He nodded briskly. “I’ll pack up your food and bring it to your room.”
“Thanks,” I said, but over my shoulder because I was already halfway out the door, dialing Violet.
“Hey,” she said.
“Did you read the news?”
“Margot just told me,” she said. “Do you think I need to come forward?”
“No, not if you don’t want to. Honestly, it’s probably better this way. It’s a felony to assault medical staff. Doesn’t bode well for his career.” A soft sob came through the line, and I couldn’t imagine how hard this must be for her. “How are you?”
“Confused. Relieved? Guilty.”
“Why guilty?” I asked.
“Maybe if I had come forward, this wouldn’t have happened to her.”
I hummed. “That’s a valid way to feel, but who knows? You know a lot of things go wrong when you report stuff like this.”
“I know. I just wish it didn’t happen at all.”
“Me either, baby. I wish I could hug you.”
“Me too.” Her voice broke.
“I will give you the biggest hug ever known to man when I get home.”
She gave a wet laugh. “I know you will. Even Margot hugged me. That’s twice in a few days.”
“Wow. Soak it up, right? She’s anti-hug?”
“Very much so.” She sniffled and sobbed a little more. “I wish I could do something, but it all makes my stomach hurt.”
“Maybe when you’ve taken some time, you could reach out to the nurse. I bet she’d like to talk to you. You know how lonely it feels.”
“I do. That’s a good idea.”
“What are you doing the rest of the day?” I asked.
“Margot told me to go home, but I’d rather bug her all day,” she said, and a little chuckle came from the background. “She told me if I stay, I have to reorganize the storage closet.”
“Ooh, well at least that’s a fun place,” I said, and Violet giggled. “Can you see your therapist? Can I set something up for you?”
“Already on it. And I had plans to hang out with Jeanine after work anyway.”
“You gonna go?”
“Yeah. I think it’ll be good to see people.”
“Good.” I paused, afraid to make her cry again. “You’re not alone, baby. We’ve all got you.”
She did cry again, but it didn’t feel wrong. She probably needed to cry. “I love you, Colt.”
“I love you too.” A tear snuck out of my eye and I wiped it away. “Killing me not to be there to hold you.”
I could hear the smile in her voice. “Just hold me extra when you get home.”
“Consider it done.”
