Page 30 of Silent Echo

Blood rushes in my ears as she continues reading my rights. “Stop. I have to see my son. He needs me! You can’t take me, he’s in surgery and—”

They drag me away before I can finish the sentence, and my heart breaks as the image of my son waking up and looking for me flashes in my mind.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Agent Preston was waiting for her in the lobby when she got to the hospital. Charlotte ran toward her.

“How is he?”

“Out of surgery and just moved to a room. We arrested Penelope. Another agent has taken her for processing. I wanted to be here for you.”

Charlotte was filled with a sense of euphoria and relief. He was safe. Her child was alive and safe! Tears of joy fell from her eyes, and she started to weep, all the pent-up fear and anxiety spilling from her in hitching sobs.

As they rode up in the elevator, she felt as though she would burst. She couldn’t believe they had found him. She was finally going to see her son! To hold him in her arms again. To bring him home. They stopped at the nurses’ station and were directed to his room. Agent Preston hung back as Charlotte walked toward it. She felt like she was moving in slow motion, everything surreal. Then she saw him. He looked so small and frail lying there.

She ran to him, and he looked up at her. Confusion in his eyes, he started to blink. Charlotte couldn’t contain herself. She leaned down and hugged him to her.

“My darling. My darling. I’ve missed you so much.”

He stiffened in her arms. “You didn’t want me.”

She pulled back. “Is that what she told you?”

“You gave me away.”

She shook her head. “No, no. Honey, she lied. She took you away. I’ve been looking for you. I’ve been so sad without you.” She had no idea if he even knew about the school bus accident, and she didn’t want to scare him by telling him she thought he was dead.

He looked at her with skepticism.

“Sebastion, Mommy would never, ever give you away. I’m so sorry that she took you. I love you with all my heart.”

This was killing her. The reunion she’d imagined, him happy to see her, the two of them clinging to each other, was a fantasy. Of course he’d be confused. God only knew what other lies Penelope had told him. It didn’t matter now. Her son was alive! And she’d get him help. She’d bring him back to her little by little. “Mommy loves you more than—”

“Than all the stars in the sky,” he finished.

Tears ran down her face. “Yes, yes.” He remembered.

“Mommy, can we go home now?”

“Yes, my love. We can go home.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Sebastion was quiet as they pulled into the driveway. He had been in the hospital for four days, and during that time, Charlotte had stayed with him, telling him stories of his life before Penelope and showing him pictures of their family life. He was exhausted and weak from the surgery, so their conversations were sporadic, and she spent most of that time just watching him, reveling in his presence and being grateful for his return to her. Her therapist, Dr. Morrison, was brought up to speed on everything, and despite Eli’s desire to fly to Atlanta to be with Sebastion, advised them to wait and let Charlotte and Sebastion have time to bond again so he wouldn’t feel overwhelmed. Now they were home, and Charlotte looked at her son nervously, unable to tell what he was feeling.

“Are you ready to go in, honey?”

He nodded, biting his lip.

“Daddy and Harper can’t wait to see you.”

He didn’t answer as they got out of the car. She held out her hand and he took it, grasping it tightly.

“It’s okay to be scared. But it’s all going to be okay.”

When they opened the door, she saw that the living room was filled with balloons and signs that said “Welcome home.”

Sebastion looked around in wonder. Eli and Harper walked over to him tentatively. Charlotte could see the tears in both of their eyes and could feel their eagerness, but they held themselves back as the therapist had advised.

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