Chapter 39
“I have the sudden urge to apologize. Profusely. With food.”
-Aaron
Surprise. It’s a boy.
Camellia’s words bounce around my head again and again. Right after she dropped that little nugget, police officers and my EMT crew showed up on the scene. They cut Cat Saber out of the car and took her to the hospital. Camellia rode along, bitching about the fact that she was headed back to the very hospital she had just left.
So, I waited.
And stared at Ryan, who also returned to the hospital with me.
Why would Camellia keep this from me?
Why would she keepmy sonfrom me?
The more I waited, the madder I got. I am so mad I can barely speak. And that causes me to pace around the hospital waiting room.
A waiting room that’s full of Camellia’s family.
“You keep pacing like that, Chief, and you’re going to tear a hole in the linoleum,” Wysdom Ward points at me. She’s bouncing one of the twins on her knee. “I know you’re worried about Cam, but she’ll be alright.”
“Of course, she’ll be alright,” Carmen waves her hand. “My daughters are very strong. They can survive anything!”
“That they can,Mi Amor,” Luis pats her hand and sniffs. “I’m glad they arrested that terrorist. What happens next?”
Celia’s knuckles are white as she grips Carolina’s hand. “Well, Papa, they’ll take Dakota Helfinger and transfer him to a maximum security holding facility to await trial. There are a lot of charges against that butthead.”
“Thank goodness Aaron, and Ryan were there to hold him until the police showed up,” Carolina nods toward us.
Ryan flushes bright red, right to the tips of his ears. The sight of it squeezes my chest tighter. A part of me thought this might be a cosmic joke. There was no way Camellia would keep a secret son from her family, as close as they are. But the way he blushes, the shape of his eyes, and how he carries himself leave little room for doubt about who his mom is.
We’re both saved from awkwardness by Dr. Binford entering the waiting room. “Good news, Cat is banged up, but she’s going to be okay. Probably have to stay on light duty for a few weeks.”
“What about Camellia?” I croak out.
Dr. Binford nods toward me. “She’s fine. And she does want to talk to you, Chief. Everyone else will be allowed to visit - two at a time - in a few minutes. Follow me, Chief Pearce.”
Dead man walkingis the thought in my mind as my feet propel me down the hallway. The smell of antiseptics assaults my nose. The constant beeping of machines monitoring patients, or keeping them alive, creates a din in my brain.
I don’t know why I’m nervous. I’m not the one who lied.
We arrive at a small, private waiting room. Camellia is inside. She pats the seat next to her, then smiles at the doctor, who closes the door on her way out.
I take a good look at the woman in front of me. The stress and trauma of the last week have taken their toll. There are new lines around her eyes. The purple bruising on her face from the crash accentuated the dark circles from lack of sleep. The angry red gash across her forehead. Her skin has a gray pallor to it, and I swear she’s lost more weight since yesterday. Camellia smiles brightly, but her slouched shoulders give her away. She’s curved in on herself, protective against my impending wrath.
I have every fucking right to be pissed at her. I should rail and yell and throw things around the room. But the sight of her defeated posture takes the fight all out of me.
I slump into the chair. “When were you going to tell me?”
She exhales loudly and leans toward me. “It’s not what you think.”
“He’s your son,” I shake my head. “There’s no leeway for me to think anything else. It’s so obvious to me. Especially when he’s embarrassed. He turns red at the tips of his ears as you do.”
She smirks and meets my eyes for a brief moment. “He does?”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, he does.”
