No one was very happy that I’d taken off on “a hunch” to confront the kidnapper on my own. But they were thrilled with Willow being found unharmed. She rode to the hospital in an ambulance, and Holly and I accompanied her. The ride delighted Willow, and thoroughly stressed me out.
Sitting beside Willow, all I could think about was how much worse it could have been. It didn’t matter that my girl was chattering up a streak, or that she was waving at Holly who was riding shotgun in the front with the driver. All my mind could do was circle with a thousand, what ifs?
Once we arrived at the hospital the family was waiting en masse. Julian walked right into the treatment room, ignored the nurses and doctor who were checking out Willow, and grabbed me up in a big hug. “God damn it, Maggie!”
“I’ll pay for any damage to your car,” I said.
“I couldn’t care less about the damn car.” His voice was shaking. “You scared me.” Julian pulled back, holding me at arms length, and frowned down in my face. “Don’t run off and play hero alone. Not ever again.”
“I wasn’t alone.” I patted his arm. “I had back up.”
“It was my idea to take your Mustang,” Holly admitted with a small smile.
“Jesus, Holly,” Julian reached out to tug one of her long red curls. “Why am I not surprised?”
Holly leaned over, tipping her face up to his. They were just about to kiss when Ivy waltzed right in.
“There you are!” she crowed, causing Holly and Julian to jump apart.
“Hey, Ivy—” I began only to be cut off when she pulled me into a hug that was so hard my breath whooshed out
“I can’t wait to hear how you took down Leilah!” she whispered fiercely in my ear. “So fucking proud of you!” She stepped back. “I’m very glad you and Willow are safe,” she said in a conversational tone. “There’s my favorite munchkin!” she said, going over to drop a loud smacking kiss on Willow’s cheek.
Willow giggled. “Hi Ivy! I rode in an ambulance!”
“Was it fun?” Ivy asked with a cheeky grin. “Did they turn on the siren for you?”
“Yeah!” Willow giggled. “It was loud!”
“Ms. Parrish,” the doctor began, “I must insist that your family vacate the treatment room for a few moments…”
I shooed everyone out, and the ER doctor assured me a short time later that besides some scrapes and bruises, Willow was fine. He was happy to let her go home, and all things considered, she was bouncing back remarkably well.
Lexie Bishop and a representative from children’s services did speak to Willow before she was discharged. I understood with an abduction that processing all the evidence wouldn’t be quick or simple, however the police did their best to keep things easy and non-stressful for Willow.
Bottom line, while there wasn’t any repercussion from law enforcement over the way things had gone down…that didn’t mean there wouldn’t be any in regards to how my family would feel about it all. I bit my lip fretting over what Thomas would say to me, but even though Julian told me he’d returned to William’s Ford, Thomas never came and checked on us while we were in the ER.
A few hours later, after all the paperwork was finished and we’d been discharged, I scooped Willow up and started to carry her out of the ER department.
“Bye!” Willow said, waving to the nurses.
I walked around a corner looking for the exit, only to discover that Thomas was standing with his back to me across the hall. He was in the waiting room, speaking to both the police and the doctors about Leilah.
I stepped back where I could still hear them, but not be seen. Willow felt my tension and went silent.
I clearly heard the doctor tell Thomas that Leilah was still in surgery. She was stable, they said. I heard a police officer inform him that she would be charged with kidnapping. I took a quick peek and saw that Julian was now standing silently with his father, his hand on the man’s back. Autumn and Duncan were there as well, lending Thomas their support.
Stuck, I eased farther away, and decided to go in the opposite direction. Holly and Ivy had already gone home, and I wondered if maybe a nurse could call us a cab. I’d taken about three steps before I bumped into Lexie.
“Need a ride?” she asked before I could.
I accepted gladly. The police officer who drove us back to the cottage was actually Lexie’s father. John Proctor informed me that he would be staying in the squad car, keeping an eye on the cottage, for the rest of the night.
“We look out for our own here in William’s Ford,” was his quiet reply as he opened the front door of the cottage for us.
His kind words had tears pricking my eyes. “Thank you, Officer Proctor.” I said, carrying Willow inside.
“Try and rest,” he advised. “I’ll be parked at the bottom of the driveway if you need anything.”
I locked the door and headed for the shower. Willow was thrilled with taking a shower together, and I couldn’t stand the thought of her being out of my sight. So it was a win-win. Afterwards, she stood in her fresh pajamas as I dried her hair. I let her climb into my big bed and towel dried my own hair. Finally, I hopped in beside her.
“Come here, you,” I said, holding out my arms.
She snuggled up close. “Is that bad girl all gone, Mama?”
I swallowed past a lump in my throat. “Yes, baby,” I said.
Willow studied me solemnly with her unique blue and brown eyes. “Are you sure?”
“You don’t have to worry.” I pressed a kiss to my daughter’s hair. “I made her go away. She won’t bother you, or anyone else, ever again. I took care of it.”
“Good.” Willow nodded.
“Try and sleep now,” I said.
Willow fell asleep almost immediately, and
