Page 22 of Healing Hope
Hope blinked and looked back down at Sophie, rubbing her little head. She gave a little nod but didn’t say anything else until they were back in the car. Once Hope was in her booster seat, Jess allowed her to hold Sophie. Girl and dog seemed to prefer it. Before she backed out of the car, Hope reached out a hand to touch her hair. Jess froze. Hope tolerated touch, but she didn’t reach outfortouch very often.
“I don’t mind that he thought you were my mom,” she whispered, then drew her hand back.
Jess popped a kiss to Hope’s forehead, trying not to cry again. “Let’s go check on your dad.”
He’d managed to send her a text message they were going to his hospital, La Jolla, and to meet him there. By the time they got there, both girls were asleep in the back seat. Jess left Sophie curled up on a fuzzy blanket on the Jeep seat. It was obvious the dog was still under the influence of medication, so she didn’t struggle. Jess knew if Sophie had been aware, she would have demanded to go with Hope. It was cool enough for her to stay in the vehicle and be comfortable.
Once she got the dog settled, Jess lifted Hope out of her seat. The girl mumbled in her sleep, then turned and rested her head on Jess’s shoulder. The kid couldn’t weigh over thirty-five or forty pounds, but that was dead weight. Jess fumbled with her car keys and bag, then strode into the hospital, determined to get the night in order.
Things finally started going her way when a young woman in round glasses met her just inside the waiting room. “Ms. Swan? I’m Madelyn. Administrator Jameson sent me down to guide you to him. Are Sophie and Hope doing okay? We heard about the home invasion.”
Home invasion. Yes, she supposed that was what it had been. “They’re fine,” she whispered, trying not to wake Hope.
Madelyn led her through several hallways and onto an elevator, which lifted them up three flights. Then it was down another hallway and into a surprisingly cushy hospital room. Paul sat on the edge of a hospital bed, half-dressed. His shirt was off, his body tense. It shouldn’t have affected her as much as it did, seeing the bruising developing along his ribs. Or the grimace of pain on his face as he cradled his splinted hand to his chest. And she shouldn’t have taken heart when he lifted his head, saw them in the doorway and smiled.
That smile was the most intimate thing thing they’d ever shared, because they were understanding one another now. She could see the relief and heartbreak in his expression, and she was sure he could see the relief in hers. They hadn’t been cohabitating long, but something had changed tonight. They had unified against a foe, and it had connected them.
“Hey,” she said, moving close. “How are you doing?”
“Not bad,” he whispered, shifting so that she could lay Hope down on his bed. The child didn’t wake, even when he stroked her hair away from her face with his prosthetic. “How’s Sophie?”
“She’s fine. In the car sleeping off some drugs, I believe. No break, just a strain.”
His dark brows bumped up. “Wow. I’m surprised. I thought for sure he broke her leg.”
Jess shook her head, shifting on her feet. The adrenalin was finally wearing off, and she was realizing how tired she was.
“Sit down, Jess,” he said, motioning her to a chair. It looked like one of those that reclined. Oh, that might be dangerous… the way her body was beginning to sag, she had no idea how long she could keep her eyes open.
“What did they tell you?” she asked, nodding toward his hand, not caring that it probably wasn’t really her business.
Paul sighed and went back to the bed, sitting down near Hope. He picked up what appeared to be an ice-pack. “I have severe bruising and a possible fracture, so I’m supposed to ice everything as much as possible. I also have seven stitches in my head. Two cracked ribs.”
Jess felt like she’d been struck. “Seriously?”
Paul scowled and she could see the pain lines in his face. “Yes. Not what I wanted to hear either, but there it is. You’re sure Hope is all right?”
He looked down at his daughter, and his eyes roved over her, looking for anything wrong.
“I think she’s fine. She has bruising on her right arm, but she says as soon as she screamed we were there. Sophie noticed him first and woke her.”
Paul looked at her, his tired blue eyes direct. “Thank you for saving my daughter.”
Jess shook her head. “I didn’t. You stopped the guy. I just heard him. He made some kind of noise outside, and I went back through the hallway to figure out what it was. That was when I heard Sophie bark. If anyone was a hero tonight, it was that little dog.”
Paul shook his head wryly. “You know, I didn’t even want the damn dog, but when I saw how happy it made her,” he nodded at Hope, “I couldn’t tell her no. I’m very glad I didn’t, now.”
“Sophie did good, Daddy,” Hope whispered, lifting her head.
Paul’s throat worked and Jess could see he was fighting emotion. “Yes, she did, baby girl. She earned her keep tonight.”
Hope maneuvered around until she was laying correctly on the bed. “Maybe you can lay beside me, Daddy. Then I know Viktor won’t get me.”
Paul’s eyes jerked to Jess, and she realized she needed to tell him about Hope’s suspicion. “She thinks it was one of Tara’s old boyfriends, Viktor.”
Paul scowled, looking down at the girl. “It doesn’t matter who it was, baby girl. I’ll protect you with everything in me. You hear me?”
Hope nodded, then seemed to sink into the mattress. Jess knew she was asleep. Her own eyes were heavy. It had been an incredibly long day. And the hospital was probably one of the safest places they could be.