When he turned back he tilted his head back toward the door. "They're going to bring us a wheelchair. It's hospital rules. As soon as they do, we'll head out to the parking lot and head on home."
It was probably horrible for her to think it, but she was a little sad that they were heading home.
She wished that Katie had never been hurt. That went without saying.
Ruth just didn't look forward to heading home.
Alone.
She tried to keep all of those thoughts off of her face.
She smiled as brightly as she could when Katie looked up at her.
"You're coming with us, right, Miss Baker?"
Ruth smiled. "If you can drop me off at the theater," she looked at Nick hoping that he could help her out, "that would be great. I have to get my car."
Nick shook his head and her hard won smile threatened to fall to pieces.
"I'll have someone pick up your car for you if you can give me your keys. There's no way I'm dropping you off at the theater to drive home after all of the excitement today."
She nodded. His words made sense. "Thanks, Nick. I know you and Katy are probably going to relax tonight. You both deserve it."
"Dad?" Katie crooked her finger at her father and he leaned in to listen to what she had to say.
Ruth turned around to make sure they were going to take everything from the room that they'd brought in with them. When she'd picked up her purse and Katie's dance bag and someone had brought it from the dressing room, she turned back to see father and daughter looking expectantly at her.
"What's going on?"
Katie grinned and Nick spoke.
"Katie and I want to know if you'd like to stay over tonight."
Ruth's instinct was to decline the offer.
It wasn't that she didn't want to stay.
The problem was how much she did.
"Please, Miss Baker? For me?"
Ruth knew hours ago as she'd held Katie's hand that she was likely to agree to anything Katie wanted from her.
It was just too easy to fall for the young lady who seemed to be growing by leaps and bounds every single day.
"Ruth?"
She turned her head ever-so-slightly to look at Nick.
"We'd really like for you to stay."
It was all too easy to open her mouth and agree. "Sure. I'd love to."
Katie beamed at her and Nick gave her a look that melted her like the chocolate she used to cover truffles.
She knew she was lost in love for this father and daughter.
Lost and somehow found as well.
