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“Where are Seth and Randy?”

“They're in the waiting room with everyone else. When the nurse came out to say you were awake, we insisted on coming in first,” Dad said.

I tried to use my right hand to wipe my tears and gasped in pain.

“Oh honey. You’re going to have to be really careful. The surgeon told us you’re going to need bed rest for a while, and then physical therapy. It’ll be good to have you home again.”

I gave Graham a frantic look, and Mom saw it.

“Joy Magill, you are coming home with me. That is not negotiable.” For once, her scary mom voice didn’t scare me. There was no way I was going to leave Graham’s side.

“How long have I been out?” I asked, attempting to change the subject.

“About twelve hours. The anesthesia hit you harder than expected, probably because your system was still processing whatever drugs Glenda gave you.”

The reminder of being drugged made my stomach clench, but I pushed the feeling away. That was over now.

There was a knock at the door. Graham stood and walked to the door, opening it just wide enough to stick his head out.

“You can come in.”

Mom and Dad stepped back, then Randy barreled through the door first, his face lighting up when he saw me sitting up in bed. Seth was right behind him, moving more cautiously but with the same relieved expression.

“JoJo!” Randy crossed the room in three long strides and would have thrown himself at me if Seth hadn't caught his arm.

“Careful, you moron. She just had surgery.”

Randy slowed down but still bent to wrap me in the gentlest bear hug he could manage.

“We thought we lost you, JoJo,” he whispered against my hair. “When we found that cabin and you weren't there…”

“But I'm here now.” I squeezed him back with my good arm. “I'm okay.”

Seth waited until Randy stepped back before leaning down to kiss my forehead.

“How are you feeling, little sister?”

“Like I got shot in the shoulder and had surgery.” I managed a weak smile. “But better now that I can see you guys are okay.”

“Can we sneak in a few more people while the nurses aren't looking?” Randy glanced toward the hallway. “There might be some folks out there who've been going crazy waiting to see you.”

“How many people are out there?”

“Well,” Seth scratched his beard. “Ava threatened to fight the entire nursing staff if they didn't let her in. Roxie's been pacing holes in the waiting room floor. Then there’s Simon, Trenda, and Jase along with Cousin Emmie. She’s been just as loud as Ava.”

“Let them in.” I shifted higher against my pillows, ignoring the pull in my shoulder. “All of them.”

Randy disappeared into the hallway. I could hear hushed voices and what sounded like a small argument before the door opened again.

Emmie burst through first, her blue eyes scanning me from head to toe like she was cataloging every visible injury. Roxie and Ava followed close behind, her veterinarian training probably making her assess my condition more clinically. Jase, Simon, and Trenda brought up the rear, both of them looking uncharacteristically subdued.

“You look like hell,” Emmie announced as she slung an arm around my mom and kissed her cheek.

“Thanks. You really know how to make a girl feel better.”

“I'm serious. You're pale as a sheet, you've got circles under your eyes that look like bruises, and that hospital gown is doing nothing for your complexion.”

My mom pinched Emmie’s side.