was so glad he was here. He was about the only person I could imagine who could take a shock like this and manage to turn it into something good. I knew if he hadn’t been here, I would have been freaking the hell out in that hospital, doing everything I could to get my mom out.

“Here, what about this place?” he asked, extending his phone so I could get a look. My brows shot up when I saw what he was suggesting.

“You’re serious?” I asked him. “That place looks crazy-expensive.”