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“Understood.” Dad wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her tightly. “Thank you. For everything. We owe you.”
“You owe me nothing. Just...look after him and yourself.”
“Neri...Neri, are you okay?” Jedda snapped her fingers in front of my face, dragging me back from a simpler time, a better time, a time when Aslan was safe and unknown.
“Answer me. Do the police know who he is?”
I shuddered as fresh tears spilled. “I-I don’t know. I have to find him before they do. I have to get him out of here.” Hot terror burned me alive. “If they find out he doesn’t have a Medicare number. If they somehow find out he’s been hiding here all this time—”
“Easy. One step at a time. Let’s find out where he is first. And then we’ll figure out what to do.”
“You mean...you’ll help me?” I gulped. “You’ll help me get him out of here?”
“Of course, I will. I love you. I love your parents and don’t want them getting into trouble.” Her lips pursed. “I didn’t cover for him all those years ago for him to be deported now, that’s for damn sure.” She pulled out a small e-tablet from her scrubs, scrolling quickly. “Are you sure you didn’t tell them his name? Before you passed out?”
I froze.
Everything was blurry.
All I could remember was hovering above the road as if I was the one who’d died and lingered as a ghost.
“I-I don’t think so...?” I hunched and hugged myself. “I don’t remember much if I’m honest. I was petrified.”
“Rightfully so.” Her ebony eyes softened as they met mine again. “It says you’re suffering shock. That you passed out due to witnessing the graphic nature of the crash.”
I flinched. “I don’t care about me. I just need to see him.”
“You’ll still need to be checked out now that you’re awake. You have a few lacerations on your hands and knees.”
“Not until I know he’s okay.”
“He’ll be alright, Neri.” She patted my hand with capable urgency. “We’ll make sure of it.” A smidgen of relief came from her taking control. I wasn’t alone anymore. She would help me. She was trustworthy. Aslan never knew he had another guardian angel hiding him in plain sight, but she’d kept his secret just as carefully as we had.
What were the chances?
What was the luck?
“What are you doing here?” I choked. “I thought you said to Mum that you were transferring back to Mossman?”
“I was asked to do another year. I’m the head nurse now, and they’re short-staffed.” She smiled sadly. “Aren’t they always? But I agreed to one more year before I get to go home to Port Douglas.” Laying her hand on mine, she murmured, “Anna told me you were studying down here. I never in a million years thought I’d see you in the emergency room. On your birthday, no less.”
I gave her a sad smile. “Not exactly how I would’ve liked catching up. It’s been too long, Auntie Jedda.”
“I agree. Time has a horrible way of speeding up.” She smiled, returning to her scrolling. “You and Aslan will have to come to dinner one night. Coen and I are renting a place not too far from here. We’d love to have you. Just like old times.”
“Are you okay if Aslan finds out you’ve known about him all along? I thought that’s why we never brought him around to visit?”
“I don’t think I have a choice anymore.” She stopped scrolling as her eyes read quickly. “Found him. Unidentified male. Ethnicity unknown. Approx mid-twenties. X-rays show three cracked ribs, possible hip fracture, stable head wound, and twenty-seven stitches on his left shoulder.”
Blood.
It flashed through my mind.
There’d been so much blood.
My stomach tore itself apart.
Three ribs? A broken hip? Stitches?
Fuck.
“Will he be okay?” I whispered. “Can you take me to him?”
“He’s awake and refusing to tell staff his name.” Her head shot up, the lines of text she’d read still glowing in her stare. “Good grief, he mentioned you, though. That’s not good. Not good at all.”
Before I could ask why or what she planned on doing, she bent over me, pressed a quick kiss to my forehead, and whispered, “Don’t tell anyone, under any circumstances, that you’re looking for him. If someone comes to you asking if you know a man asking for you, deny it.”
“But I—”
“Deny it, Neri. Or you and your parents will be in worse trouble than he is.” Patting my cheek, she narrowed her eyes. “Stay here. Don’t say a word.”
She left in a flurry of pink Crocs before I could stop her.
The temptation to chase after her hit me strong.
But fear over making things worse made me stay.
I always make things worse...
My eyes fell on the small table beside me and the plastic bag holding Aslan’s smashed phone, mine in its glittery blue case, my blood-covered clutch, money-clip, and the spiky shell that I’d been clinging to as I’d collapsed beside Aslan.
