“No drugs,” Raven demands.
Griffin gapes. “But Sunshine?—”
“No,” Raven insists again.
“Okay, no anesthesia,” I concede reluctantly. Pinching my lips together, I get to work suturing her wound instead of answering her question.
“What happened here, Raven?” Griffin questions.
“Not right now, please. I just—I can’t—” Raven rolls her lips inward. She hops up from the gurney and jumps down from the ambulance. “It’s time to pick up Noah. I better get going.” Then she takes off.
Griffin and I hasten after her and catch up easily. The pandemonium out here has calmed considerably because thefirefighters were finally able to extinguish the fire. Although the nosy crowd has multiplied.
Griffin stops Raven with a hand on her shoulder. “Hey, I’m not so sure you’re okay to?—”
Raven spins around abruptly, jerking back from Griffin’s touch. From me. “I don’t have any other choice. I’m a single mom. I’m the only one Noah has. It’s all on me to make sure he’s fed, he’s safe, he’s clothed. I can’t afford to be anything but okay.”
Grasping her shoulders, I spin her to me, making sure her eyes are only on me. “Darlin’, ever heard that saying, ‘it takes a village?’”
“Yes.”
“Well, you’re part of our village now. You and Noah. Griffin and I may not be experienced in childcare, but we’re here.” I bend and rest my forehead against hers, lowering my voice. “You’re not alone in this. You’ll never be alone like that again.”
A tear trickles out from the corner of her eye. Raven’s voice is high-pitched with emotion. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
“I would move heaven and earth for you, Darlin’. Don’t doubt that.”
Another tear.
Her eyes search mine for the lie, but she won’t find it. Because I’m not lying. Raven and Noah aren’t on their own anymore.
“Okay,” she whispers. That one simple word makes me feel like I’ve won the Texas lottery. That four-letter word is another foot in the door, another step closer to convincing her that she’s ours.
“Miss Henry?”
Raven takes a step back, but I grab hold of her hand and intertwine our fingers together. And she lets me.
The man who was handing Sheriff Jackson his ass earlier stands next to us, a concerned look on his face. I want to shield her body with mine, but she wouldn’t like that.
“What can I do for you, Officer?” The exhaustion in Raven’s voice is apparent. Griffin notices it too. We nod at each other, solidifying our plans for the rest of the evening.
“Officer Langston, ma’am.” He tips his hat politely. “I know this isn’t easy, but I need to ask you a few questions.”
Griffin steps in. “Could the questions wait? Raven needs to get her son from school.”
Raven’s shoulders relax at the idea that she won’t have to repeat her story all over again. I’m not even sure how she’s still standing. The adrenaline has left her body by now.
“Miss Henry?” Langston asks, wanting Raven’s input.
“Yes. My son Noah is just at the elementary school right there.” Raven uses her thumb to point over her shoulder. “Would it be possible to be interviewed at my home? I-I can’t be here anymore.”
“Of course, ma’am.”
“Thank you, Officer.”
Raven breaks our connection as she turns to head to Mystic River Elementary. But I quickly take hold of her other hand, and once again, she lets me. Griffin drapes his arm across Raven’s shoulders, and we walk together.
The knot in my chest eases a fraction. This feeling, this sense of home. It’s like this is how it was always meant to be.
