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He doesn’t make any move to indicate I startled him. He simply holds me close, sliding me onto his lap. He takes one hand and cuts the ties around my ankles, then he says, “Hey darlin’, let me see your wrists so I can get the rest of the ties off. I won’t let you go. I promise.”
I nod and lift my bound wrists off his neck. He quickly cuts the ties and frees me. I lean back into him as I hear other people start filing in. A paramedic approaches me; one was already working with Ivie.
Tate tightens his hold on me and rubs my back. The first set of emergency personnel lift Ivie on a stretcher and move to take her to a waiting ambulance. Sterling trails right behind them nodding at Rhett as he leaves the room. Rhett returns the gesture.
The paramedic in front me starts assessing my injuries as Rhett turns his attention to me. He slowly walks over, careful not to disturb the paramedic or the crime scene. I’m still in Tate’s arms when he reaches us. The paramedic and Tate help me stand. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Rhett so upset. Why is he still here with me instead of following along with Ivie?
He finally speaks. “Lucy, I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”
I’m taken back by his question. I start to say yes but I stop myself.Am I okay?I was
beaten and then drugged and kidnapped, not to mention Taylor was going to rape me just last night. My best friend, who is my sister, heard the truth about who I am, and I don’t know if she’ll forgive me. No, I’m not anywhere nearokayterritory.
“We need to get her into the ambulance, sir. She has a deep laceration and could have a concussion, she needs a hospital,” the paramedic tells him, but his glance bounces between Rhett and Tate both.
Finally, the paramedic and Tate both usher me toward the door and out to the waiting ambulance. The one carrying Ivie already left. They help me inside and lay me back on the stretcher. “Your boyfriend can stay and ride with you if you want,” the paramedic says. “I’m Aaron by the way.” He smiles kindly.
I turn back to Tate who is still in the ambulance. “Oh, um he’s not my boyfriend,” I tell Aaron. Tate’s eyes bore into mine. I can’t begin to get a read on what he’s thinking. What did he want me to say? He’snotmy boyfriend. He’s a mere reminder of something I can’t have—a normal life, with someone like him.Preferably him.
Aaron’s eyes dart between us, then he turns to Tate. “It’s up to her, man.”
“I’m fine alone.” I smile weakly. Tate opens his mouth to speak but decides against it, snapping it shut again. He climbs down from the ambulance and casts one more glance over his shoulder at me one more time before walking away.
Aaron watches him leave too, then back to me. “I think you hurt his feelings.”
Aaron hooks me up to an IV and an automatic blood pressure cuff. He examines my face closer then takes something cold and starts wiping my face with it. I see movement behind him. Rhett has climbed in with us. He sits down beside me and Aaron’s face creases with confusion.
Before he can speak, Rhett does. “She’s my daughter. I’m going with you.” Aaron quickly nods but glances at me.
“It’s okay, it’s true,” I tell him. With that he gets out and tells the driver we’re ready to go. He shuts the doors and I’m left alone in the back of the ambulance with Rhett, my father. He takes my hand in his as a single tear falls down his cheek. He wipes it away with his other hand.
“Can I hold you, Lucy? I need to. I didn’t get to comfort you growing up or be there for you at all as more than your best friend’s dad. Please, let me hold my daughter. I’ve wanted to since the day I knew you were mine.” He lets out a quiet sob but doesn’t break eye contact.
I start to cry too as I nod. He lets out a deep breath before scooting closer and pulling me into his chest. For the first time in a long, long time, I feel loved and safe and warm in my dad’s arms. I breath him in, committing this moment to memory. Of all the people in the world, who knew I only needed my dad? Myrealdad.
Rhett stopped me as I walked away from the ambulance holding Lucy. “Do you mind driving my truck to the hospital? I need to ride with her in the ambulance.” He pins me with his pleading eyes clearly hoping I’ll say yes.
“Sure.” He takes his keys out of his pocket, tossing them to me before reaching out to shake my hand.
“Thanks,” he says.
I take his keys and walk to his truck parked in front of the old hospital where we found it when we arrived. I turn and stare at the ambulance one more time and see Rhett sitting beside Lucy before Aaron closes the doors. I hop in his truck and fall in behind the ambulance as it heads toward Greendale Med.
It only takes about ten minutes for us to arrive. The ambulance pulls around to the emergency room. I park the truck and head in the main doors to find Sterling. I call Bree as I’m walking in. She answers on the first ring. “Hey,” she says solemnly.
“Hey Bree, you okay? Sorry I skipped out on you. I saw you were talking to the cops.” I get close to the information desk and stop before reaching it.
“I’m fine, Tate. I’ll be at the hospital soon. I had to give my statement, and I’ll be going to mandatory counseling. I’ll have to take a psych eval too and do whatever else Chief Trudeau and the PD deem necessary for this incident.” She stops and lets out a shaky breath and then adds, “ I’m driving Sterling’s car there since he rode with Ivie. Any word on her yet?” she asks.
“I just got to the hospital. Rhett asked me to drive his truck so he could ride with Lucy.”
“Yeah, it’s wild. I can’t believe he’s her dad,” she murmurs.
My gut twists a little thinking of my own family secrets. “Yeah,” I reply nonchalantly. “Listen, I’ll see you when you get here. I’m on my way to find Sterling.”
“Okay, see you soon, Tater.” She hangs up.
She makes me smile, even on a night like tonight. She’s always called me Tater. I approach the information desk and tell them who I’m here for. The nurse directs me to the second floor, so I make my way there and see Sterling sitting alone in the waiting room with his head in his hands.
