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“We’ll move her today.”
Dr. Anderson’s voice came through my phone speaker. It had been two days since our initial meeting.
He’d delivered exactly what he promised.
There was a facility in Manhattan where he’d secured a spot for Penelope. I wouldn’t have cared if it were in a far corner of the world as long as they could help my daughter.
“And she’ll be able to breathe?” I didn’t care how scared I sounded.
I was worried if they unplugged her even for a few seconds from that machine that the worst could happen.
“We’re prepared to quickly transfer the equipment to battery power. We have a backup. And the transport flight from Southampton to the city will be thirty-two minutes,” he answered calmly.
Elliott had arranged a helicopter to take JoJo and me once we saw Penelope off. Neither of us were in any condition to make the drive back to the city.
All the worst-case scenarios pounded my brain, but I forced them back.
When neither JoJo nor I spoke for a moment, Dr. Anderson said, “I wouldn’t advise this if I didn’t believe it’s the best thing for Penelope.”
I didn’t doubt that, but it wasn’t his daughter who couldn’t breathe on her own. It wasn’t his daughter at risk.
“You’ll take the flight with her?” JoJo asked.
“I won’t leave her side. By the time you arrive, she’ll be resting comfortably in the new place.” That was the first time he’d shown any sign of compassion.
Or maybe I’d been too preoccupied to notice.
I liked that he wasn’t emotional. Somehow that made him seem more in control. More stable. More clear-headed when it came to making decisions about Penelope.
“See you soon,” JoJo said.
I hung up and put an arm around her. We hadn’t exactly worked out our semi-argument from a couple days ago, but we’d set it aside.
Both of us were in a heightened state of emotions. Both of us knew we needed to hold the other together.
Transporting Penelope to the next stop was most important now.
“We’ll leave as soon as she’s on the way,” I said. “Daniel and Vivian are waiting out front to take us to the airport.”
We weren’t allowed to leave in a private helicopter from the hospital, which was frustrating but understandable. The helipad needed to be open for emergencies.
“I’m scared,” JoJo said softly.
I squeezed her shoulder. “Me too.”
She leaned her head against me as we watched Penelope through her glass box. We’d been scolded on more than one occasion about lurking outside her room. At least that would stop when we went to the new facility.
We’d be sharing her room there.
“I need to say something to her before she goes,” JoJo whispered. “Just to let her know we’re right behind her. That it’s going to be okay.”
“You slip in. I’ll keep watch.” I caught her hand before she went inside. “Tell her I love her.”
JoJo’s eyes turned glassy, and she nodded.
I waited in the hallway, glancing in all directions before my gaze drifted through the window. JoJo gently kissed Penelope’s forehead and spoke words I couldn’t make out.
The image was the absolute definition of love. Anyone could see how much Penelope meant to JoJo.
