Page 15 of Fractured Reunion

Tension shimmered off Aaron as he drove her toward the hotel located within walking distance of Children’s Memorial Hospital. Maggie was just as eager to put distance between them. The moment he pulled up the drive to park in front of the double doors leading to the lobby, she jumped out of the car.

“Thanks for the ride. I’ll find out about Joey’s room when I get back to the hospital. Take care.” She hoped her smile didn’t look as forced as it felt.

“I’ll give you a ride,” he offered.

“No thanks. You said walking distance. And that works out well for me.” She slammed her door, went around to grab her suitcase from the back, then hurried inside.

She really should have insisted on taking a rideshare, she thought as she smiled at the hotel clerk. She didn’t have to talk to Aaron’s brother to find out about the foster care process. She was confident the social worker would have all the information she needed.

“Three days?” the clerk asked.

“Yes, please. It may be longer, depending on how things go,” she said.

“I understand.” The woman’s gaze was sympathetic, making Maggie realize that many people stayed here to be near their sick loved ones. “Extending your stay won’t be a problem.”

“Thank you.” Maggie tucked her credit card back into her bag, grabbed the room key, and turned away. Her intent was to dump her suitcase in her room and head directly back to the hospital.

Yet she needed to slow down, to make the proper arrangements with Johns Hopkins. Other patients depended on her too. As did her colleagues.

Joey would be in surgery for at least an hour, likely longer. Then he’d spent time in the post-anesthesia care unit for another hour. She could probably convince Kyle to let her see Joey in the PACU, but there was no reason to rush back to Children’s Memorial. She needed to take a few minutes to adapt her travel plans.

Her stomach growled with hunger as she dealt with the airline and her boss at Hopkins. She changed into a comfortable pair of jeans and a sweater, the clothes she’d planned to wear home on the plane and headed outside. She’d grab a bite to eat in the cafeteria, then find Joey’s room number.

Was she crazy to rearrange her life for the little boy? Just remembering how he clung to her made her heart ache. No, she wasn’t crazy. That child needed her.

And if she were honest, she’d admit she needed him too.

The two years since leaving Aaron had been more difficult than she could have imagined. Initially, she’d thrown herself into her work, taking on additional call shifts for trauma cases just to prolong the moment she returned to her empty condo. Then she’d tried to get back out there, but after two disastrous dates, she realized she wasn’t ready. It didn’t help that every man she met wasn’t nearly as attractive as Aaron. Or as accomplished as Aaron.

Or as sweet as Aaron.

Giving up on a social life, she’d gone back to concentrating on her professional life. But even that hadn’t helped. Her days were nothing but work, eat, sleep, and work again. Even the job she normally loved didn’t seem important anymore.

She’d wanted to have a baby so badly. Accepting that wasn’t an option for her had not been easy.

Now there was a motherless little boy that needed her support. She quickened her pace to reach the hospital. After entering the building, she was able to find the cafeteria easily enough.

And abruptly stopped when she saw Aaron seated at a table. He was alone, his gaze locking on hers.

Why hadn’t she considered he’d be in here eating a late lunch or early dinner too? Swallowing a groan, she gave him a nod as she headed over to see what looked good.

After paying for her grilled chicken and fries, she saw Aaron waving her over. Hiding a grimace, she crossed over to join him.

“Joey is doing well,” he said by way of greeting. “Kyle has drained the hematoma and is doing a washout of his abdomen now. The antibiotics appear to be working.”

“That’s great news,” she said, munching on a french fry. “How long before he hits the PACU?”

“Thirty minutes, give or take a few.” Aaron looked down at his phone. “Joey’s been admitted to room 721 on seven south, that’s generally where kids his age are cared for.”

She made a mental note of the room number as she picked up her grilled chicken sandwich. “You didn’t have to stay here for me. I know my way around a hospital.”

He shrugged. “I missed lunch too.”

Had he chosen to eat in the cafeteria hoping to see her? And why was he being so nice and supportive now?

Honestly, she would have preferred eating alone.

Reminding herself that Aaron had gone out of his way to get an update on Joey and to get his room number, she told herself to relax. “I was thinking of calling Officer Thomas to see if he has found any of Joey’s family members yet.”

---