Page 81 of Vanishing Legacy
“Yeah, sure.” Bailey got to her feet. “What do you need?”
Cash grinned and pointed to the wheelchair in the corner. “I need a ride.”
* * *
Alana lay in her hospital bed, her leg elevated and propped up with pillows. The surgery to repair her torn calf muscle had been successful, but her leg throbbed with pain. She had a stack of magazines by her bed but no interest in reading them. Instead, she was engrossed in a romantic suspense novel by S. M. Warren. Something about the tension and romance in the author’s writing sucked Alana in. And it provided a welcome distraction from her pain and discomfort.
Noelle poked her head in Alana’s doorway and smiled. “Guess who I brought to see you.”
Rocco ran to Alana and threw himself into her embrace. “Mom, I’m so glad you’re okay. Your leg…does it hurt? And your face. It’s purple. How many stitches do you have?”
“Slow down, bud. I’m just so glad to see you.” Alana held him, taking in the scent of his hair and the feel of his arms around her. She could hear his steady heartbeat throbbing. She never wanted to take these moments for granted ever again.
She kissed his head and smoothed his fluffy hair. “You wanna sit up here with me?”
Rocco climbed onto the bed and nestled beside her. “Noelle said the boat you were on sank. Are you sure you’re okay?”
Noelle straightened the stack of magazines. “Well, that’s my cue to leave. I hope I didn’t say anything out of line.”
Alana chuckled. “No, Rocco is a smart guy. If we don’t tell him, he’ll figure it out.”
“Yeah, I have Google, Noelle.”
She ruffled his hair. “Okay, smarty pants. I’m going to run grab a cup of coffee from the waiting room. You guys want anything?”
“Oh, bless you, woman. Coffee would be great.”
“Can I have a diet soda?” Rocco looked at Alana.
Soda of any kind could be hard on Rocco’s kidneys, so they tried to keep it to a special treat. “Yeah, I guess this time would be fine.”
Noelle grinned. “I’ll be right back.”
Alana smiled at Rocco and studied her son’s features. “I’m okay, honey. I’m a little banged up, but I’m going to be fine. I’ll be on desk duty for a while with my leg like this, but that’ll give me plenty of time to tell you everything that happened.”
Rocco pulled back and looked at her. “I’m sorry, Mom. I should have been with you.”
Alana stroked his cheek. There would be time to explain how wrong he was about that. How being safe with Noelle was exactly where she’d wanted him. It ripped her heart out knowing all Penny had been through, not to mention the trauma she’d have to overcome. “You’re here now and that’s all that matters.”
Alana looked at Rocco’s hand and saw the brightly colored pinwheel that he held. “What do you have there?”
Rocco beamed and held out the toy. “It’s a pinwheel. I thought Penny might like it.”
Could she possibly love this kid any more? “That’s so thoughtful of you, Rocco. She’s going to love it.”
“Can I go see her now?”
“In just a bit. I wanted to talk to you for a second.”
“Sure, Mom.”
“Rocco, I’m so sorry for being tough on you all the time. I know it’s been hard, just the two of us, and I thought I was doing my best. I wanted you to be strong like me. I didn’t realize you’re already far stronger than I am.”
“No way. You’re the strongest. You carry a gun and everything.”
She smiled a thin smile. “Well, I’ve learned that strength is more than muscles.” She tapped his chest. “You have the heart of a lion combined with the gentleness of a dove. I might’ve tried to make you tougher, but God showed me that I shouldn’t make you more like me. I should be more like you.
“My heart was tough.” She tapped her chest. “I’d locked it up tight trying to protect myself, but God showed me I should be a bit softer and let people in more.”