Page 82 of Far from Destined

The doctors had told me that he was allowed to come in for a short while, but then he would have to go. I needed to sleep and heal. And they didn’t want to traumatize him. I was all for making sure my baby was as safe as possible.

Macon came forward and gently placed Joshua on the bed. Joshua didn’t touch me. Instead, he just looked down at the blankets and then up.

“Hey, baby. I’m happy you’re okay.” My voice broke, but I did my best not to cry. He had already seen me broken. I didn’t want to scare him today. He had seen me cry before. But I never wanted him to think that crying or weakness was bad. However, after so much in one day, I didn’t want to overwhelm him either.

“Are you really here, Mommy?” Joshua asked.

This time, the tears did fall, and there was no holding them back or hiding them. Macon pushed my hair back from my face, and I looked up at him over Joshua’s head.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“Joshua, I think your mommy needs a hug. Gently, though.”

“I really do,” I said, looking down at my son.

He reached up and mimicked Macon’s move by brushing my hair back from my face and then wiped my tears with his little hand. I cried harder, and then he gently hugged me as if I were porcelain and then patted my shoulder.

“I love you, Mommy.”

“I love you, too, baby boy.”

“I’ll always be your baby.”

That got me. I cried harder and held him close while Macon ran his hands over my hair, and Joshua’s. After a few more minutes of tumultuous peace, I pulled back.

“You’re okay? I know the doctors told me you were fine. But talk to me, baby.”

“I’m okay. I was scared. But everybody’s been really nice, and they’re not going to let me be alone. I was really, really scared,” Joshua said, his little lip trembling.

He had pulled himself from the rope and had run towards his home. I had walked those trails with him in the forest before, and he had found his way back. He had saved himself in the end—my little boy, who was far too strong for his age. Had seen far too much.

And he would be very lucky if I ever let him out of my sight again once we got home.

Macon must’ve noticed my determination and gave me a tight nod. “Okay, now, Ms. Hazel and Cross are going to take you back to their place. They have the kittens there, too. And Momma Cat,” he added.

“I’m going to stay there?” Joshua asked.

“For now. Just for a bit. They’ll be with you all night. So will everybody else. It’s probably going to be very crowded, and there will likely be a lot of food. And cupcakes.”

“I like cupcakes,” Joshua said solemnly. He looked up at my face. “What about you, Mommy?”

“I need to stay here for the night, just so the doctors can keep an eye on me and make sure I’m okay.”

“I saw a lot of blood. I don’t like blood.”

I swallowed hard, my hand convulsing at my side. Thankfully, he couldn’t see. “I don’t like blood, either. But I’m going to be just fine. I might have to walk on crutches or use a cane for a little while, but that won’t be scary.”

“Mr. Peanut uses a cane.”

That made me snort. “He does. I didn’t realize you knew Mr. Peanut.”

“That’s what Macon and Nate were talking about. I don’t know. I just remember that I like peanuts.”

I held back a laugh, wondering how I could even laugh at a time like this. “Well, that’s good, baby. I love you.”

“I love you, too, Mommy.” He kissed my cheek before giving Macon a careful look and then looking back at me. “And I love Macon, too. We already talked about being a family, so if you can make that happen, that would be great.” He scrambled off the bed as I blinked down at him. I saw Cross at the door, his eyes wide. He leaned down and picked Joshua up, giving Macon a nod.

“On that note, I’m going to leave the two of you alone.”