Page 87 of Mountain Target

“Believe me, Val. I would be the first to kick you out if the ER was full.” Marie dropped her voice so nobody in any of the other boxes would be able to hear her. “We’ve been incredibly lucky that more people weren’t hurt.”

“Well, I’m fine,” Val said stubbornly, looking at the IV on her arm.

“Just relax, Val. Be patient.”

Val nodded, taking a deep breath.

“Thank God Ren wasn’t hurt. I was so scared when she slipped and fell off the bridge into the river, and then when I couldn’t get her loose …” Val’s eyes filled with tears, which she wiped at angrily with her free arm.

“Shhh … Ren’s going to be fine, Val. If anything, her body temperature went back to normal much faster than yours. She’ll be fine. I’m sure she’s watching a movie, even as we speak.”

“I hope so,” Val said.

She was grateful for the way the entire town of Chamonix had rallied together. Knowing Val was a doctor, several parents from school had contacted her, even before realizing she and Ren had been personally involved in the earthquake, offering to take Ren with them so Val could focus on her work.

And that was just one small example. All around them, people were working tirelessly to clear rubble from the road and open up access, while others had opened their homes to families who couldn’t get to their home.

“I can’t believe how everyone’s come together,” Val said.

“I can. That’s what Chamonards are like,” Marie said proudly. “And you and Ren are Chamonards too, now.”

“Then let me get up and help, Marie. I’m feeling fine and I can’t just lie here … worrying about him.”

“As soon as your core temperature’s back to normal, Val. I promise.” Marie sighed. “And he’s going to be fine, I’m sure.”

“Last night I thought … I thought we were over. But the way he looked at me today, it made me feel—“

“You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”

Val nodded. “I didn’t mean to fall in love with him. It just happened. And I don’t know—“

The door to the box opened and Ren ran inside.

“Val!”

“Ren?” Val asked worriedly, sitting up. “Are you okay?”

A harried-looking woman walked in afterwards, two kids in tow. “I’m sorry. We watched a movie, and I asked Ren if she wanted to stay over for the night, but she wanted to come back and see you. She was worried about you.”

“It’s okay,” Val said. “Thank you so much for taking care of her, and for driving her here.”

“I’ll be back in a few minutes,” Marie said. “Don’t get up, Val, until another doctor says so.”

Once they were alone, Val held Ren tightly against her, feeling the girl’s tears soak the front of her hospital gown.

“Hey, look at me, Ren. You’re scaring me.”

“I don’t want to scare you,” Ren sobbed. “I’m sorry I didn’t stay over with Annette. I just needed to know that you’re really okay.”

It wasn’t hard to hear what the girl wasn’t saying—that her world had imploded before, and she couldn’t bear not to know if it was happening again.

“I’m okay.”

“You’re not going anywhere?”

“I’m not going anywhere. I promise, Ren.” She scooted over on the bed, raising the arm that didn’t have the IV on it. “Come up here for a bit.”

“They won’t get mad at us?”