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“Thank you,” she said as the group left the room. She turned to Nicholas. “You came at the right time.”
He pulled a chair closer and sat. “Well, it’s the least I could do. I’m so sorry about my behavior during the break in. I’ve never experienced anything like that before, and I didn’t know what to do.”
“We can’t all be heroes like Hunter, I guess.”
“He certainly is.”
She saw that the nurse who’d helped her was still there. She caught his eye. “Hey.”
He came over and checked her IV.
“When can I go?” she asked.
“We’re going to keep you at least overnight for observation.”
“Observation? So, I’m fine?”
“You’re stable right now, but the only way to make sure is to see what happens over the next 24 hours.”
“Are my vitals stable or whatever?” she asked.
He crossed his arms. “They are. Are you planning an escape?”
She shrugged with one shoulder.
“Well, I can’t say that’s a good idea. Your body has been through a lot.”
“I know, but my daughter.”
“I get it, believe me. I have a six-year-old myself. I’d do anything for that little girl. But I still can’t recommend you leave just yet.”
“But you won’t tell on me if I do?”
He pulled his mouth into a half smile and pointedly turned away from her. “I can’t report what I don’t see.”
He left the room and Nicholas stood.
“You’re not going to try to leave, are you?” Nicholas asked.
She sat up and assessed the IV in her arm. It was the only thing left tying her to the hospital. Aside from her missing clothing. “Can you see if my things are in the closet?”
Nicholas went to the closet and opened the door. He pulled out a bag of her clothes. She dressed the best she could with her IV still in. Then, she peeled off the tape and carefully slid the needle out. It hurt worse than it would have if a nurse had done it, but she got it out.
She pressed the tape back down to cover the hole that was now bleeding, and pulled her shirt over her head.
“Vanessa, you can’t leave yet,” Nicholas said. “You might not be okay.”
“He said I’m fine. Just observation. I have to see Hunter and Opal. I have to. Thanks, Nicholas. I’ll see you soon, I’m sure.” She dashed from the room hurrying, but trying not to look too suspicious.
She punched the button for the elevator and slid in as soon as the doors opened. When she stepped out on the lower floor, she wasn’t sure where to go. She didn’t have a car here or any way to get home. She needed to call someone. Were there phones?
She wandered down a hall full of doors that held no answers. She turned down another hall, and what she saw made her stop dead in her tracks. At the end of the hall, walking out of a room, was Opal, Hunter, and Mari.
They saw her a moment after she saw them, and Opal took off running. Vanessa ran to meet her, and they crashed in a tight hug, Vanessa lifting and swinging her daughter around.
It made her slightly dizzy and she had to set her down, but Vanessa didn’t care. She’d found them, and they were all together.
“Mommy! You’re okay!” Opal had tears in her eyes when she looked up at Vanessa.
