Page 14 of Found By You
“I don’t know why we’re even having a party,” I grumbled.
My mother frowned at me. “He’s turning thirty.” She turned to the woman.
The woman looked me up and down; her gaze was a physical thing I could feel against my skin. It was weird. I didn’t know if she wanted to say I looked old or I looked young. I couldn’t really tell how old she was. She was probably around my age, although she did look younger with that smooth skin and those wide, haunted eyes.
My brain cranked up a notch. Was she married? Did she have a boyfriend? Was she running from someone? The questions crowded my throat, but I hesitated, holding them back. She clearly didn’t have answers to them.
She smiled, a genuine expression that transformed her face. “Well, happy birthday.”
I nodded. This whole thing was so confusing, like trying to read a book with half the pages missing. “Thank you.”
Dr. Chavez walked in, the door swinging wide, and he looked around at us before eyeing the woman. He turned to me. “So I guess you’re taking her. I’m releasing her intoyourcustody.”
I nodded, the weight of responsibility settling on my shoulders. “Yeah.”
We filled out some paperwork, the scratching of pens on forms the only sound for several minutes, and then we were all walking out of the hospital together.
The automatic doors whooshed open, releasing us into the warm afternoon sunshine that seemed too cheerful for the uncertainty we carried.
I hesitated on the sidewalk, keys jangling in my hand.
My mother said, “Okay, well, she can come with us while you finish your shift, and then you can pick her up, and you and Kayla can go have dinner with her.”
The woman seemed uncertain about who to go with, her gaze darting between us like a cornered animal looking for escape.
I hesitated, my decision crystallizing. “Hold up.” I picked up my phone and called Damon.
He answered on the first ring. “Yeah?” His voice was distracted; background noise suggested he was multitasking.
I explained the situation and said, “Can I take off now and then just go to the high school to do extra security?”
It sounded like he was scrambling around his office, papers rustling, and then he cursed and said, “Right, I have to go finish packing and get everything ready for tonight, don’t I?” He let out a light laugh that echoed through the phone. “I’m glad you called, or Isla would kill me. Okay, look, we don’t need you right now. Yes, why don’t you take off and get her settled, and then you can do security tonight at the high school.”
“Okay, sounds good.” I got off the phone and turned to all of them. “She’s going to come with me. I don’t have to report until tonight at the high school.”
For an awkward moment, no one moved.
Then my mother gave her a light hug. “Okay, well, I’ll see you tomorrow evening, for sure. I mean, we’ll be back from camping.”
Kayla hesitated. She gave me a look and cocked an eyebrow, a silent question in her expression. “So you don’t want me to come with you guys now?”
I waved a hand through the air. “I’ll drop her off with you later.”
Kayla nodded, then leaned in and gave the woman a hug, their shadows merging on the concrete. She paused, pulling back slightly. “So this might seem like a brash question, but what would you like us to call you?”
The woman looked confused and then laughed. “I guess …” She turned to me, uncertainty clouding her expression. “What was on that slip of paper?”
“Oh, I guess I should just tell you now. It was a name that you used to rent the car, but they can’t find any trace of it, so it’s probably fake.”
Her mouth gaped open, the color draining from her face. “So I gave them a fake name?”
I nodded, watching her process this new piece of the puzzle.
My mother and Kayla looked concerned.
The woman swallowed hard, and then she shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to do this.” Her voice cracked.
I wanted to pull her in, to offer comfort, but I felt like it was too soon.
