Page 55 of Lost in You

“Mom, she’s awake.”

When I turn toward the voice, Dalton is sitting there, one of my hands cradled in both of his.

“Dalton.”

My eyes fill with tears. His hair is a little shorter and he has the shadow of a couple days’ beard growth, but otherwise he looks the same.

“Oh, my girl.” Our mom walks up to the other side of the bed, tears on her cheeks.

There’s a lot more gray in her hair than I remember. Her face, which was lean before, is now almost sunken, dark circles beneath her eyes.

I reach out to her. “Mom, are you okay?”

She smiles at me, fresh tears flooding her eyes. “Of course I am. Now that I know you’re okay, I’m just fine.”

She picks up a cup of water with a straw in it from the table next to my bed, holding it in front of my mouth so I can take a drink.

“Where am I?”

Dalton answers. “A hospital in Seattle.”

I have no idea what day it is. Skyler Cross’s team called for rescuers, and Lincoln and I were taken from the cabin to Fairbanks by a team of paramedics on snowmobiles. We were evaluated at a hospital in Fairbanks, where we got the bad news that we couldn’t drive to our homes because we didn’t have passports to get through Canada. There was no choice but to fly on a plane.

That was when I started to melt down inside from my anxiety, and it’s also when Lincoln gently asked me if I wanted medication to make things easier.

I asked to be sedated for the flight if possible, and it seems that the rescue team understood the assignment. I have no memory of even seeing a plane. Was I even on one?

“Did I come here on a plane?” I croak.

My brother smiles at me. “Yep. Linc said you only woke up a little bit one time. And you’re doing fine, just getting some nutrients in the IV. When you get released, Mom will drive you back to Chicago in a rental car.”

I just stare at him, still feeling woozy. “Where’s Linc?”

“He’s here in another room. They’re working on his release paperwork. Unfortunately, I can’t be here much longer because he and I have to get back to the team.”

My eyes widen with alarm. Lincoln is leaving? And his team expects him to go play hockey?

“How long have I been out?”

Dalton checks his watch. “You got here a couple of hours ago. So not that long.”

“So...you and Linc are going to play a game.”

He grins. “Well, I will. It’s a little more complicated for Linc because he’s not on our roster right now. But our coaches and owner want him back so our doctors can take a look at him.”

I let my head fall back against the pillow. Everything happened so quickly, and then I was asleep for the rest of it. I still can’t believe we’ve been rescued and we don’t have to hike into the unknown.

“Is Karma okay?”

Mom pats my arm reassuringly. “She’s fine. I took her to live with me after the plane crash. She shredded every curtain in my house.”

I crack a smile. “Sorry. You know what they say about Karma.”

She shrugs. “We have an understanding.”

Dalton grins at her. “Meaning she doesn’t have any curtains anymore, just blinds.”

A nurse carries a huge box into the room and sets it on a chair. “Glad to see you up, Trinity. I’m going to check your vitals.”

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