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She can sense Bridget’s body language. “What the hell are you keeping from me?”
I move her gaze to mine. We can’t keep this from her now, not when she has a feeling we’re purposely lying.
“Love, listen, I have something to tell you, something that you’ll have a hard time with.”
“Worse than my daughter fighting for her life? Gibson barely breathing?”
Yeah, it really is. I can’t say this to her, but I have to. “Bridget saw who it was.” Her eyes ask the question I don’t want to answer. “Care, love, it was Jimmy.”
I catch her as her eyes roll back in her head, and she passes out.
* * *
Charis isin the triage area. Her pulse is strong, but the idea of Jimmy hurting her baby had been too much for Charis to take.
Meadow is in surgery, along with Gibson. I don’t have any place to be but next to Charis when she wakes up.
My thoughts are on my own son at home with the nanny and although Tara is great, I don’t want him to awake to a woman who is virtually a stranger. I pull for my phone, ringing the one person I know would drop everything to be with Jett.
“Stone.” His voice is serious. “Is Jett okay?”
“Yeah, he’s at home. I have an overnight shift, and well, a friend of mine was just hurt. Along with an innocent child. Can you relieve the nanny? I don’t want Jett waking up to a virtual stranger.” In all of this, with the idea we can lose Gibson and Meadow, I need someone who loves Jett as I do, with him.
“I’m on my way. I have a to-go bag in case you need me in a pinch. I’ll be in my car in ninety seconds. Call the nanny. Tell her to expect me in thirty-seven minutes.”
Holy cow. Alan is both prepared and precise. I hear the jingle of his keys, and he’s still on the line. He hasn’t ended the call.
“Hey, Stone?”
“Yeah, Al, I’m here.”
“Is this a special someone?”
His tone is comforting and there’s a little of his daughter coming through.
“Yeah, I’ve been dating both a man and a woman. You know, what I’ve always wanted. He had our girlfriend’s daughter crossing the street and her jealous ex hit Gibson and his own daughter, Meadow.”
Maybe his mind races, to if that were Jett with Gibs. I won’t lie, I’ve had that same thought.
“The father ran his own daughter down?”
How do I answer this to a father who grieves his daughter every day?
“Yeah, hard to take, I know.”
I think this little bonding is over when his voice comes through the phone again. “Stone, Katherine only wanted you to be happy. And I want that, too. I’ve spent too much time blaming you when there’s no one to blame. Be happy. In that way, I know both Jett and Katherine will be happy, too.”
This is all I’ve ever wanted from Alan. And now, on a night where I’ve found it hard to breathe, he’s given it to me. It’s every bit the spirit of Katherine with me now.
I can barely choke out a reply. “Thank you, Al.”
“Yeah, and, Stone, know your son will be taken care of. And be sure to tell me if you need anything.”
I end the call, typing a text to Tara. I focus my attention on Charis in front of me and hope she sleeps just a little longer, in order to have news about her daughter when Meadow wakes. And Gibson. I can’t forget Gibson.
