Page 172 of The Persistence of Thornes
Laith presses his lips together. “I don’t know.”
Though I’m grateful that he’s not sugarcoating the truth, I hate his answer.
Thayer joins us with Salem in tow. Her face is red and splotchy, and stress lines bracket her mouth.
“Hey,” she says softly, sitting in the empty chair to my left. “Come here.”
She’s not much older than I am, but the maternal way she speaks has me diving into her arms for comfort.
I’ve always prided myself on standing on my own, on not needing anyone, but I’ve come to realize there’s much more strength to be had in finding people I can trust to shoulder some of my burdens.
Salem holds me, letting me cry on her shoulder.
“I’m so scared.” The words come out broken. “I can’t lose him.”
“I know.” She rubs my back. “I know.”
Thayer steps away, his phone to his ear.
“M-My mom,” I croak out. “What happened to her?”
Salem exhales a shaky breath. Every person we care about has to be traumatized. Talk about a horrifying situation. All because my mom has well and truly lost her mind.
“She put down the gun and went with the cops willingly.”
“All this because she thought I rattedher out.” Another sob rips out of me. “Am I going to lose him because of her selfishness?”
Salem touches my cheek, gently wiping my tears away. “Caleb is one of the toughest people I know. I don’t think he’s going anywhere.”
“I can’t lose him. I just… I can’t.”
“It’s all going to be okay,” she says, wrapping her arms around me once more.
When Thayer turns around, still on the phone, his face drawn and his eyes bloodshot, I’m not so sure.
CHAPTER 44
HALLE
It’s dark out when a doctor finally comes to talk to us.
The moment I see him headed in our direction, my stomach sinks. I swallow down the bile quickly rising in my throat. My heart beats so hard that I can hear it in my ears as I try and fail to read the doctor’s flat expression.
“Are you the family of Caleb Thorne?”
“Yes.” Somehow, I find the strength to stand, though my legs are wobbly, and wrap my arms around my body, trying to hold the fragile, broken pieces of myself together. “I’m his… I’m his wife.”
Salem stands with me, looping herarm through mine.
“Is he okay?” she asks, since I can’t seem to find the words to ask myself.
The doctor rubs at his jaw. “We got the bullet out and stitched everything up. He lost more blood than we’d like, but no vital organs were damaged. He’s doing better than we expected already. He’s still asleep in recovery, but as soon as he’s moved to a room, family can see him.”
I can barely see through my tears. “He’s going to be okay?”
He dips his chin. “Everything is looking promising.”
If it weren’t for the way my friends support me, I’m fairly certain I’d fall to the floor. “That’s good. That’s really good.” I struggle to catch my breath, my chest still tight.
