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I dial Stacy, and she picks up on the second ring. “Hello? Who is this?” She sounds worried, and I feel a flicker of pity for her. “Hello?”
“Hi Stacy, it’s Liam,” I tell her. “You can—”
“Liam?” She cuts in. “Liam O’Connell?”
“Yes.” I clear my throat. “Can you come to the hospital? Penny is here.”
“Penny?” Stacy yells. “Oh, my goodness! Mom!” I hear shuffling in the background. “Penny is at the hospital. Liam is on the phone. We have to leave right away.”
“Thank you, Liam,” I hear Stacy say as I hang up the phone.
Penny smiles at me. “I can’t wait to see them,” she says sweetly, making me laugh at the irony of her joke.
“They love you.” Her eyes widen at what I just said. “I didn’t say they won’t be mad; I just said they love you. This will all eventually work itself out.”
“Will you be okay alone?” Her eyes fly to mine, and I see the panic in them. “I need to check on Tex.”
Understanding flickers in her eyes, but then the fear returns. “Tex, that’s right. I forgot about him. Go check on him. I’ll be fine.”
I sigh and lean back against the wall. Tex will be okay. The sun is down, and the temperature is dropping. He’ll be okay. I can stay with Penny, at least until Martha and Stacy arrive.
When I don’t leave Penny looks at me with confusion. “Aren’t you going to check on Tex?”
“He’ll be okay. I’ll wait until your mom and sister get here.”
We sit in silence while we wait. The day’s events run through my head. I still can’t wrap my mind around it. My thoughts return to Penny, who I realize has not said a word in the last five minutes. I look at her face and notice how pale it is. I grab her hand and squeeze. She looks at it.
Just then, the door opens, and Martha and Stacy rush in. Panic is written all over their faces. I drop Penny’s hand.
“Penny!” Stacy rushes to the bed and pulls Penny into her arms. “Are you okay?”
Penny’s shoulders shake, and she lifts her arms around her sister. I suddenly feel as if I’m intruding.
“Penny!” Her mother calls, and Stacy steps aside. Penny meets her mother’s gaze, tears still falling.
“Mom,” her voice quivers. “I’m so sorry.”
“Oh, Penny!” Martha embraces her daughter. “We were so worried. Don’t scare us like that ever again.”
Penny nods vigorously, still in her mother’s arms. Moments later, Martha pulls back. “What happened to you? Your dress is so dirty. Where are your shoes?”
Penny and I both look down at her feet. For the first time, I realize that she isn’t wearing any shoes.
“I fell off a cliff, and Liam saved me.” She says with an eerie calmness as she gestures to me. Both women finally look my way.
“Liam.” Stacy reaches out to hug me, and Martha does too.
“I don’t know what happened yet, but thank you very much,” Martha looks straight into my eyes.
I nod. With both women still staring at me, I smile at Penny. “I’ll take my leave now, Penny.”
Penny nods. As I start to walk away she grabs my arm. “Thank you, Liam.”
I put my hand on top of hers. “You’re welcome.”
I walk out of the room and close the door behind me.
I thank the nurses and head out the door. I stop at the truck and check on Tex, comfortably resting in the back seat. I get in Penny’s truck, planning to drive it to her mom’s house when my phone rings.
