Page 23 of Fractured Reunion

“Okay, let’s go.” She helped him into a sitting position, then stood and picked him up from the bed and set him on his feet. During the night, she’d carried him to the bathroom, but now she said, “You know where it is.”

He nodded and walked under his own power while she brought the IV pole along. If all went well, the catheter would be removed later that day after his last antibiotic infusion.

Maybe she should feel guilty over the way she’d played up Joey’s illness with Officer Thomas, but she didn’t. In less than twenty-four hours, the child had lost his mother and had undergone abdominal surgery. Two major life events that were more than enough for the little boy to deal with for now.

Adding a father he’d never met would not help his healing. If anything, she felt certain the little boy would suffer a setback at the thought of being placed with a stranger.

“Hurts,” he said, pressing a hand to his side.

“I know.” She glanced at her watch, expecting the nurse to arrive with more pain medication any minute. “When you’re finished here, I’ll check with the nurse.”

After going to the bathroom, he frowned, shooting her a resigned look when she made him wash his hands. By the time she had him up in the bed, his nurse had arrived.

The rest of the morning passed slowly. At least for her. She’d been given a small paper box called a parent pack from the nursing staff. Inside, she’d found basic toiletries, which had enabled her to wash up and brush her teeth without having to return to the hotel. The nursing staff had treated her with a sweet respect, even though they must have known she wasn’t Joey’s guardian.

Things could have been worse. Yet as much as she intended to stick to Joey like glue, lying stretched out on the hospital bed with the little boy and watching animated movies gave her far too much time to think.

About Aaron. Their failed marriage. And their all-too-civilized divorce.

Odd really, how easily Aaron had given in to her request to separate. At the time, she figured he’d fully intended to move on with some other woman who could give him the six Monroe kids he’d wanted, but he hadn’t.

Maybe he was more married to his career than she’d realized. After all, the way he was constantly texting with the residents during their time off work had been incredibly annoying.

It didn’t matter, so why was she ruminating over those last few fateful weeks in her mind?

Because seeing Aaron again after two years had reminded her of the good times they’d shared, more so than the bad times.

She still couldn’t quite figure out why Aaron was still single. Or so she assumed since he hadn’t mentioned he was seeing anyone.

Just like she wasn’t seeing anyone either.

Would Aaron come and find her when he heard from his brother Alec? She knew without hesitation he would. And thinking of Alec made her wonder how the rest of his family was doing. Tragic to hear how Andrea had lost her husband, but knowing the others were all married was interesting. She had no doubt they were all starting families of their own.

A family she and Aaron could never have.

Enough. There was no point in thinking about what might have been. Better to stay focused on why God had put her outside the Pfister Hotel as the truck had plowed into the bus.

If not for that, she wouldn’t be sitting here with Joey now. Contemplating how she could finagle a way to become his temporary, then permanent guardian.

Rather than his father. The thought made her wince. Did she really think she was that much better than Oliver Chism?

Yeah, she did. But that wasn’t fair. It was entirely possible the guy hadn’t known about Joey. His mother may have decided to keep him a secret.

But then why list him on the birth certificate?

Thinking about Oliver Chism made her head hurt.

“Dr. Dall?” A pretty woman poked her head into the room. “I’m Eloise from social services. I understand you requested a consult?”

“Yes.” She glanced down to see Joey was still awake, albeit focused on the television screen. “I need to talk to Eloise for a few minutes, okay?”

“’Kay,” Joey said with a yawn. Clearly the pain meds were keeping him mellow.

She slipped from the bed and stretched before moving toward the door. She was not accustomed to sitting around all day, and her muscles were starting to scream in protest. She stepped out into the hall so Joey wouldn’t overhear.

“I understand you’re interested in becoming a foster parent for Joseph Johnson,” Eloise said.

“Yes, I am.” She had asked for this meeting yesterday, before she’d known about Oliver Chism being Joey’s biological father. Still, she wasn’t about to simply hand the child over without a fight. Or at least knowing Oliver would treat the boy well. “I was hoping you could help me navigate the process.”

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