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She glanced up at Drew and he seemed to sense her mood. He wrapped his arms around her tight and pressed his face into her hair. He gave her the comfort she’d needed three years ago … or maybe he was seeking his own comfort for his nephew. Either way, Mia accepted his embrace whole-heartedly.
"We’ll work this out. I’ll change. I swear," Jeffrey was murmuring to Amanda. "Everything will be okay."
Drew’s arms tightened around Mia, and when she looked up, she saw a doctor in blue scrubs approaching.
"He’s awake," the doctor said. A cry of gratitude that came from both of Felix’s parents drowned out the rest of his words. They clutched each other hard and Drew kissed Mia’s mouth. "He has a concussion but …" was about the only thing Mia hard over all the commotion. "You may go back to see him now."
Jeff and Mandy surged forward. Mia held back with Drew. She looked up at him to see if he wanted her to stay behind since she wasn’t family and she hadn’t even met his nephew yet. But he looked just as uncertain about following them.
Amanda answered both their reservations when she paused and glanced back, waving them forward. "Drew. Mia," she beckoned.
Her husband must’ve finally realized Mia was present, because he faltered and gawked at her with recognition, glancing between her and Drew. She would’ve stayed behind at that but Drew tugged her forward, and she couldn’t abandon him.
As soon as they reached the room, Mia hesitated outside the door. She wasn’t used to such a happy ending. She wasn’t used to the child making it through okay. Scared she might resent the fact little Felix was alive and Lexie wasn’t, she wondered briefly if she should wait outside.
Drew didn’t give her a choice. He plowed into the room, dragging her along behind him. He finally let go of his grip when he saw his nephew sitting up in bed sucking Sprite through a straw.
The boy looked healthy and alive and ready to tackle life. Relief spread through her, consumed by joy and thankful everything had worked out okay.
Chapter Eighteen
Drew’s warm hand squeezed around Mia’s. "How’re you doing?"
She lifted her face. After sitting and visiting with Felix and his parents for over an hour in the little boy’s recovery room, they finally had their first moment alone in the hospital elevator where Drew watched Mia with concern clouding his eyes.
A consuming ball of love filled her. In the short time they’d been together, he’d come to know her better than anyone.
Her smile was soft as she squeezed his fingers in return. "I’m good. Actually, I’m better than good. I just had a huge development in my grieving process."
Dr. Higgins was going to be pleased. Her biggest fear had been sharing her story with someone else who had suffered through a similar misery. But today, she realized it was healing to share. When she’d held Amanda after telling her story, the release was overwhelming. She knew she could move on without the usual guilt of wanting to live again. She was liberated.
"Seeing such a terrible situation end up okay helped you realize there’s still good in the world, huh?" Drew asked, leaning toward her to kiss her temple.
"There’s that," she admitted. "Plus talking to your sister about Lexie helped me get through a very big step. I think … I know I’m going to be okay now."
He paused to let her precede him out of the hospital. "I knew you would be," he admitted, once again sidling beside her as they stepped outside. "But I’m glad you’ve realized it too."
They shared a smile and tightened their grip on each other. After walking her to his truck and opening her door for her, he hurried around to the driver’s side and started the engine.
"I’m glad your nephew’s going to be okay," she said. "He’s a complete doll, you know. He looks a lot like you."
"He’s usually more ornery. I could tell the fall hurt him because he was so calm today. But, yeah, I’m glad he’ll return to his mischievous self."
"Lexie was active like that too," Mia admitted. She sighed with pleasure, realizing it didn’t hurt to admit that fact. She could finally think back on her baby fondly.
"I always thought I’d end up with an energetic kid. Mandy used to say I was a terror on two legs when I learned to walk."
Tilting her head in curiosity, Mia eyed him across the cab of his truck. "You’ve thought about yourself with children?"
He went still, the expression on his face freezing before he slowly glanced her way. After a noncommittal shrug, he returned his gaze to traffic as he pulled out the hospital’s parking lot.
His strange response made her frown. Did he want children?
Silence grew between them. Drew kept sending her probing glances as they neared his house. After he pulled into the drive and parked, he stayed seated, keeping his hands on the steering wheel and staring out at the pasture beside his place.
She held her breath, wondering what had just happened between them to put such a chill in the warm air.
"Are you okay?" she whispered as she set her hand on his knee. Her fingers trembled with uncertainty.
