Page 28 of Crossroads of Innocence
Cruz shook his head. “No. I told your dad to go to the waiting room with the rest of your family. Brandon thought you’d want some time with Matthew on your own.”
Jude finally cracked a small smile.
Appreciation tightened Wade’s chest. He didn’t know Brandon well, but he’d always liked the guy. After giving so much consideration to Jude, he just went up a few notches in his book.
“I’ll walk with you, if that’s okay?” Cruz asked.
“Yes, I’d appreciate that,” Jude said.
Wade took hold of her hand and walked beside her as they followed Cruz down the hall. He kept her close, staying on the lookout for any possible threats. Staff hurried passed him, and clusters of visitors gathered by open doors. The familiar punch of bleach and sickness tightened his grip on Jude. Her demons might be the ones waiting to attack, but his own lingered in the shadows. And being in the hospital where he’d spent way too much time recently brought them a step closer to the light.
“Hey, Wade. How’s your mom?” Dr. Bailey, his mom’s primary care physician, waved from beside the nurses’ station, as if he’d conjured her with his thoughts.
“Hiya, Doc. She’s good.” He tucked his lips and dipped his chin before turning in the opposite direction.
He cast Jude a quick glance, but she kept her head down and didn’t appear to register the greeting by the doctor who knew his mom way too well.
Cruz stopped beside a closed door. “Here we are. I’ll wait outside for you to finish then walk you back to your vehicle.”
She hovered her fist an inch from the door then glanced up at Wade. “Will you come in with me?”
“Whatever you want.”
She knocked.
The door swept open. Brandon stood just inside the room, worry aging him years since the last time Wade had seen him.
A sob broke from his lips and he gathered Jude into a hug, breaking Wade’s connection to her. “It’s so good to see you.”
“I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry,” Jude stammered.
Brandon pulled back and wiped her face with the pad of his thumb. “You haven’t done anything wrong, and Matthew will be so damn happy to see you. He’s going to be fine. Doctors expect a full recovery. He’s still asleep, but talk to him. Let him know you’re here. Give him something to look forward to.”
She nodded. “I will.”
“I’ll head out to talk to your parents. Give them an update. That should give you a few minutes alone.”
“Thank you.”
Brandon and Cruz left the room together, Brandon disappearing down the hall while Cruz stood just outside the room with his back to them.
Jude recaptured Wade’s hand and drew in a shuddering breath.
Beeping machines and fluorescent lights filled the space. He stepped beside Jude, approaching the bed.
“Oh my God,” she said and covered her mouth.
Wade swallowed hard. Bruises and swelling covered Matthew’s face, making it almost impossible to recognize him. An IV pumped bags of medicine into his body. A cast swallowed his left arm.
Jude dropped her palm from her mouth and covered Matthew’s arm. “I’m here, big brother. I’ll be here whenever you wake up. I’m not going anywhere.”
The statement was like balm to Wade’s soul, but he couldn’t read too much into it. He couldn’t count on Jude staying in town.
“Wade?” she asked, her gaze fixed on her brother.
“Yes?”
“Tell Cruz I’ll speak with anyone he needs me to. Do anything I can to catch the bastard who did this. This asshole needs to pay.”
