Page 58 of Crossroads of Innocence
“You’re lucky the bullet missed the bone,” the doctor said. She stripped off a pair of latex gloves and tossed them in a nearby trashcan. “The wound will be sensitive for a few days. Try to stay off your feet as much as possible. If you have to walk, I suggest crutches or a cane to keep some weight off your injured leg. For now, lay down and let the medicine work its magic.”
Her calf throbbed despite the numbing cream, and she plopped back against the thin bed in the emergency room. She couldn’t care less about her leg. All she wanted was news of Wade, but he’d been rushed to surgery, and she was forced to sit in a room with a doctor she didn’t know and a police officer who she’d only met the day before.
“Thanks,” she said, throwing her forearm over her eyes to block out the lights blazing on her face. Exhaustion weighed her down and tears pressed against the backs of her eyes. “I just want to see Wade.”
“What about me instead? At least until Wade’s out of surgery and you can sit beside him.”
The sound of her mother’s voice broke loose a dam of emotions. She sat up tears falling freely over her face, and didn’t care one bit about the past or her conflicted feelings toward her mom or anything else. All she wanted was to be with someone who loved her, who could smooth back her hair and make her feel the tiniest bit better.
“I’m going to step outside and check on the crime scene,” Lincoln said. “You okay? Call me or Cruz if you need anything.”
Words caught in her throat, and she nodded.
Her mom took a tentative step inside, offering Lincoln a small smile before fixing her attention on Jude. She clasped her hands in front of her. “Can I come in?”
Again, she nodded.
Nicole rushed inside and engulfed Jude in a warm hug. She ran her palm over the back of Jude’s head and cooed reassuring words in her ear.
Jude clung to her mom, not realizing how badly she’d missed having her in her life. How much she needed her to step up and be there.
“I’m so sorry, baby,” Nicole said, pulling back to stare into Jude’s face. “My sweet, sweet girl. I should have been there for you the way you needed me to. I should have been stronger. Should have stood up in a louder way that you actually saw and heard, in a way that created change. Instead I played a part I was thrust into and didn’t know how to escape, and I let your father hurt you. I hurt you. I would take it all back if I could—do it all over.”
“I can’t sit here and say I’m not angry,” Jude said, weighing her words wisely. “Or that I can just forget everything and move forward with a clean slate. But I admit I don’t know your side, and I’d like to change that. Just not now. I don’t have it in me. All I want is to let my mama hold me and tell me everything’s going to be okay, whether you believe that or not. Because if I admit there’s any other way this could turn out, it’ll destroy me.”
“Scoot over.” Nicole waited for her to move a bit then slid onto the bed beside her. She shifted Jude’s head to her shoulder and held her close then kissed her forehead. “Everything’s going to be okay. Now just close your eyes and rest while you can.”
For the first time in as long as Jude she could remember, she closed her eyes and listened to her mother.
* * *
“Jude. Honey, wake up.”
The soft whispers of her mom floated to her, but she fought against the gentle request to open her eyes.
“Come on, Jude,” her mom continued. “Wade’s out of surgery.”
Her eyes flew open, her pulse spiking. Disoriented, she blinked and struggled to understand her surroundings. Only one thought—one name—echoed inside her.
Wade.
“Mom?” she asked, confused by the comforting presence of her mother lying beside her.
“I’m here, baby.” Nicole brushed a strand of hair off Jude’s forehead. “Take a second and get your bearings.”
The details of the day crashed against her, jolting her upright. “Is he okay? Can I see him?” She blurted the questions rapid fire as she stumbled over the side of the bed. A hot, angry pain shot up her leg, and she hissed out a breath.
Cruz maneuvered a chair to her side. “He’s just been taken to his own room. I can wheel you down.”
She nodded and fell into the chair, not even caring how long Cruz had been there or how he’d known where to find her.
Nicole swung her legs over the side of the bed and smoothed a hand over her blouse. “I’ll be in the waiting room. If you want me to be.”
She swallowed back tears. “I’d like that.”
Cruz pushed her out of the room and down the hall.
“Is he okay?” she asked.
