Page 84 of Guarding Truth

“Yes, we are.” Juliette rushed to the doctor’s side, Ivy right behind her. She wrapped her arm around Ivy and held tight.

“Caleb is going to be fine,” the doctor said. “He’s resting comfortably, and he’ll be up for visitors once the anesthesia wears off. We repaired three torn tendons, and while he’ll need some physical therapy, Caleb is a fighter and should bounce back with no problems.”

Juliette felt the tension release from her hand as Ivy relaxed her grip with the good news.

Matt brought some sandwiches from the hospital café, and they ate while waiting for Caleb to wake up.

An hour later, the nurse announced that Caleb was ready for visitors. Juliette and Ivy jumped up from their chairs and followed her down the hall to Caleb’s room.

Various monitors buzzed and blipped. Caleb’s eyes were closed, and Juliette wanted to reach out and brush the wisps of brown hair away from his forehead. Her heart constricted at the sight of his pale face.

Oh, Caleb.

His eyes fluttered and opened. Ivy tenderly curled up next to him on the bed, on his good side. A sling graced his right arm. Juliette should have stopped her, but the peace that filled Caleb’s face made it clear he was fine. He placed his hand on Ivy’s head and stroked her hair. Ivy’s tears wet Caleb’s hospital gown, and Juliette fought her own desire to weep at the scene.

He looked at Juliette, and her face filled with warmth. She sat on the edge of his bed, opposite Ivy, the steady thrumming of the hospital equipment reminding her of what she could have lost.

After a few minutes, Ivy dozed off.

“Jules,” Caleb whispered. She tried to tell him not to talk, but he shook his head, intent on speaking. “I thought I was going to lose you. When that trailer door opened, I?—”

She leaned across the bed and silenced him with her lips. A tender, slow kiss. One that communicated that this was just the beginning of many more kisses.

“I love you, Caleb. I always have.”

He sighed, peace washing over his face. “I’d rather spend fifteen minutes with you, if that’s all the time we have, than spend the rest of my life without you. You’re worth the risk.”

“I love you and Ivy. The three of us are a team.” Juliette grabbed Caleb’s hand. “I’m never letting go.”

* * *

SUNDAY, 2:00 P.M.

Everything was right in his world. On Caleb’s left, Ivy slept curled up by his side on the couch in the apartment.

On his right, the woman he loved had her hand wrapped around his.

No one was chasing them. The ransomware had been destroyed.

He let out a sigh of contentment. After being released from the hospital, Juliette and Ivy had enforced a twenty-four-hour vigil. Aside from Juliette going home to change, she and Ivy hadn’t left him alone for a second. Ivy was supposed to compete in the second part of a two-day robotics competition that afternoon, but she refused to go. They’d quit trying to convince her she should.

“Are you sure you want to meet with Theo’s wife today?” Juliette asked. “You just got out of the hospital. I’m sure she’d understand and maybe meet Blake at the office later in the week to pick up Theo’s last paycheck.” The office had closed for renovations. Caleb figured having Georgia stop by would be the quickest way to get the money to her.

Caleb shook his head and winced. His shoulder throbbed, but despite their ordeal, he felt like he’d gotten lucky with just a few torn tendons.

“I can’t believe Theo betrayed Georgia and his son like he did. They deserve to have more than a last paycheck. I’m thinking about setting up a scholarship. Something just to make sure his son is taken care of in the future.”

Juliette got up from the couch to get Caleb a drink. She monitored the times he needed to take his pain meds, and it was time. She grabbed a bottle of water, and he downed the pills. After Georgia stopped by, he’d take a long nap.

“Sadly, the hacker called the General is in the wind. And I wish they’d find the girl that posed as CyberLane,” Juliette said. “I’d sleep a little better knowing that all the bad guys are behind bars.”

Caleb nodded. “If she really was just a local college kid, I doubt the threat will continue. It sounds like it was just a ploy to gain Ivy’s trust.”

Ivy stirred under his arm at the mention of her name. She looked at Caleb and stretched. “I think I’m going to shower and change clothes.” She hopped off the couch with all the energy of a twelve-year-old and headed to her bedroom.

Would she have permanent scars from this ordeal? Maybe not ones he could see, but the inside was his main concern. The girl was resilient, and he wanted her to have the best childhood possible. Between her intellect and losing her parents at such a young age, Ivy had been forced to grow up way too fast.

Juliette sat back down on the couch. “What are you going to do about her grandparents?”

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