Page 111 of Accepting Fate

The radio crackles and Landon’s voice comes through the speaker. "It’s go time. Lo, this will be fairly easy. Wes is going to come sit in the truck with you while the rest of us go up to the house. Gray will bring the little one to you but if we need you up there, Wes will bring you up after we secure the lady and check for accomplices. Hopefully we don’t need to do that, but I want to give you a heads up. Everything else is good to go. Wes is heading over now.”

Gray turns to me. "Listen to Wes. Be safe. I love you.”

"I love you, too.” A smile spreads across his face and he gives me a quick kiss and jumps out of the truck. Wes takes his place, and we watch the boys walk into the woods towards the house.

I don’t take my eyes off the dark driveway and my panic finally starts to rear its ugly head. I was so distracted by Grayson and finally telling him how I truly felt, I didn’t let myself process the current situation.

My hands start shaking and my shoulders start rising up and down as my breathing increases rapidly. I jump when I feel something grab my hand. I look down to see Wes’s hand holding mine. I snap my head up to him and see him looking out the window.

"He will be fine.” Wes’ deep growling voice fills the silence. "And so will you. He wouldn’t have agreed if he didn’t believe you could do it.”

I need him to keep talking. I can’t have a full-blown panic attack in front of Grayson’s brother. I may have gotten to know Wes more throughout the months, but I don’t want him to see me like this.

I feel my chest tighten and I squeeze Wes’ hand hard. Taking a deep breath, I visualize the air moving in and out of my lungs.

I’m safe. Grayson is safe. Nothing is going to happen.

"He says you’re the strongest person he knows,” Wes adds softly. "Grayson has only said that about one person.”

Between breaths, I ask, "Who?”

Wes turns to look at me. "Our mom.”

He doesn’t explain further and turns back to watch the driveway.

I keep trying my breathing techniques and squeezing Wes’ hand.

After a few minutes. I start to calm down and release my hold on him. Bringing the collar of Grayson’s sweatshirt I’m wearing to my nose, I take a deep breath, inhaling his scent. I wish he was with me, but this helps.

Wes isn’t much of a talker, even though we have had a few short conversations about some of the medical conundrums we have encountered throughout our careers. I was shocked that he wasn’t just a pilot but an EMT too.

Almost thirty minutes later, I see a figure walking down the driveway. Wesley sits up in the chair and goes rigid. Then I recognize the shadow. It’s Grayson and he’s holding a very small little boy against his chest. I go to jump out, but Wes stops me and tells me to wait.

He gets out and stays by the truck. I can’t hear what they say but as Gray reaches the road, Wes turns around and waves me out.

I burst out of the car and meet Grayson in the middle of the road.

When I catch sight of the little boy, tears fill my eyes.

The little boy looks really good and I’m shocked. He doesn’t look like he is underweight or anything, from what I can tell by how Grayson is holding him.

"Ryan, this is Logan. She is the sweet lady that’s going to help you,” Grayson says softly.

Grayson looks down at me and gives me a small smile. Relief is clear between the both of us and I know we are both thinking this could have been way worse.

"Hi Ryan. I’m Logan. Would it be okay if we went to sit in Grayson’s big cool truck?”

He doesn’t budge. I know this situation must be very scary for him. Three guys randomly coming in the middle of the night and taking him away from his mom is not something that happens every day.

I silently ask Gray, "How old is he?”

"Five.”

"Ryan. I promise we are going to help you. If we can get you to the truck, I can put on Paw Patrol.”

That gets his attention, and he lifts his head off Grayson. He looks down at me and I quickly scan his face. His red hair is long and sticking up in all directions, looking like he just woke up.

From what I can see in the lighting from Grayson’s flashlight, I can’t see anything wrong; he looks great. I can’t tell if there’s anything going on internally but as of right now, he looks to be a very healthy five-year-old.