Page 24 of Saved by Him

Twelve

If I’d let him,Jalen would have stayed with me all night. He could’ve charmed the nurses into not enforcing visiting hours, even if he hadn’t been the sort of donor to the hospital that allowed rules to be stretched for him. I’d asked him to go though. I’d told him that it’d be easier for me to rest if he wasn’t there, but in truth, I couldn’t come to grips with what I’d been through if he was there, filling me with all sorts of other questions and concerns.

I walked away from him that day because I needed to figure out how our lives would fit together with Elise and a baby.Ifthey could fit together.

But I never had that chance. Before I could even move beyond shock, I’d been kidnapped. Now, I was stuck with two huge things I had to deal with, and no idea where to begin.

Finally, I had to admit to myself that I needed to talk to someone about all of this because I couldn’t figure it out on my own. Fortunately, I knew someone who had the sort of background that would make her understand where I was coming from like no one else could.

When I woke up the next morning to discuss my release, there was only one person I wanted to call.

“You still look like shit,” Jenna announced as she walked into my hospital room. “I guess that means, you’re only human after all. The way Jalen went on about you all the time, I half expected you’d end up being a superhero or something. Like mild-mannered PI reveals that she is actually an alien crime fighter.”

I laughed, rubbing the bandages where my IV had been. “I’m pretty sure this would be the worst secret identity ever.”

Jenna smiled and raised an eyebrow. “Have you gotten the all clear yet? Because I don’t know about you, but I really hate hospitals.”

I stood as a nursing aid rolled a wheelchair through the door, holding onto the bedrail for support. “I’m good to go.”

I was settled in the passenger seat of her car before she brought up the subject I knew had been on her mind from the moment I called her. She was more patient than I’d given her credit for.

“Are we going to talk about the elephant in the room? Or, I suppose I should say, the elephantnotin the room.” Jenna cut me a sideways glance as she pulled out of the hospital parking lot. “I specifically remember being told someone else was going to take you home today.”

The bright sun reflecting from the snow hurt my eyes, and I shaded them with my hand. “Did Jalen tell you about what happened the day I was kidnapped? Why I was outside waiting for a car, I mean?”

“All he said was that the two of you had been having a discussion and you needed some space.”

“I want to talk to you about everything that happened,” I said, “but there’s something you need to know first, and trust me, you’re going to need some time to process. So if you could drop me off at home, I’ll tell you what you need to know, and then I’ll come by tomorrow, and we can talk.”

Jenna agreed, then she drove the rest of the way without a word. It was nice to just listen to music without having to think about anything. It didn’t last long, because before I knew it, we were pulling up in front of my building. I hadn’t given much thought to how much it had snowed while I’d been held prisoner, but seeing the unmarked snow piled in front of my office store, it really hit me how long I’d been gone.

I knew all too well the sort of tricks time could play with a person’s head. Racing along one moment, dragging the next. In some ways, it felt like I had just been here yesterday, but in others, I felt as if I’d been gone for decades.

“Alright,” Jenna said, “what’s this big secret you think I’m going to need a whole day to process?”

I was too tired to ease her into it, so I just stated it flat out, “Elise is pregnant. She says Jalen is the father. According to Jalen, it is actually a possibility.”

Jenna’s eyes widened, and her mouth opened, but no sound came out. I had to admit, her being speechless wasn’t something I ever thought I’d see.

“Well, I definitely didn’t seethatcoming.” She gave me a close look. “Is this the sort of thing where the girl code requires I offer to cut off his balls? Because I don’t have a problem with castration. In fact, I can turn them into a nice keychain for you if you want.”

I gave her a thin smile. “Thank you for the offer, but he didn’t cheat on me. They hooked up before he and I ever met. What I would like is to have breakfast with you tomorrow and talk about everything that happened in the past week and a half.”

“Are we talking sounding board or serious life advice?”

I snorted a sound that was part bemused, part sad, and part sarcastic. “Right now, I’d be happy if my head didn’t feel like it was going to explode.”

“You can come by whenever you’re ready,” Jenna said. “No invitation necessary.”

I thanked her, relief flooding my body. I’d known that if anyone could understand what I needed, it would be Jenna. I got out of the car and made my way to my steps, pleasantly surprised to find them brushed clean. A long hot soak in the tub, a mug of hot cocoa, and a good book were just what the doctor ordered. Everything else could wait until tomorrow.

* * *

“It’s amazinghow far a shower and a good night’s sleep goes toward making a person feel human,” I said as I followed Jenna from the doorway into the kitchen. “Are the kids with Suzette again?”

“With Zeke, actually,” she said. “After they got home last night, Diana broke down in tears because they hadn’t gotten anything for Suzette since she’d been with them. Rylan called Zeke, and now he’s taking the kids for shopping day number two. He promised them ice skating and cocoa too, so they’ll be gone a while.”

She poured us each some coffee, then glanced at me. “Do you need something a bit stronger mixed in?”

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