Chapter 19
Nineteen
There was someone in her hospital room, and Aubrey’s heart rate exploded in her chest. Voices murmured around her. Wheels clicked on the tiled hallway outside her door. Aubrey struggled to open her eyes. She was so, so tired. And she ached. All over.
“Honey? It’s Mom. Wake up.”
Aubrey’s breath caught in her lungs, and her eyelids flew open. “Mom?”
Her throat was dry and scratchy, and tears puddled at the corners of her eyes. Her gaze darted around the room, and she tried to push herself up to a seated position. All the people she cared about most stood around her hospital bed. Mom, her sister Kristen, Jenna, Ethan…
“Dad?”
“Shh, now. He’ll be here soon. You lie back and rest.” Mom placed a hand on her shoulder and lightly pushed her back onto the mattress. “Deputy Marshal Butler here was telling us that you’ve had quite the exciting week.”
Her mom pointed at Ethan, and his fiery gaze was like a magnet, drawing her in until she might spontaneously combust. A gentle smile turned his lips up.
“You doing okay there, Sunshine?” Ethan rested against the wall, arms crossed, and she sighed in relief. He looked so relaxed in his blue T-shirt and worn jeans.
But the name Sunshine sent a pang of grief through her.
Aubrey smoothed the thin blanket over her lap. “Yeah, I am okay. Thanks to you and the others.”
Mom and Kristen shared a puzzled look before her mom looked at Ethan. “How did you know that her father’s nickname for her was Sunshine?”
“I didn’t.” Ethan frowned and uncrossed his arms. “Stanton, one of the marshals in our office”—his voice broke—“he gave her that nickname a while ago and it stuck. It fits her perfectly.”
“It really does.” Her mom grabbed a tissue from the box on the table and dabbed her eyes. “I’m so glad you’re safe.”
Aubrey grasped her mom’s hand. “Hey now, no tears.” She pointed to everyone surrounding her bed, people she held close to her heart. Emma and Glover had visited earlier too. Her heart was full. “God is good.”
Before she could finish, the doctor strolled in with one of the on-duty nurses. “I’m Dr.—whoa, there’s a lot of people in here.”
Aubrey flushed.
No one opted to leave.
“Whatever you have to say, it’s fine for them to hear,” Aubrey said, but she spotted Ethan and Jenna moving to the doorway. Jenna stepped out, chatting with Aubrey’s sister, but Ethan stayed in the room.
The doctor cleared his throat. “I’m Dr. Burrow, and I’ve been in charge of your care.
” He was an older gentleman, around her mom’s age, with gray at his temples and kind hazel eyes, a white lab coat, and a stethoscope around his neck.
He checked her file. “You’ve had quite the adventure.
” He patted her good leg and checked her pupils while the nurse took her vitals.
“Temp is nine-eight point six and blood pressure is one-thirty over seventy-five.” The nurse rattled off the numbers, and the doctor entered them in the chart.
The room was tense, as if everyone held their breath.
“Excuse me, Doctor. How is she? And when can she go home?” Mom inserted herself between Aubrey and the doctor.
Dr. Burrow looked up and paused. “Are you a relative?”
Mom threw back her shoulders and smiled. “I’m Emily Loftus, her mother.”
Dr. Burrow’s gaze returned to his tablet.
“Ms. Richardson, you have a mild concussion. You’re no longer dehydrated, but you sustained ligament damage to your left ankle.
The surgery went well, but you’ll need a few weeks of PT to help with recovery.
And you’ll have to wear a walking boot on your foot. ”
Aubrey groaned. “I hate this thing. It looks like a Frankenstein foot.”
Jenna and her sister laughed from the hall, and Ethan simply frowned.
Ethan stepped toward the bed. “So there’s no permanent damage?”
“Fortunately, no.” The doctor turned to Aubrey. “You’ll have some discomfort but should make a full recovery.”
“Thank You, Lord.” Mom clasped her hands and wiped away a tear.
“So, when will I be released from the hospital, Doctor Burrow?” Aubrey certainly hoped she wouldn’t be stuck here any longer than necessary.
“We’ll keep you overnight for observation, and then, if all looks good, we’ll release you to go home tomorrow.”
“That gives us time to catch up,” Kristen said from the doorway.
“You should stay off your feet for two weeks, no exceptions. I’ll write you a doctor’s note for your boss.”
Ethan said, “She can have all the time off she needs.”
Aubrey exhaled. Two weeks at home. She’d go stir crazy if she was cooped up, but considering everything, she figured she could find something to do—like plan next year’s Renegade Days. “That would be great. Thank you.”
Doctor Burrow handed the tablet to the nurse. “You take care of yourself, young lady. Looks like you have a lot of people who care about you.”
Aubrey looked at the people surrounding her bed and smiled. She wasn’t going to take them for granted. “I’m blessed, that’s for sure.”
She was blessed. Blessed that her mom and sister were here after all the years of distance. Blessed to have a good friend in Jenna. Blessed to have Ethan standing beside her.
Doctor Burrow smiled. “I know you want to get back to work, but the two weeks’ rest is a precaution. I just want to make sure you don’t have any setbacks. It was nice meeting you all.”
The doctor and nurse swept out of the room.
Aubrey relaxed against the pillow, the bed crinkling with her movement. “I’m so glad you’re here.” She focused her gaze on Ethan. “How did you know?” She sniffled.
“I checked your WITSEC file, made some calls, and got authorization to make contact.”
Aubrey smiled through her tears. “I should be mad at you, but I’m glad you called them.”
“Me too.” Ethan blended back into the corner of the room. Standing, always watching.
Her guardian.
Always.
Mom moved closer to the bed. “It’s been so long, baby, I was afraid.
” Mom wiped away a couple of tears and then grabbed Aubrey in a fierce hug.
“Next time you leave, at least tell us where you’re heading.
I had no idea where you were. If you were safe…
” Her mom’s whispered confession pierced through the armor she’d clung to all these years.
“The Marshals reassured us, but it wasn’t the same as hearing from you. ”
“I had to be strong. To leave. I didn’t want him to hurt you, Dad, or Kristen.” Aubrey held on tighter to her mom and then eased back.
Mom tucked a strand of hair behind Aubrey’s ear. “Honey, protecting you was supposed to be my job. And I’m afraid I didn’t do it very well. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pushed you away.”
“We both did that. I didn’t know how to express my feelings with the trial, being a witness to a murder.” Aubrey waved her hands. “All of it was overwhelming.”
“I’m sure it was.” Mom straightened and tugged the hem of her blouse in place.
“I’m sorry that I wasn’t there for you. Your dad and I were in over our heads.
We didn’t know how to navigate the loss of Kayla and then the trial.
Going into WITSEC.” Mom swiped away the moisture on her face with her fingertips, a new determination in her eyes.
“Dad and I are here now, and we have some catching up to do.”
“I’d like that.” Aubrey glanced at Ethan, smiled and held out her hand to him.
He moved into the light, grabbed her hand, and smiled back. Her face hurt from grinning. She had so much to tell her mom.
“Where’s Dad?” Aubrey asked her mom.
“In the coffee shop downstairs. Said he needed something to eat,” Mom said, smiling as her gaze landed on their clasped hands. “Truthfully, I think he’s a little nervous to see you.”
Aubrey felt tears prick her eyes and looked at Ethan. He squeezed her hand. This man had not only saved her but helped her to see herself in the light of God’s grace. She was worthy. Loved. Not only by the Lord, but by this faithful man.
Aubrey stifled a yawn. “I don’t know why I’m so tired.”
Ethan sat on the edge of the bed. “You’ve had quite the week.”
“Yeah, you could say that.” She couldn’t stop staring at Ethan. Hoping that he would choose her.
Mom glanced between her and Ethan and smiled. “I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone and go find your father. Tell him it’s all good.” She tossed her tote over her shoulder. “Thank you, Mr. Butler, for your help. You have my number if anything changes.” Mom sashayed to the door and waved.
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll be sure to keep you updated.”
Jenna stuck her head around the doorway. “I’ll be back with a double cheeseburger and onion rings.”
“Yes, please!”
Kristen lingered a moment, unsure, then grabbed Aubrey in a quick hug and whispered in her ear. “He’s yummy.” Her sister darted out the door, laughing.
Ethan raised one brow. “What was that about?”
“Nothing that you need to be worried about.” Aubrey picked at an invisible string on the thin blanket. “Did you find Rousseau?”
Ethan stood and held out his hands. “Whoa now, slow down. One major life challenge issue at a time.”
She quirked an eyebrow at him. “Challenge, or do you mean problem?”
“I’m trying to put a positive spin on all this.” Ethan grinned.
A knock on the door paused their conversation, and a man Aubrey didn’t recognize strode in. Ethan’s face lit up. “Carlsson! Good to see you.”
“Butler.” The men shook hands and then turned their attention to Aubrey. She felt small, intimidated by the big men. And maybe Ethan was right about one challenge at a time. She yawned behind her hand.
“Carlsson, this Aubrey Richardson.” Ethan touched her shoulder. “Aubrey, this is my old friend, Sebastian Carlsson, head of the Denver office.”
“Oh!” She held out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“You as well.” Carlsson pointed to the guest chair. “Mind if I sit?”
“Please.”