Page 22 of Take Me to the Valley

“Me too, but Skye will be so scared. Plus, my mom will need help. Can you picture my brothers being in charge of a seven-year-old for more than a few hours? She'd live on cake and ice cream and never sleep!” I laugh.

This makes Kaylee laugh, which encourages me.

“I guess I can let you go for a good cause,” she says, hugs me again, and helps me pack my bag.

After we chatted for a while, I couldn't stall anymore and go to my parents’ house. It’s already been a long day, and I am ready to sleep, but there is a little girl who will need a lot of comfort tonight.

Chapter 11

Evan

Ireally hope the hospital plans to let me go soon because it wasn't so bad here on the first day. On day two, I started to really miss my daughter, and the video calls weren't helping. But now, here’s day three, and it's the longest she and I have been apart. I am more than ready to go.

Cody hasn't left my side, and I am so grateful for it. I can't imagine being left here alone with my own thoughts. But even with his company, I'm still going a bit stir-crazy, so when Rick walks in the door, I am relieved, to say the least. Now, I can find out what is going on with Calvin's case.

“I'm going to head out and get some non-hospital food and let you guys talk. I'll smuggle you some food back in.” Cody stands and shakes Rick's hand.

“I'll stay with him until you get back,” Rick says, and Cody nods.

We watch Cody go before Rick turns to me.

“How are you feeling?” he asks.

“Like I've been shot and stuck in a hospital for days on end.” I give my standard reply, but he sees right through it.

“How are you really”? He asks, pulling up the chair.

“Well, I miss my daughter, and I'm ready to get out of here. While I hate the pain meds I'm on and how they make me feel not like myself, but I hate the pain when I don't take them.” I give myself full honesty. He was there when it happened. I owe him at least that.

"Yeah,” he says. “I had my appendix removed, and I hated the IV pain meds, but the pills they gave me when I went home didn't make me feel doped up. So, I hope that's the case with you, too.”

“Let's hope. What is going on with Calvin's case?” I ask.

“They are still going through the house.”

“What? Why is it taking so long, and where is Kaylee staying?”

“Well, you were shot with an illegal weapon. Her house was being used as a place to sell drugs, yet we have found nothing. Kaylee is staying at Calista's place while Calista is staying at her parents’ helping with Skye.”

“Calvin did a stupid thing, but he's smart. Did you get a warrant to check his place?” I ask.

“Yes, that took longer than it should have. Once you were shot, everything stopped until we knew you were okay. Right now, the guys are over there searching his house, but I haven't heard any updates.”

“I still don’t understand why they are so fixated on Kaylee's place if they didn't find anything,” I wonder out loud. What am I missing? Are the drugs making things too hazy?

“Well, think about it,” Rick says. “Everyone has cameras these days, fancy doorbells, or security measures. She didn't. Why? Also, you are telling me that with all the strangers in and out, she noticed nothing? Some of the guys think she is hiding something. I don't know if she is anything other than too trusting. It’s not clear.”

“Or it’s all too much and something will come to her later. Hopefully, something shows up at Calvin's place to figure out who his supplier is.” I say as Cody comes back in.

“Shop talk over?” he asks, pulling a fast food bag out of his jacket and setting it on the table beside my bed.

“I'll let you eat. Let us know when you break free of this place. You know the Chief has been calling this guy a few times a day for updates. Everyone wants to check on you,” Rick says, pointing to Cody and then awkwardly shakes my hand.

Once Rick leaves, Cody takes the chair next to my bed. “I talked with Mom, and Skye really wants to come see you tomorrow after school. Mom wanted to know if you were in regular clothes, if everything would be hidden, and if it would be okay for Skye to come up,” Cody asks.

I hate for Skye to see me like this, but fuck do I miss her.

“We can unhook the IV for up to an hour so she won't see all the tubes,” my nurse says.

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