“The way I see it, it’s because of you our son refuses to see us, or allow us to see our grandson. He treats his mother as if she doesn’t exist.”
“That’s her fault, not mine. She kept your granddaughter from you, from Dylan.”
“If she was our granddaughter,” he accused.
His eyes betrayed the lie he just told. Easier to brush aside the truth than believe his wife did something so heinous. She could talk until blue in the face, but he refused to listen. They would never let her see Dylan. They’d moved him into a regular room, not the ICU. She had to believe that was a good sign. She’d come back later. No one would keep her and Will from him.
She turned on her heel and walked away, trying to think what to do next. Maybe she’d call Dylan’s lawyer cousin, Owen. He’d know what to do. If nothing else, he’d get her into the room.
Both Martha and Robert yelled, “Come back here! You can’t take Will.” She ignored them and walked straight into the elevator with Will safe and secure in her arms.
“We’ll come back and see Daddy in a little while,” she assured him, hugging him close.
Will held on to her, his face buried in her neck. She tried to stop thinking all the horrible thoughts she conjured about Dylan lying in that hospital bed. Alone. She never even got a glimpse of him. She didn’t know if he was just resting or seriously hurt. Sick to her stomach, she didn’t want to leave, but she had to think of Will and take care of him. An all-out yelling match with Dylan’s parents in front of Will would only make things worse.
She stepped off the elevator into the lobby. Several security and police officers waited by the double doors leading out of the emergency room. They turned to her, making her extremely nervous. They drew their guns, sending a lightning bolt of fear through her system. She held Will securely to her chest and tried to protect him with her arms.
“Hold it right there!” one of the officers yelled. “Put the boy down and walk toward me.”
“What is this about? This is Sheriff McBride’s son. He left him in my care today.” Nothing but a misunderstanding—they’d check with Dylan, or his office. Everyone would tell him it was okay for Will to be with her.
“Put the boy down and step toward me,” the officer repeated. They meant business. They wouldn’t let her leave with Will. Resigned, brokenhearted, defeated, she knew what she had to do, but she hated feeling helpless to stop this. She hated even more putting Will through this. She loved him and would protect him with her life.
“Mommy, I want to stay with you.” Will clung to her, trembling in her arms, scared of all the men with guns pointed at them.
“I have to put you down.” She’d let him go to keep him safe, but it crushed her heart to do it.
His father was in the hospital, his grandparents made a scene upstairs, and now these officers trained their guns on them. She’d sort this out once the guns were put away.
The McBrides rushed down the hallway right toward the officers. Martha called out, “Stop her. Don’t let her take my grandson.”
“Will, honey, listen to me carefully. I want you to walk to that policeman right there.” She chose the officer closest to her, who didn’t have a weapon drawn. She bent to put Will down and kissed his temple. “I love you, honey. You’ll be okay. They’ll take you to see your Daddy.”
Will went to the officer, but turned back to her, his eyes round, sad, and filled with unshed tears. She’d never forgive the McBrides for doing this to him and her. It broke her heart to see the little boy so sad and confused.
She dropped her purse to the floor and put her arms out from her sides. The officers rushed her, taking hold of her, pulling her arms behind her back and cuffing her. Resignation kicked in. She wouldn’t get to see Dylan. Worse, Will watched them arrest her, tears streaming down his chubby cheeks. The cuffs bit into her wrists and she didn’t feel anything but overwhelming anger and sadness. The officer handed Will over to his grandmother.
“Mommy! Mommy!” He held his arms out to her, screaming for her. Martha and Robert walked away with him and another officer. She vaguely heard the officer leading her out of the hospital say she was being charged with kidnapping before he read her her rights.
Her thoughts stayed with Will and Dylan.
I love you. Please be okay.
That phrase became her mantra as they drove her to jail and booked her for the kidnapping of Will McBride, the boy who should be her son. She decided then and there, as soon as she saw Dylan again, she’d demand they get married. She’d call Owen and find out how to adopt Will as her own. No one would keep her from Dylan or Will ever again.