“Consider it done. What else can you tell me about him?”
He told his father what he knew, which wasn’t a lot. “I know a few people that know a little more. I’ll e-mail you the details I can find in the morning.”
“Sounds good.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“Oh, and Wyatt?”
“Yeah?”
“This Melanie . . . is she someone your mother and I might meet someday?”
Wyatt read through the lines of the question and smiled.
“Yeah . . . I think maybe you will.”
“Mommy?”
Melanie had fallen asleep in the recliner chair that sat beside Hope’s ICU bed and woke with a start when she heard Hope calling.
“Right here, baby.” She wiped the sleep from her eyes and scrambled to her daughter’s side.
“I’m hungry.”
Two words.
Two perfect words.
It was four in the morning, but that didn’t hold a lot of concern for a little girl who had last eaten the morning before.
“I’ll get the nurse, see if we can get you something.”
Hope looked around the room. “I’m in the hospital?”
“Yes, baby.”
“And I fell and broke my arm.”
“You did.” The fact that Hope told her instead of asking was a huge improvement. Her little girl was living up to her name.
“I’ll be right back.”
“’Kay.”
The ICU was in the shape of a U, with rooms surrounding a central nursing station that had a half dozen nurses working behind it. She found the night nurse in charge of her daughter’s care and told him Hope was asking for food.
Phillip put the chart he was writing in aside and stood. “Let’s go talk to her.”
They walked back into the room and found Hope smiling. “Hi, Hope. Do you remember me?”
She squinted her eyes then smiled. “Phillip.”
“That’s right.”
Instant tears sprang to Melanie’s eyes. The doctor had told her that Hope’s scrambled head was temporary, but she had a hard time believing it.
Until now.
“You okay, Mommy?”
“I’m fine, sweetie.” She wiped her eyes and turned away. “I need to find a bathroom. Are you all right here without me for a few minutes?”
“I’m okay.”
Melanie looked at Phillip. “I’ll be right back.”
“Take your time,” Phillip said with a knowing smile.
Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen. She just needed a few minutes to remove the emotion from her face.
When Melanie walked outside the double doors of the ICU, several familiar faces were in various positions on the couches and cushioned chairs.
Miss Gina noticed her first and shook the blanket from her lap.
Then Wyatt opened his eyes and caught hers. It took a second for the smile to come. When it did, both Miss Gina and Wyatt released a deep collective sigh.
“She’s awake, making sense.”
“Oh, hon.” Miss Gina took a few steps and pulled Melanie into her arms.
Wyatt ran both hands through his hair before he stood and took his turn hugging her.
Luke woke next and placed a hand on Zoe’s shoulder.
When did she show up?
Zoe jumped, saw Melanie, and scrambled off the couch. There weren’t any words . . . just Zoe taking both hands and holding Melanie’s eyes with a stare.
Then she hugged her . . . hard.
“You didn’t need to come.”
Zoe pounded on her back. “Bite me.”
The one face missing from the room was Jo’s.
“Where’s—”
“Back in River Bend with the FBI. Investigating,” Zoe told her. “Has Hope said any more about Mr. Lewis?”
“Nothing. I haven’t asked her.” The last thing she wanted to do was upset her when she did open her eyes. “She hasn’t mentioned Nathan either.” Another glance around the room proved Nathan wasn’t among the concerned. Then again, maybe he didn’t feel welcome with so many people in her world setting up camp. “Is he—”
“He hasn’t shown his face since the ER,” Wyatt told her.
That news brought some relief. “I should get back in there,” Melanie said, pointing to the door with her thumb. “You guys really don’t need to stay. The nurses say she’s stable for an ICU patient.”
“That doesn’t sound right,” Luke said.
“I know. The knock on her head is why she’s in this unit. In case something went wrong.” It didn’t appear that was going to happen, thank God.
“Really. I’m sure sleeping in here isn’t the most comfortable. I’ll call you if I need anything.”
Miss Gina let her gaze sweep down Melanie’s frame. “Like a change of clothes?”
The shorts she’d been painting in two nights before were still on her body. The only addition to that evening’s clothing she had with her was a coat Wyatt had placed over her shoulders during the search.
“What about some food? When was the last time you ate?” Zoe chided.
Melanie glanced at the ceiling as if it held the answer. Then decided to divert. “I’m sure the hospital has a cafeteria that opens soon.”
“But will you leave Hope’s side long enough to find it?” Miss Gina asked.
“I’m okay. Really.”
Zoe glanced around the group of them before turning her attention to Melanie. “So are we. You take care of Hope, we’ll take care of you.”
It wouldn’t be any different if the situation were reversed.