Page 110 of Left Behind

And then Wiley saw the little girl asleep in the bed behind them and immediately thought of Ava.

“Who’s your little friend?” he asked.

“Her name is Crystal. Oh my God, Wiley. Oh my God,” she whispered, and hugged him again.

“I know. I’ve never been so scared,” Wiley said. “Losing you wasn’t an option. I’m sorry, baby, but I’ve got to go. We’re still in cleanup mode.”

Linette nodded. “Understood, and thank you for that text. It was a lifesaver for all of us. See you at home later.”

“Absolutely,” he said, and went to tend to business.

The relief of confirming that no one had been injured on the third floor from Terry’s random shots was huge. The wounded security officer was in the operating room getting a bullet dug out of his arm. They found one deceased ambulance driver in the ambulance bay and two wounded visitors hiding in an elevator.

It was late in the day by the time everyone was accounted for and then, for the cops, the paperwork began.

Linette got off work before Wiley and went by to pick Ava up. Seeing that sweet little face as she picked her up was all the medicine Linette needed. She and Wiley had lived to fight another day, and then had the gift of coming home to her.

“Did you have the best day ever with Dani?” Linette asked.

“Oh, yes! We made cookies to take home and I read a new book. We played outside and we watered the flowers. I played in the sprinkler and my swimming pool.”

Linette glanced at Dani and saw the level of fear she’d hidden from Ava while worrying about her own husband and family, in the midst of today’s chaos.

“Go get your backpack and we’ll head home,” Linette said and put Ava down.

She took off running, and as she did, Dani reached for Linette and held her close.

“I was so scared for all of you,” she whispered. “Was it bad?”

Linette nodded. “They caught him on our floor. He was shooting into the doors of patients’ rooms as he ran down the hall.”

“Aaron said that Wiley caught him.”

Linette nodded. “In a flying tackle, stopping him one door away from me and my ten-year-old patient. I’m still having nightmares about the bank robbery.”

Dani saw tears in Linette’s eyes and hugged her again.

“I said prayers. We love you. You are the best thing that could have ever happened to Wiley and Ava. I hope you know that,” Dani said.

Linette sighed. “They’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

And then Ava came running back. “I’m ready!”

Dani handed Linette the sack of cookies on the hall table as she walked them to the door.

“Ava helped cut out the dough and decorated every one of these herself,” Dani said.

Ava beamed. “All by myself. Dani did the oven. I’m not old enough for the oven.”

“Amazing,” Linette said. “How did Bubba and I get so lucky?”

Ava reached for Linette’s hand. “’Cause Corina’s an ass,” she announced, and led the way out the door.

Linette could hear Dani laughing as she shut the door, and rolled her eyes. She could almost hear those words coming out of Wiley’s mouth. This tiny blond and her black-haired wild man were two peas in a pod. She couldn’t wait to get home. Love and sanctuary awaited.

That night, after their supper was over, Linette was in their bed in her pajamas watching TV, with Ava tucked up beside her. Wiley came out of the bathroom, fresh from his shower, and saw them sitting side by side, their gazes glued to the screen. After the drama of the day, and the fear he’d had that something would happen to Linette before he could find her, the sight of such a simple scene was a gut punch. Then she looked up.

“We’re saving you a seat,” she said.

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