57
Wake up!” said a child’s voice, and Julia opened her eyes to see Leni, smiling at her.
“Leni?” Julia whispered, confused. Her mind reeled. She didn’t know if it was her daughter or a vision. She didn’t know what was going on. She couldn’t collect her thoughts.
“Mommy, you’re okay!” Leni smiled sweetly, laying her head on Julia’s side.
Julia blinked. She felt oddly frozen. Her body was in some residual state of fear. She couldn’t leave terror behind yet. It was in her.
“Cara.” Gianluca took her hand, which was bandaged, and Julia looked into the rich brown of her husband’s eyes, his tanned, handsome face, and his rich brown hair, all of him so darkly vivid against the pale white around him.
She felt herself come back to herself, as her mind and heart eased, and she returned slowly into the present, to her husband and daughter.
Julia realized she was in a hospital, and Gianluca and Leni were here with her, at her bedside. She was awake, alive.
“Gianluca,” Julia said hoarsely, amazed. “How did you get here… so fast?”
“I was already on my way, darling. All’s clear with those allegations, I’ll explain later. I love you.”
“I love… you, too,” Julia told him, struggling to think, and Gianluca stroked her hand.
“You’re okay, Julia. You had a concussion and cuts, that’s all. You’ve been asleep for about four hours. People were injured at Valley Forge but no one died. Everyone survived, because of you.”
“Is Paul… okay?”
“Yes. He’s fine. He’s at the prison now. He called the police when he got your phone message.”
“How did he know where… I was?”
“Your rental car had GPS. The police traced it to the farm. They arrested the men who set the bomb. All four are in custody.”
Thank God. “So is… Courtney out of prison?”
“No, the police need a statement from you—”
“I’m… fine.” Julia felt dizzy but tried to get up. “Courtney… can’t stay in prison. I know who killed… her grandmother.”
“Julia, no.” Gianluca placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “You can’t go yet, darling. You need to stay for observation—”
“Then get the police… I can give my statement… here.”