Page 35 of Savage SEAL's Virgin
“Shh. It’s going to be okay, Veronica. They’ll help her. We’re at the hospital now.” Her mother was taken out of the ambulance as the poor girl cried hysterically. I got out of the ambulance and followed them inside.
“Mommy!” The paramedic gave me a look that said screaming children inside the emergency area that was about to be overrun with the accident victims was a terrible idea. I nodded in silent understanding and took her around to the outside waiting area. I had to calm her down before we went inside. Taking a seat on the bench, I rocked her and shushed her until she was quiet. She’d fallen asleep, and I couldn’t have been happier.
Going inside, I went to the nurse at the check-in area, told her who I was, and said that I had the Snyder’s daughter. I told her I’d be waiting right there with her and to please keep me updated on their status. She assured me she would, and I took a seat at the far end of the waiting area as I knew it was about to get packed in there.
Holding that little girl had me feeling the oddest thing in the world. Normal! She felt at home in my arms. It had me thinking about Blyss and how I’d love nothing more than to start a family as soon as she was able to. I knew she would have healing to do before that happened, but I couldn’t wait to see if she would be up for it.
As I was lost in thought and Veronica was lost in dreamland, asleep on my shoulder, I leaned my chin against her little head. One of the nurses came to me. “Mr. Snyder is in surgery for two broken legs. One of them is very bad and amputation is being considered. Mrs. Snyder has bleeding on the brain. She’ll be taken into surgery as soon as the neurosurgeon arrives, which should be very soon. She’s already prepped. I’m afraid neither of them has been conscious enough to tell us if there is anyone to take care of their daughter. I can have social services pick her up.”
“No way in hell,” I whispered as sternly as I could. “I talked to her mother. She knows I have her daughter. You can ask the paramedics that brought her in if you have to. They overheard us talking. I’ll stay here at the hospital as long as I need to. Don’t worry about me and don’t call social services to come get this little girl, or they’ll have a fight on their hands. Got me?”
“I got you, Mr. Masterson.” She turned to walk away, then turned back around. “You know, a lot of nasty things have been said about you since Blyss Danner was brought in last week. You have a supporter in me now. No one better say a bad word about you when I’m around. You let me know if you need anything. I’ve got your back.”
“Good to know.” I nodded at her. “And thank you. There’s a lot to the story that no one’s been told. I love Blyss more than anything. I’d never hurt her. No matter what anyone thinks.”
She left me with a smile as she went back to dealing with the throngs of people who were converging on the emergency room that night. And she left me feeling a bit better about things. One by one, I could get people to see me as the man I was, not the one the media had made me out to be.
That room began to fill up to more than capacity, and I went to tell the nurse where I’d be taking Veronica. “Hey, since her parents are up in surgery, I’m going to a waiting room up there. I’ll check in with the nurses’ station up there, okay?”
She was so busy all she could do was nod, and I took off. I had to pass the ICU ward as I made my way to the bank of elevators that would take me upstairs. Hesitating for a moment, I found one of the nurses walking out. She stopped and looked at me. “You’ve acquired a little girl, Mr. Masterson. And word has spread like wildfire through this hospital about you.”
“All good, I hope.”
“All good. Great, as a matter of fact. Blyss is asleep right now. Morphine was administered, so she won’t be woken up. But I want to let you know we told her the truth and she also recalled the actual events that brought her to us. When she wakes up, I’ll tell her I let you know that. She was upset when she realized you didn’t hurt her.”
I was more than relieved. “Do you have any idea who I can talk to about seeing her on the up and up?”
“In the morning, about nine, the chaplain might be able to bring you in with him. He’s done that on occasion. Stop by the chapel to talk to him before nine.”
Finally, I’d caught a break. Seems my good deed was giving me some great karma. “I’ll do that. Thank you. Thank you so much!”
With a new light on the situation, I took the little girl up to a much quieter waiting room and relaxed. I’d get to see Blyss in the light of day, I prayed.
Blyss
When my eyes opened, I found Troy sitting next to a man in a pale blue suit. There was a little dark-haired girl on Troy’s lap and she was playing with his cell phone. He sat her on the chair and came to me. “Hey, pretty lady.” He brushed my hair back and kissed my cheek. “I love you.”
He took my hand and I gave a squeeze. “I love you too. I’m sorry …” His lips touched mine, stopping me from saying anything else.
“Don’t be sorry. It’s all understandable. I’m just glad you know now that I wasn’t the one who hurt you. And the man who did that is in jail. He’ll never see the outside world again; I promise you that.”
“When I was falling asleep, I overheard something about you and something about being critical. What was that all about?”
“There was an auto accident just down the street from here as I was about to leave. I helped out with it, and some of the people who were brought in were in bad shape. That’s what that was all about.”
“That makes sense. And who do you have with you?” I looked around him at the other two people and found the little girl smiling at me.
“Hi, I’m Veronica. Mr. Troy is watching me while my mommy and daddy get better.” She gave me a wave.
All I could manage was a nod. “Nice to meet you, Veronica. I’m Blyss.”
“Oh, I know that. Mr. Troy told me all about you and how he loves you so much.”
Heat filled my cheeks as I blushed. “He did?”
“Um, hmm.” She went back to playing with his cell as the other man got up and came to the other side of the bed. “He broke the window of my dad’s car and rescued me. He’s taking care of me while Mom and Dad get better.”
“I’m Reverend Sloan. I’ve come to visit you every day since you were brought here. I can see you’re doing much better than you were, and I heard you’ll be starting therapy to get those body parts moving again. A week in bed can take a month to get over.”
