The Forbidden Trilogy(157)

Guilt invaded my happy moment. Should I tell her what really happened? Would she do something to me or my baby if she knew that Drake almost killed her trying to free her from the Seeker's mind control? Maternal instinct warred with my sense of right, but in the end, maternal instinct won out. I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize the safety of my child.

The door opened, and Brad walked in. He smiled and gave a little wave to Ana. "How's the cutest baby in the whole world? Huh?"

His presence made me feeler safer, especially with Mary back so suddenly. "I love how we all sound like such goofballs around a baby." I offered him Ana, though it pained me to part with her, and he took her and made goo-goo sounds.

"I'm so glad you came through this okay, Sam. We were all worried for a while."

Susie had said I'd nearly died giving birth. But all I remembered was.... "Drake. I felt him. He was here with me, giving me strength somehow. I think he's the reason I lived through it."

Brad's face hardened, then softened into a goofy grin for the baby. "But he doesn't have his powers. Maybe you were delirious with the medications?"

"No, I don't think so. Even Susie said I was slipping away, then all of the sudden I called out to Drake and my body started to heal itself. Those aren't my powers. Those are—were—his. Do you think he could have gotten his powers back?"

The thought saddened me. If he did have his powers, then why hadn't he come home? Maybe he'd never forgiven me for what I'd done to him. But if so, why did he save my life? He'd sounded sad, in trouble.

Most of our friends were mad at him, Brad especially, though Luke and Lucy weren't big fans at the moment either. They didn't understand. They hadn't been there to feel how the loss of his powers had stripped him down to nothing. And I'd done it to him. I'd never forgive me either, so I couldn't blame him for being upset. But I did blame him for abandoning his daughter—inexcusable regardless of how he felt about me.

Susie popped her head in the room. "Sam, can you handle a few more visitors?"

Everyone kept telling me to rest, but I felt surprisingly strong and healthy. I needed to get up and stretch, to start doing something. "Sure, send them in." After this visit, I would insist that everyone stop treating me like a sick patient. Ana was healthy, and I felt better than ever. Literally, I felt stronger than I had since I got pregnant.

Father Patrick, Bernard and Desirai came into the room.

Father Patrick spoke first. "Hello, Sam, I hope you don't mind. Is this too much right now?"

I smiled at the old priest. Drake's absence must have broken his heart. They'd always been close. He'd been the only father Drake had ever known.

I gestured for them to come in. "Not at all. I'm so glad you're all here. I'm going stir-crazy in bed all the time."

Brad showed Father Patrick the baby, and he lovingly held her, after waiting for a nod from me. So odd that this little life was now my responsibility. I had to make sure to feed and change and care for her. I decided who touched her and who didn't. Mary should never have held my baby without permission. I'd have to talk to someone about making sure no one ever touched Ana without my permission again.

Bernard, whose full name was George Bernard Shaw—seriously—now led all academic studies at the new school. He'd likely become the new Headmaster. He'd also taught and mentored Brad in college, and the two were still tight. He'd been instrumental in helping us rescue our friends after we escaped Rent-A-Kid. He'd also been the one to encourage me to reapply to school, and had written a glowing letter of recommendation.

He smiled at Ana. "She came a bit early, but looks healthy as a horse."

Um, okay.

"And at least this means you'll have more time to recover before starting school in the fall."

"If I get accepted, you mean. IPI gave us all backgrounds, but a school could still find a lot missing."

Bernard pulled something from his pocket. "Why don't you find out right now?"

He handed me a thick packet from U of W. Thick—that meant...! I tore through the envelope while the group passed Ana around, happy to be the object of so much love.

My throat thickened as I scanned the introduction letter. "Oh my God! I've been accepted. And the art department wants to meet with me in two weeks to review my complete portfolio. They might give me a scholarship."

Everyone cheered and hugged me. Des stood by the door as if scared to come in. I gestured to her, and she joined the group. "Congratulations on your college acceptance."

I beamed. "Thank you. Two weeks. Crap, that doesn't give me a lot of time to put together a portfolio. The fire destroyed all my work. Plus, I have the classes here to teach, and taking care of a newborn—"