Page 185 of Running to You

Those women had gone to Keller for help. They’d gone to him to learn life skills and had instead learned to be dependent on a madman. What would the future look like for them?

Nicole approached, fury in her gaze. “I hope you’re happy. You destroyed our lives. You killed a good man.”

Eliza glanced beyond her, but none of the other women seemed inclined to get involved. Eliza kept her voice low. “He tried to burn you, your friends, and all those children to death.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. He had a plan to get us all out of there. You ruined everything.”

Defensive words, angry words, filled Eliza’s mouth, but she didn’t let them release. Why spend a single moment trying to rationalize with an insane person? Instead, she gripped her former friend’s arm, barely flinching when Nicole jerked back. “I’ll be praying for you.”

She turned her back on Nicole just as, from the other direction, Mom ran across the waiting room.

She grabbed Eliza and wrapped her in a hug. “Thank God. They told me you were injured, but they wouldn’t let me back to see you.”

She hugged her in return but was looking over her shoulder. “Where’s—?”

“Mommy!”

Levi ran toward her, a man behind him, walking with the aid of a cane.

“I was so scared when Pretend Daddy took you away. I don’t like him anymore. He’s mean.” Levi held his arms up, expecting her to pick him up. “Grammy said you were hurt but you’re okay. They wouldn’t let us come see you.”

She took his hand and headed for a bank of chairs. “I got a little hurt, buddy. My arm.” She showed him the sling. “I’m not supposed to pick anything up. But you can sit on my lap.”

“Okay.” When she sat, he crawled on and settled against her, causing pain in her ribs she worked to ignore.

Levi popped his thumb in his mouth—a habit he’d given up before they’d left The Ranch—then took it out. “I missed you. But Bryan was playing with me. He has to walk with that cane all the time, but he says his leg doesn’t hurt much. Did you know he broke it falling off a giant cliff? Isn’t that cool?” Levi stuck his thumb back in his mouth.

“So cool.” Eliza couldn’t help smiling at the man standing a few feet away.

He nodded. “Good to see you, Eliza.”

“You too. Thanks for…everything.”

“My pleasure.” His gaze cut to Levi. “He’s pretty awesome.”

She kissed her son’s head. “I think so. Where’s Sam?”

“Right here.”

She whipped her head toward the voice.

Sam was standing beside Mom, looking down at Eliza with so much tenderness in his gaze that tears pricked her eyes.

Levi took his thumb out of his mouth again. “You’re the guy who saved us. Mommy, he came right up to the window and broke it and pulled me out and then helped Grammy and we ran through the woods to another guy. It was scary, but he carried me on his back.”

“You were very brave.” Sam knelt in front of them and smiled at his son. Then, he turned to her, brushing hair away from her face with his warm fingers. He held her eye contact a long moment, and she took in the sight of him. He had a few scrapes and bruises, but he was whole and well and…perfect.

Sam turned to Levi again. “You’re just like your mom. Incredibly brave, incredibly strong.”

She wasn’t, not even close. She’d almost gotten them all killed. But also…

She’d done her part. She’d shown them how to find Levi and Mom.

Not perfectly, but God made up for all her flaws and somehow, miraculously, brought them through.

And maybe it wasn’t the best time, but she didn’t want to wait another moment. Bryan and Mom had moved away to give them some privacy. Nobody was paying them any attention.

She took Sam’s hand but looked at Levi. “Hey, buddy.”