Page 118 of No Way Home
I hadn’t forgotten, not for a second, and I doubted anyone else had either. But the momentary distraction had been nice.
Dr. Farouk chuckled. “It’s fun to see the Dupree family in real life. Y’all are spicy,” he said, like it was a good thing. “Reminds me of my family. I can see why James is so strong.” But then he went serious again. “Unfortunately, only immediate family will be allowed to see him in the ICU.”
None of the adults seemed surprised. Disappointed but not surprised. But the kids started whining.
“Stop,” Holden silenced them. “There are reasons why, and he’s about to tell us if we’ll let him.” He cocked a brow at Farouk. “Right?”
Dr. Farouk nodded. “Infection is the big one. We have to reduce the number of germs James is exposed to.”
“What about the baby?” Sophie asked. “James will want to see Willow.”
Farouk’s lips pressed together. “It’ll be a few days.”
Sophie looked at Dad for help, but he just shook his head. She wanted to argue. It was in the stiffness of her shoulders and her clenched fists.
“James is going to be okay, though,” Griffin said, reminding her to keep things in perspective. “That’s the important thing.”
“You heard the man,” Ford said to the group. “Everyone but immediate family needs to go.”
No one argued, but no one looked happy either. Well, except for the younger kids, who could barely keep their eyes open. As everyone began their goodbye hugs, I edged away from the group and slid my phone out just enough to check the notification.
Magnolia
I’m so happy that Griffin wants to reconcile. I truly mean that. My greatest regret for the past two years was that I was the catalyst that finally broke you two in half. This restoration, this wholeness, is exactly what your family needs right now—and there’s no way I’m getting in the way of that.
I love you, Bowen. So much. I always will. I wish you all the happiness. You deserve it.
I will continue to pray for James. I’m turning my phone off now so you can focus on your family —Magnolia
My heart jackknifed hard enough that I had to bend over, hands on my thighs, to catch my breath. Because that was abreakup text if I’d ever seen one. She didn’t even end it withloveorwah-hoo-wah. “Setting herself on fire then,” I muttered.
Panic set in, and it gave me a shot of adrenaline. I casually strolled over to Charlie, put my arm around her neck, and guided her away from Jane and Belle.
“Do you know where Magnolia went?” I whispered.
She turned to face me, her big brown eyes hooking mine. “No. I texted, but she’s not responding.”
“You don’t have her location on Find My Friends?”
Her eyes flashed past me and she blanched.
“Are you all looking for Maggie?” Griffin asked, suddenly behind us.
I flinched, and my fingernails cut into my palms. Welp. That reconciliation lasted a whole half hour. I slowly turned, dreading what was coming.
He shook his phone, expression completely unreadable. “Got your girlfriend right here on Find My Friends.”
Chapter Forty-Two
MAGNOLIA
The factthat I’d fallen asleep on a slab of marble, traffic blaring on the next street over, still not knowing if James was going to live or die, only proved how exhausted I was.
But the subconscious is a funny thing because my eyes flew open when I heard a familiar pair of footsteps coming my way. I sat up with a jerk, heart exploding in my chest. I glanced to my right, sure this anxiety was the result of a nightmare.
Nope.
It really was Griffin. Coming up the sidewalk, hands shoved in his pockets, he tossed his chin up like we were buddies. Huh?
