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Julia hurried with Gianluca to Bennie’s car, which was idling in front of the hospital. Incredibly, Leni remained asleep on his shoulder as reporters surrounded them, shouting questions at Julia and thrusting microphones in her face.
Julia ducked into the car next to Gianluca, closed the door behind her, and they took off.
“Good job.” Bennie checked the rearview mirror as she drove way. They left the hospital parking lot and turned onto a main drag among several strip malls, closed now. “Shit. They’re following us.”
“Really?” Julia turned around to see a line of newsvans behind them.
“It’s going to be the same way at the prison. Just keep your head down and keep walking. You’re doing great.”
Gianluca looked over and took her hand. “You sure you feel okay?”
“Yes, thanks,” Julia lied. Her head hurt more than she’d told the doctor, but she’d wanted to go get Courtney.
“You’ll feel better after you rest, like the doctor said.”
“Agree,” Julia said, but she felt vaguely unsettled. Maybe it was the concussion, affecting her mood.
“I’m so proud of you.” Gianluca smiled gently at her, his face handsome in the shadows of the car.
“Thanks.” Julia felt another twinge. She knew she should feel satisfied, but she didn’t. She touched her daughter’s sweet, warm head, with its filmy dark curls. “Can you believe she’s still sleeping?”
“Yes, because she barely slept on the plane.”
“She seems back to normal, doesn’t she?”
“Yes, to me, too.”
“I missed you both.” Julia leaned over and gave him a light kiss. “I’m so sorry I didn’t keep in better touch with you. I want to know what’s happening with your lawyer and everything.”
Gianluca broke into a relieved grin. “I’ve been meaning to tell you, it’s over.”
“It’s over?” Julia asked, surprised. “Why? What happened?”
“It turns out this doctor reported three other fathers this month. Something’s wrong with him, and they fired him.”
“My God, that’s incredible.”
“Doctor Isabella said she’s sorry, and I got an apology from the practice. I’m just glad it’s over, so are my parents. The lawyer’s not going to charge me, so it’s all good.” Gianluca paused. “So I came here, and I’m taking two weeks off of work.”
“Really?” Julia blinked, surprised. “Why so long?”
“Tell you later,” Gianluca whispered, with a wink.