by Alana Terry
“Okay, officer.”
He leaned down and smiled at her. “Hey, you know what? After all we’ve been through together, you don’t have to call me officer. You can just call me Ben.”
“That’s Mister Ben,” Jade added more sternly than she needed to. She turned to him and softened her voice. “Thanks again for all you’ve done.”
“Hey, no problem. That’s what I’m here for.” He dusted off the front of his perfectly pressed uniform in a gesture that was surprisingly endearing.
Jade tried to figure out what else she could tell the man who helped save her and her daughter’s life. “How are you getting back to Glennallen?” It wasn’t quite what she meant to say, but at least it was something.
“Pastor Reggie and his family are flying in from their vacation this afternoon. I’ll hitch a ride back with them.”
Jade set her hand on her daughter’s gurney. “Well, I guess I better go. We’ve got to get this little girl warmed up.”
“Don’t forget to let the doctors take care of you too,” Ben added, scratching at his cheek.
Jade nodded. “Okay.”
“Okay.”
She turned to follow the paramedics then stopped. “Oh, Ben?”
“Yeah?”
“Since you’re gonna be around town for a little bit, come on by once we get settled in. I can text you what room we’re in.”
A smile broke across his face, and Jade realized how tired he looked.
“That’d be great.”
“I think they have reclining chairs in there too. You know. If you needed a place to crash for a few hours.”
“I may take you up on that.”
The paramedics had already started to wheel the stretcher down a brightly lit hallway.
“You better go.” Ben raised his hand to signal goodbye.
Jade tilted up her chin. A wave with her head. “See you around.” She hurried to catch up with the paramedics.
It was time to focus on her daughter.
Chapter 32
AFTER A THOROUGH EXAM in the ER, a nurse finally led Jade and Dez to the children’s wing of the hospital. Jade was fine, just like she’d told every single trooper and paramedic who wanted her to get checked out, but the doctor thought Dez could benefit from warm saline through an IV.
“We could do it here in the ER,” he said, “but frankly the pediatric nurses are better equipped at handling such little veins, and I think you’d both be more comfortable.”
It wasn’t difficult for Jade to agree. The transfer to the children’s area was time-consuming, but the nurses on the children’s floor were fabulous, and they kept Dez distracted enough while putting in the IV that she hardly fussed at all.
“How long do I got to keep this in?” Dez asked.
Jade yanked Dez’s free hand to keep her from scratching the site. “It’ll probably just be a few hours. They want to make sure your temperature goes up, and they think you need your rest. Which you do.”
“But I’m not tired.”
“That’s because you like being the center of attention.”
Dez pouted. “No, I don’t.”
“Yes, you do. I saw the way you were hamming it up for Officer Ben.”
“He told me to call him Mister Ben.”
“Well, as long as you’re under my roof, you’re calling him Officer.”
“I’m not under your roof right now.”
“Stop being smart with me.”
“I thought it was a good thing to be smart.”
Jade reached her hand under Dez’s pile of blankets to tickle her daughter’s ribs. “Too smart for your own good, that’s what you are.”
Dez giggled, then her face grew more serious. “Mama?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“That church lady, do you think she would have killed you?”
“What makes you say that?”
Dez’s whole body heaved as she let out a sigh. “I was just thinking. That’s all. I guess it’s good you shot them both, huh?”
“No, baby. It’s not good. I just did what I had to do.”
“Are you gonna get in trouble for it? Is Officer Ben gonna have to arrest you?”
“What? No. They know I did what I had to do to protect my little girl. That’s not against the law.”
Dez’s face twisted.
“What are you thinking, baby? Tell me.”
“Did you want to kill them, Mama? Were you mad at them for what they did to us, and that’s why you killed them?”
Jade reached toward her daughter and held her while she started to cry. “No, baby. It wasn’t like that at all.”
“So it wasn’t the demons that made you do it?”
“What?” Jade pulled back just long enough to look her daughter in the eyes. “No, of course not. You listen to me. Demons are real, but they don’t have any power besides what God gives them. And nobody can make you do anything that goes against God’s rules.”
“Not even the devil?”
“Not even the devil. I know what happened to us was scary. I’m glad it’s over, but it’s still really bad that those two people ended up getting shot. God tells mommies and daddies to take care of their kids, just like he tells people like Officer Ben to take care of regular folks like you and me.”
“Do you like Officer Ben, Mama?”
Jade shrugged but didn’t meet her daughter’s eyes. “Sure, I like him. He’s a very nice man and good at what he does.”
“Would you ever want him to be your boyfriend?”
Jade couldn’t keep in her laugh. It felt good to have her daughter talking to her about something as innocent as dating and crushes. “What? Of course not. Why? Do you want him to be your boyfriend?”
Dez giggled.
“Tell you what.” Jade picked up the blankets the hospital staff had given her. “Why don’t you scoot over in that bed, because these nurses must think you’re the size of a baby elephant giving you all this extra room.”
“What are you doing, Mama?”
“I’m getting up here and cuddling my baby. That’s what I’m doing.”
Dez’s eyes widened. “Are you allowed to do that?”
“Am I allowed? What do you mean? Are you my child? Did I give birth to you? Do I hug you and feed you and tell you I love you every single day of your life?”
“Yeah.”
“Well then, I guess that makes you my baby, and I just happen to think that it’s time to snuggle with my baby. Is that all right with you?”
Dez scooted over in the bed. “I suppose.”
“Well, thank you very much, Your Highness.” Jade gave Dez one last round of tickles and then got busy adjusting the two of them under the blankets. “We’ll stay warmer like this, you know.”
Dez let out a snort. “Want to hear what I think?”
“What do you think, baby?”
“I think it’s just that you don’t want to sleep in that chair all by yourself. I think you’re too scared.”
“You know what, baby?”
“No, what?”
“You’re a very smart girl. Have I ever told you that?”
Jade propped herself up on her elbow long enough to watch Dez roll her eyes. “Only, like, every day.”
Jade kissed her daughter on the forehead one more time, snuggled up a little closer, and soon was fast asleep.
Chapter 33
“GOOD MORNING, SUNSHINE!”
Jade groaned at the chipper, perky voice that interrupted her perfectly sound nap. “What time is it?” She blinked at a young woman wearing smiley face scrubs. Nurse Happy pushed a few buttons on the few different monitors and pulled out a thermometer.
“Time for a temperature reading,” she announced in a singsong voice.
Jade untangled herself from the blankets and landed back in the reclining chair. She certainly wouldn’t win any points for being graceful, but she was far more concerned about the numbers on the thermometer than she was about anything else. “How�
��s she doing?”
The nurse frowned. “96.8. Still not quite as high as we’d like.” She reached over Dez and massaged the IV bag. “It’s probably time to get this warmed up again. How are you feeling, sunshine?”
Dez blinked up at her. “What are you doing?”
Jade was about to remind her daughter to mind her manners, but the nurse was apparently running on multiple shots from Starbucks and was more talkative than Dez at her most energetic. “We’re just checking your temperature. Want to make sure you’re strong and healthy so you can go home today. Did you sleep well?”
Dez shrugged. “Mom was snoring in my ear.”
“What? I was not.”
“Yes, you were. You snore all the time.”
“I heard that.”
Jade started at the voice and looked over to see Ben standing in the doorway. It was the first time she’d seen him out of his trooper uniform. He looked casual and ... nice. Jade wondered where he got the change in clothes. “Can I come in?” he asked.
The nurse slipped past him with a cheerful, “Just holler if you need anything,” and bustled out of the room.
Ben walked up to Dez’s bedside and set down a shopping bag by her pillow. “How’d you sleep, kiddo?”
“What’s this?” she asked. “Is it for me?”
“Dezzirae Rose Jackson,” Jade snapped. “Your mama taught you better than that. Where are your manners?”
Dez looked at Jade sheepishly. “Sorry.” She turned back to Ben. “What’s in the bag, officer?”
He laughed. “Open it and see.”
Dez reached over with her arm and pulled out some word searches and animal fact books.
“I figured a smart girl like you would want something to read while you were stuck in bed,” Ben said with a smile.
Dez frowned. “I don’t know how to read.”
Jade crossed her arms. “Did that nurse put rude juice in your IV or something?” she demanded. “When someone gives you a gift,” she said sternly, “you tell them thank you.”
“Thank you,” Dez muttered.
“What’d you say?” Jade pressed.
“Thank you, officer.”
Jade let out her breath. “That’s better.”
Ben leaned toward Jade. “So, how’s the patient doing?”
Jade met his gaze with a smile. “Still as stubborn and ornery as ever.”
“I think you mean bright and charming, don’t you?” he asked, winking at Dez.
“Right,” Jade agreed with a slight rolling of her eyes. “That’s what I meant.”
Ben sat down in one of the stools and stretched out his legs. “Well, I’m glad to know you’re both safe. Any word on how long they’re keeping her here?”
“We just woke up,” Jade admitted, “but from what everyone was saying, we should be released by the afternoon, I’d imagine.”
“Need a ride back to Glennallen?”
“Do you have room?”
Ben nodded. “I already texted Reggie. He said they’ve got enough seats for us all.”
“If you’re sure it’s no trouble.”
“Not at all.”
Jade licked her lips, suddenly uncertain what she should be doing with her hands.
“Would you like a coffee?” Ben asked after a torturous silence.
“That would be wonderful.”
He stood back up. “Got it. Any special way you like it?”
“Strong and black,” Dez answered for her, and Jade grimaced when she suspected what her daughter was going to say next. “Just like she likes her men.”
“Dezzirae Rose Jackson,” Jade hissed.
Dez shrugged her shoulders. “What? That’s what you always say when you make yourself coffee at the daycare because the coffee maker we’ve got at home’s broke.”
“It’s a joke and something that’s not fit to be repeated, especially not in front of ...” She glanced at Ben, who was standing in the doorway trying not to laugh. “Never mind. But you best start remembering your manners, or I swear with this policeman as my witness I’ll tan your hide.”
Dez rolled her eyes. “No, you won’t. You’re just saying that.”
“Well, I mean it this time,” Jade grumbled, her face still hot with embarrassment.
Ben cleared his throat. “All right. I’ll be back in a few minutes with some coffee.” He met Jade’s eyes and gave her a grin that only deepened her flush. “No cream. No sugar. Just the way God made it.”
“I’m sorry,” Jade sighed.
He laughed. “Don’t worry about it. I like a girl who speaks her mind.” He tousled Dez’s hair again. “Watch out for your mom while I’m gone. Don’t let her get into any trouble.”
“I won’t.” Dez grinned widely.
Ben gave Jade a small wave. “See you soon.”
“Take your time.” She watched him leave, staring at the empty doorframe until her daughter interrupted with, “Mama?”
“What, baby?”
“Why do you got that goofy grin on your face? Is it because Ben’s getting you a coffee? Does that mean the hot policeman likes you?”
Jade snapped her head around. “What’d you call him?”
“Oops, I forgot. I mean Officer Ben. You were staring at him like this.” Dez tilted her head to the side, clasped her hands beneath her chin, and batted her eyelashes.
“What?” Jade tried to sound upset but couldn’t hide her laughter. “I was not.”
“Yes, you were. Is it because you think he’s hot?”
“Five-year-old girls don’t say hot,” Jade told her. “You can say he’s handsome, and I guess he is if you like that strong, athletic type.”
“He’s not handsome, mama. He’s hot.”
“Dezzirae Rose Jackson!” Jade snapped.
Her daughter shrugged. “Well, it’s true.”
Jade didn’t respond.
“You’re doing it again.” Dez tilted her head and batted her eyes.
“No, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are.”
“Read your new book, baby. Mama’s tired.”
Chapter 34
JADE DIDN’T REALIZE how badly she needed a caffeine infusion until Ben mentioned coffee. She hoped he wouldn’t be too long and tried to convince herself that her impatience was only because she needed help waking up, not because she was anxious to see him again.
Dez was too perceptive for her own good. The truth was Jade did find Ben attractive, and the more she’d gotten to know him, the more she found herself wanting to spend time with him. Yesterday, she would have told herself that was just the crisis talking. Her world was in shambles, her daughter missing, and Ben could help her find her daughter. But even now that she and Dez were reunited, Jade found herself wondering if she’d see more of Ben in the future. Hoping their paths would cross more often.
It was silly, really. What did she know about him? They went to the same church, and he was a Christian. He’d told her little bit about his past, and in some ways they shared common life experiences. Both had lost their fathers. But in other ways they were the exact opposite of each other and always would be.
It would never work.
She shook her head. She should just be thankful that God had protected her and her daughter and focus on making the time leading up to Christmas as joyful and happy for Dez as possible. She wasn’t planning on going all out on gifts this year, but she was going to find money somewhere. Even if all of Dez’s toys came from the secondhand store, Jade was going to make sure this was a Christmas she wouldn’t forget.
The phone by Dez’s hospital bed rang. Jade didn’t know if she was supposed to pick it up or not and gave a tentative, “Hello?”
“Hey, it’s me.”
“Aisha? How’d you find out where we were?”
“I called Ben, and he gave me the hospital room number. Is now a good time?”
“I have a few minutes.” Jade eyed the doorway, wondering when Ben would return with those coffees.
&
nbsp; “I was so happy to hear you found Dez. Is she all right?”
“Oh, yeah. She’s fine. Getting some hot saline in an IV, but her temperature’s coming up, and they’ll probably send us home today.”
“That’s great. Will you need a ride or anything?”
“No, we’ll be riding back with Pastor Reggie’s family and Ben.”
There was an awkward pause. “Oh. So is he with you now?”
“He just stepped out to grab some coffee.”
Another somewhat stifled, “Oh.” Aisha cleared her throat. “Well, we’ve all been praying for you. Last night, Mrs. Spencer organized a prayer vigil at the church. It was really special. I’m just so sorry you guys went through what you did. Ben said it ended up being your old pastor’s wife?”
Jade wasn’t sure how much Ben and Aisha had been in touch and resented the small, unwelcome rush of jealousy. Who cared how often two adults decided to talk with one another? He was probably just filling Aisha in so she could pass along any prayer requests to the church. You couldn’t blame him for that.
“Tell everyone back in Glennallen thanks for the prayers,” she said.
“I will. And hey, I wanted to ask you something about Ben if it’s not too awkward.”
A nurse stepped into the room and started fidgeting with Dez’s IV bag. “Listen, someone just came in. I’ve got to go. We’ll talk soon though, okay?” Jade didn’t know what Aisha had to say to her about the trooper and wasn’t sure she wanted to. She hung up the phone and watched the nurse inject a syringe into Dez’s IV port.
“What’s that you’re putting in there?
He cleared his throat. “Just some antibiotics to help with the infection.”
Jade frowned. “Nobody said anything to me about any infection.”
He kept his face turned slightly, but there was something familiar about his profile.
“That’s all here. Got to check on another patient.” He gave a weak wave and turned to go.
Jade wanted to stop him. Where had she seen him before? He didn’t look like one of the paramedics who transported Dez here.
“Hey.”
She watched as he turned around, keeping his gaze focused on the floor.