“Good.” Another thought popped into her head. “What about Lieutenant Weaver? Anthony shot him when he tried to help me at the shelter.”
“He’s here in the hospital, too, and lucky to be alive. It’s a good thing Seth found him before he bled to death. Marty was able to tell Seth what had happened at the shelter.”
“And my uncle? Have you heard anything about his condition this morning?”
She smiled. “His pastor came by to see you earlier, right after he had been up to see Dan. He said the nurses reported his vital signs were much stronger, and he showed some response during the night. Maybe after breakfast one of the nurses can take you in a wheelchair to see him. Maybe he’d respond even more to you.”
“Oh, that is good news. And you say his pastor came by to see me?”
“Yes. His name is Pastor Walters. He said he’d come back later today.”
“Good. I need to talk to him about an experience I had.”
Mrs. Dawtry’s eyebrows arched. “A good one or a bad one?”
“It was definitely a good one. For the first time I came to know what you and Seth meant when you talked about the peace that God can give us. That was what got me through the whole ordeal with Anthony.”
Mrs. Dawtry put her hand on Callie’s arm and squeezed. “I’m glad, Callie. I want you to be happy. I want Seth to be happy, too. He’s my son, and I don’t want to see him hurt again.”
“I know, and neither do I. I think it’s time he and I really talk about my reasons for not marrying him. Maybe after that he can let go of the past and move on with his life. I want that for him more than anything.”
Seth’s mother stared at her as a small frown wrinkled her forehead. “Callie, that sounds almost like you love my son.”
“I do, but I’m not going to change my mind about the two of us. He deserves someone a lot better than me, and I intend for him to have it.”
“B-but if you love him, why...”
The door opened, and a nurse walked in. She smiled when she saw that Callie was awake. “Good morning. How are you feeling?”
“Like I was hit by a bus.”
The nurse laughed. “From what I hear it was a bulldozer, but don’t worry. We’ll have you up and around in no time. Now how about some breakfast and then a bath?”
“I’d like that.”
Mrs. Dawtry picked up her purse and smiled at Callie. “I’m going down to the cafeteria for some breakfast, too, but I’ll be back.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Callie protested. “I’ll be fine.”
“I promised Seth I’d stay until he got here, and I will. See you in a little while.”
Callie watched Seth’s mother leave and thought about the conversation they’d just had. Then she thought of how she’d prayed when she was alone in that room at the farm. God had taken care of her then, and she knew He would now.
Telling Seth the truth was going to be hard, but she would do it. She had to give him the chance for the life he deserved. Then as soon as her uncle was able, she would take him with her to Virginia, and she would concentrate on her uncle and her life with him.