“Let’s go see her,” he said.
“I’ll get the dog home,” Swole said, picking up the furball as she pulled her cellphone out.
So, we left, heading to the woman that we both loved.
Twenty-Four
Erica
I awoke suddenly, with panic gripping my mind. My eyes popped open as I recalled what had happened and tried to figure out where I was, if I was okay.
Jeff. A threat. Danger.
Dominic. Gone. Safe.
Trainer.Staring at me.
The room around me was white, and my peripheral vision picked up machinery at my side, as well as raised bed rails. I was in a hospital.
Trainer was the only person in the room, sitting in a small plastic chair at my side that he was really too big for. His elbows rested on his knees, and he stared at me, nonplussed.
“Dominic?” I asked, my voice soft, but my body tense.
“He’s here. In the bathroom,” Trainer nodded toward a door on the other side of the room.
I relaxed, relief flooding me. I wasn’t thrilled to be in the hospital, and Jeff having found me changed things, but at least I still had Dominic.
“He’s okay?”
Before Trainer could answer, the bathroom door opened, and a blur of brown hair came flying at me.
“Mom, you’re awake!”
Dominic had almost reached my bed when Trainer’s arms shot out, snatching him up.
“Whoa, bud. Remember what we talked about? Your mom’s injuries?”
“Oh. Right?”
“What’s going on?” I asked, starting to sit up. A sharp pain in my side put a stop to that quickly, and I gasped as I laid down flat once again.
“That,” Trainer nodded. “Three broken ribs. A twisted ankle. Head injury. We talked about how important it was to be careful around you.”
“Sorry,” Dominic said. “I forgot.”
“That’s okay, honey,” I told him. “Maybe you can sit next to me instead?”
Trainer placed him on the bed next to my hip. Reaching out, I ran a hand over his hair. He looked fine, completely unharmed.
“I wish you hadn’t seen that,” I said. He sobered up, and I could the sadness in his eyes.
“I’m sorry, mom. I’m sorry I left. Trainer said it was good when he found me, but…”
“Trainer’s right. You did great.”
I looked at Trainer, and my heart seemed to expand in my chest. He had found Dominic. Nothing meant more to me in the world.
“Where is he?” I asked Trainer.
