Page 27 of In Hiding

“You have no idea,” was all he could say before he took another gulp of the intense coffee. “But it’s over. He’s in prison, now. He can’t hurt anyone else.”

Damien rounded the row of seats to come and sit beside him. He studied Will’s sleeping form. “I admit, when Julie told me you were here, I made a phone call or two. It would appear Walters’s legacy has been nothing but a nightmare for you.”

“I was ripe for the picking. Angry and full of rage, thanks to you. I wanted revenge and it gave him a foothold. The rest?” Jake sighed and leaned back. “Well, I’m as much to blame as anyone. I take full responsibility for all the shit I’ve done.”

“I know.”

The certainty in Damien’s voice caught his attention. “What does that mean?”

The old man smiled. “I made a phone call or two. That’s all.”

“Look, with all due respect, I don’t need your help. I don’t want it. I’m capable of—”

Damien held up a hand. “I know. You don’t need me, but if you happen to require anything, I’m only a phone call away. The Crossing is my home, Jake, and I do all I can for the residents here. Including those who don’t like me,” he winked before his attention focused on something behind Jake.

Turning, he found a tall blond woman in hospital scrubs headed his way. Her pale blue eyes sparkled, and her warm smile sent a wave of relief powering through his veins. She glanced at Damien, her eyes narrowing in question, but by the time she stood a foot away, her focus was solely on Jake.

“She’s out of surgery and resting.”

“Will she be okay?”

The surgeon glanced beyond him to the sleeping teen. “It’s going to be a long recovery. Her leg sustained quite extensive injuries and she lost a lot of blood. As a result of her previous injuries, she has no spleen and that leaves her immune system compromised.” She leaned forward. “An infection would risk her life. How is he holding up?”

Jake glanced at Will. “He’s worried and he feels guilty.”

“You both can stay here tonight. We have some spare beds.”

“Can we see her?”

Her expression grew serious. “She needs her rest.”

Jake glanced at Will. “He thinks he’s responsible for this. Even if he can just look in on her while she sleeps.”

“Stevie,” Damien warned softly. “Let the boy see his mother. Put his mind at ease.”

She frowned at her father. “My husband’s right. You’re turning into an old softie with age,” she admonished with a smile. To Jake, she said, “Just for a minute.”

Thankful for her understanding, he went to Will’s side and gently shook his shoulder. “Wake up, Will.”

The kid roused, his sleepy eyes confused at first before landing on Jake and waking fully. “Mama?”

He smiled. “She’s okay. We can go see her, but she’s still asleep.”

The kid nodded, then looked up at the doctor. “Thank you.”

She held out a hand. “I’m Dr. McQueen.” She eyed Jake with a cheeky grin. “But you can call me Stevie. Come on, let’s go see your mum.”

Will pushed up out of the chair, handing the blanket to Jake. He watched them go, balling the material in his hands. “That’s your daughter?”

Damien nodded. “We call her the hurricane. Don’t mess with her.”

Like father, like daughter. Jake smiled and followed, leaving the puddled blanket at the nurses’ station. They went through a pair of double doors that had been propped open, the smell of disinfectant and bleach stinging his nose. Stevie walked with an arm over Will’s shoulders, her mouth close to his ear as she spoke, leading them to a room nearby. She stopped them at the open door.

“She’s resting,” she explained. “She lost a lot of blood, but we were able to stabilize her and remove the branch. She’s going to need your help. You’ll probably have to do most of the chores over the next few weeks.”

“I made her fall,” Will whispered.

“No, sweetheart, you didn’t,” Stevie assured in a soothing voice. “It was an accident, and sometimes, they happen. You didn’t do this to her.”

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