Page 9 of Stand By You
“Really? She didn’t want me out of this bed earlier when Detective Simons got word of the child abduction at the zoo and I was worried that it might have been Travis. I didn’t react well. I tried to get up.”
“I see,” Nick said. “I can see you doing that. You really care for the child.”
“I do. Like he was my own,” she said. “I’ve been with him since he was two.”
Nick nodded. “It would be hard not to when you’ve been with him for six years.”
“Yes.” A tear rolled down her cheek as she recalled Travis’ confession to her about how he wanted her to be his mother instead of Abby. And it would take time for Travis to see that Abby could be the mother he needed and not her.
“Is something wrong?” Nick asked.
Jillian wiped away the tear. “Just remembering what Travis said to me last night. He’s the sweetest kid.”
“We’ll get you home to him as soon as we can,” he said. “The nurse said you’ll be discharged as soon as PT finishes with you.”
“Really?” she said not believing that could be possible.
“That is what she said.”
As if on cue that door opened and two people from Physical Therapy came in and began to work with Jillian. They fitted her for a boot to support her left leg and ankle and got her up out of bed mindful of the catheter that was still in place so she could walk around the room. They even fitted her right shoe with a padded sole to make the boot and her shoe the same height.
Once PT left, the nurse returned with a light-colored sweat suit and a plastic draw string hospital bag. “Sorry, but your clothes were cut off in the ER to get to your injuries. Let me help you get dressed,” she said turning to look at Nick. “If you don’t mind leaving the room.”
“Of course,” he said.
“I’ll remove the catheter first and then we’ll put on your underwear,” she said, reaching for a pair of latex gloves from one of the three boxes on the wall. Within minutes, Jillian was dressed, and except for some minor pain, felt almost normal.
“I’ll get your discharge papers. That should give you a few moments to rest,” the nurse said, removing the latex gloves and tossing them into a bin. Nick passed her as she left.
“Looks like you were right, they are discharging me,” she said.
“Yes. Should I get my car?” he asked.
“I wouldn’t be in a hurry,” she said. “I hear ‘Be right back’ can take a long time.”
Half an hourlater they were on their way to the McGinty house. Jillian was sore, but she was glad to be going to her own bed for the night. And she was looking forward to seeing Travis and hearing about his adventures at the zoo. After a quick stop at the pharmacy to pick up her medication, they were once again on their way home. But as they pulled up in front of the house an apprehension rose in her stomach at the sight of Detective Simons getting out of his car.
“Oh Lord,” she said. “I knew. I knew when he got that call it was Travis.”
“You don’t know that for sure,” Nick cautioned her. “Don’t go borrowing trouble before it is warranted.”
“Why else would he be here?”
“Maybe he called the hospital to check on you and found out you were released so he came over to see you?” Nick suggested.
“He could have just called.”
Nick turned off the engine and opened his door. The detective came over and opened Jillian’s door. He offered her his hand. “I’m glad to see they released you today.”
“Thank you,” she said.
“Let’s go inside,” Simons said.
“Yes, I’m anxious to see Travis,” Jillian said pushing past the detective and hobbling on her boot toward the front door where Mrs. Hudson had appeared, her face ashen. “Mrs. Hudson? Where’s Travis?”
“Don’t you know? Didn’t the detective tell you?” the housekeeper asked.
Understanding hit Jillian with the force of a blow just before she screamed, “No!” and everything went black.
