Page 97 of Sawyer
“Seesaw!”Noah yells and starts running toward me.
“Hey, buddy.”I pick him up, holding him tight and sealing him to my chest.I look over to Kevin, who hasn’t moved.
“How about it, Kev?”I ask Annabelle’s oldest child, the one boy who has no doubt seen and heard too much for his years.
“I’d like that,” he whispers, before running to me, and my heart bursts open as I catch him and lift him up, a boy on each hip.
“Let’s go out to your mom and make sure she’s getting looked after.Hold on tight and just keep your heads on my shoulders.Don’t look around.”I’m not sure what they’ll see and what will upset them.They listen, curling into me, burying their heads on my shoulders, and I open the door, looking out.Red and blue lights streak across the sky, and I see Tanner and Connor looking disheveled as they jump out of a truck.Word around here obviously gets around fast.I look back to the criminals who attacked my family, seeing both the men now down on their knees, handcuffed behind their backs, getting read their rights, and paramedics are all over Annabelle.
“Okay, let’s go.”I stride out the door, my boys in my arms, holding them tight, and walk straight to Annabelle.
“Boys!”she yells, relief overtaking her expression as I get to her.They both lunge for their mom so violently, I almost drop them midair before I put them down and they both hug her.
“How is she?”I ask the paramedic.
“She needs to go to the hospital but won't go,” he says, exasperated, and I frown as I look at her.This is the kind of woman I’m dealing with.Stubborn, stoic, but also soft, precious, and all mine.
“Lois, you’re going to the hospital,” I tell her, and she looks at me over the top of her boys, her smile small at the use of her nickname.
“You really were my Superman tonight, Sawyer.Thank you for coming back.”
“I should’ve never left in the first place,” I grit out, not needing her thanks.I feel like I failed her tonight.
“I knew what you were doing.I knew you didn’t want to leave, so I put two and two together.You were trying to draw them out, and it needed to be done.”She nods, and I look at her in awe, wondering if she could get any more perfect.
“Ma’am, we’re ready to take you now.”The paramedic comes over again with the gurney to put her on.
“But I don’t want to leave the boys…”
Sweeping the hair from her face, I see her cheek turning black, the blood drying in her hair, and it feels hard to breathe.
“We’ll take them.Look after them over at your place with Sutton,” Tanner pipes up as he steps forward from around the corner.
“You got here quick.”I look at him, raising my eyebrows.
“It's hard not to hear the sirens around this place.Bob called me, and we got here as soon as we could.”Tanner slaps me on the shoulder before pulling me in for a hug.
“Is this what you had in mind when I asked you to move to a sleepy small town called Whispers?”he murmurs to me, and I pull back to give him a deadpan look.
“Firstly, you never asked, you demanded.And second, I’m never leaving.I’m officially a Whispers resident,” I tell him as Annabelle gets settled on the gurney and the boys step toward me.
“Boys.Tanner and Connor are taking you over to my place.Sutton will get you into bed and you all can have a sleepover tonight.I’ll come get you in the morning, okay?”
“Tannnneeerrrr,” Noah says, and Tanner grins, picking up the boy, the two of them looking almost comical due to his size.
“Okay.Take care of Ma.”Kevin looks at me, before glancing back at Annabelle.
“I’ll be fine, honey,” Annabelle reassures him, and as the boys leave, I see a lone tear fall down her cheek.I don’t hesitate to wipe it gently.
“I’m okay…” she whispers, the sound barely hitting my ears before I lean over and kiss her forehead.
“I know.I’ll be right behind you.”
Tilting her head up, she kisses my lips lightly, and I notice her pretty top lip is split.“Okay,” she says against my mouth, and I frown as the paramedics take her away.I watch until she’s safely inside the ambulance, and it slowly drives down the road.
“Well, looks like you got back just in time,” the sheriff says, and I turn to look at him, murder in my gaze.
“Why weren't you all over this?You told me you were watching.Had I not come back, she…” I don’t finish that sentence, because I can’t say the words.I feel sick all over again.
