Page 136 of Guarding Over You
“Wednesday. It’s four. So over twenty-four hours. We’ll keep you here another night.”
“Gracie. I need to see my daughter. What does she know?”
“We didn’t tell her what happened,” he said. “Just that you got sick. It was for the best. Your parents know. They are here. They just went to get something to eat.”
“Oh Lord. My mother is going to kill me for not telling her.”
He laughed and squeezed her hand, then leaned down to give her a kiss. “We had a nice talk. She probably will lecture you, but I think she likes me.”
“I hope so, since I love you.”
“The feeling is mutual. When they get back, I’ll let you visit and go get Gracie.”
“I’d like that.”
He sat down next to her. “Are you hungry?”
“I’m starving. Are you sure it’s okay? It’s really over?”
“It’s really over,” he said. “Erika is behind bars. She confessed. No one else is involved.”
“Arden!” her mother yelled and came running into the room to hug her, her father right behind. “You’re awake. Are you okay? Do you feel okay?”
“I’m tired. I feel as if my body went through a war but don’t remember a bit of it. Probably a good thing. Blaze said everything looks good, but they are keeping me another night.”
Her mother turned to her boyfriend. “No other issues? You’re sure?”
“I am,” he said. “But we’ll monitor her overnight just the same. If you don’t mind, I’m going to get Gracie, if Arden wants to authorize it, and you guys can visit.”
He handed her her phone, she made the call, then he left to go home and shower and change, then get her daughter.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you what was going on,” she said. “I know you’re mad.”
“Furious, but relieved at the same time,” her father said. “Blaze didn’t even tell us right away what was wrong with you, not until after Gracie was sleeping and his sister stayed with her.”
“He wouldn’t have wanted you worried and Gracie guessing.”
“That’s what he said. We were already worried, but that’s not the same as thinking someone was trying to kill you.”
“You sure know how to pick them,” her father said.
“Dad. Don’t. Blaze isn’t Billy. Not even close.”
“Your father isn’t going to start in. Neither am I. He saved you. If he didn’t know what was going on in your life, he might not have known to eliminate things.”
“Exactly,” she said. “He’s been by my side for months. He’s been watching over me like a hawk. If he could have had my office moved to the middle of the ER he would have.”
“Sounds like that might have made you a bigger target since this person was there with him,” her mother said.
“I never saw it. I don’t think he did either. And he has to live with that guilt. I don’t want that. Mom, I’ve lived with enough guilt over my decisions and actions the past several years. I don’t need you or anyone else to say my decisions or Blaze’s were wrong. No one needs that on their shoulders.”
“We won’t,” her mother said. “Right, Josh?”
“No,” her father said. “Does Billy know what happened?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “Did you tell him?”
“No,” her mother said.
