It sounded all jumbled and took me a second to catch up. I wasn’t sure about what they said about escaping myself and even teaching them self-defense. My confidence had taken a beating. My body, too. Closing my eyes for a moment I wished my mother was alive. I could really use her love right now. Hell, I’d even settle for my father. That thought made me realize that I just needed a parent’s love right now. I opened my eyes. “My dad, where is he?”
Jade shrugged. “We don’t know where he is when he’s not here. I know your brother Arron is staying at Ryder’s parents’ house. I can go get someone to call him.”
“Yeah, please.” I was getting really tired. The little talk I’d just had had taken what little energy I had. I fought my lids to stay open and not shut. I’d sleep. “Thanks for visiting. It was nice to meet you and I’m glad I woke up to you and not your mother and sister-in-law’s.”
“It was nice to meet you even, so briefly. I’ll go tell them to call your father.” Jade patted my arm before she left the room.
“Nice to meet you. I look forward to seeing you more. My husband is close to Ryder so I’m sure we will. I’ll bring Sebastian, my baby, next time if you like.” Bailey smiled down at me and I could tell she was just one of those really nice sweet people.
“I’d love to meet your baby, and it was nice to meet you too.” I watched her nod to Annabelle before she strolled to the door.
“I would like to come back to visit. Is there anything you need? I’d offer to bring in my babies. Like I said earlier, I have twins. My daughter is the only girl born into the family in over a couple of centuries, at least that is what we found out from the research we did. So she is spoiled and held and cuddled almost twenty-four-seven. My son, well my mother never had a son or brothers so she just thinks he’s the best thing since sliced bread. Thank God I breast feed otherwise I’d never see my babies.”
I couldn’t help my laugh at what I’d been hearing. It eased my worry over how being pregnant, which I still hadn’t fully accepted. It was all so surreal. If this woman could cope with twins, I could come to terms with one.
“Anyway.” Annabelle brought me back to her. “I’m a librarian, or was before I had the kids. Um, what I’m saying is that when I come back, if you’re okay with that, I’ll bring you some reading material. What do you read?”
“I love fiction, fantasy, sci-fi and romance. I have an iPad with a Kindle app on it. I’d really appreciate if you could get it from my dad or get my brother to get it. I left it at my dad’s. He lives on the base.”
“Sure. I’ll get that and make sure the bag that gets packed will be actual stuff you need.”
I sighed as a weight I didn’t even realize I had lifted off. “Thank you so much.”
“No problem.” She came and squeezed my hand. “You get some rest and us girls will organize and make sure you have everything.”
My lids drooped and I was losing my battle to keep my eyes open. “I know we are going to be great friends. I didn’t even know I needed to meet you guys right now, but I’m so glad I did. You’ve given me hope and have helped me. Thanks, and I look forward to seeing you all again.” My eyes closed and I knew I was about to crash. “And Annabelle…if you can steal your babies back I’d love to meet them.”
I barely heard her reply of, “Sure,” before I lost my fight to stay awake any longer. I hoped the next time I awoke it was to my father or Ryder.
THIS TIME I WOKE I knew where I was and was damn happy to see a face I knew and had wanted to talk to. I may not have had much time to think while being in the hospital, since I’d been sleeping most of the time, but what little I did, I knew I needed to set things straight with my father and I wanted to be with Ryder. I wasn’t letting him get away. He was mine and I intended to live with him and spend all my time getting to know him and figuring out how we worked. Knowing we were having a baby together, only made me want our time alone more.
My dad didn’t notice I was awake and it gave me a moment to study him. He looked different, older, tired and haggard. I couldn’t remember a time I’d ever seen him like this. He was always in charge and put together, but his clothes didn’t even look like they’d been ironed.
“Dad.”
His head shot away from staring out the window to me. “Hey kiddo. You get in to some trouble?” He leaned in closer and grabbed my hand. “I’ve never been so happy to see your pretty brown eyes.” He squeezed my hand. “I was worried about you.” He closed his eyes and I watched him compose himself. When he opened them again he looked a little more like the father I knew. “I’m proud of you. What you did, and how you fought. I’m…I’m just so proud.”