“I’m fine, thanks.” Did Jeff’s bringing her here mean anything, or was he simply allowing her to meet his son, like they’d talked about on the drive from Virginia?
Jeff rounded the bed and stroked Evan’s hair, leaning toward the boy, whose eyes had opened. “Hey, bud.”
“Dad!” Evan blinked and sat up with obvious effort.“You’re back.” He hooked an arm around Jeff’s neck and whispered, “I thought maybe you weren’t coming back.”
Tara bit her lip and pressed a knuckle against the tingling sensation in her nose. She’d cried too much already this weekend.
“Never, peanut. I just went to get my friend and it took longer than I expected. I’m sorry.”
Evan released his hold and lay back with a frown, his eyes neverleaving Jeff’s face. “It’s okay.”
Jeff cleared his throat and gestured behind him. “Miss Tara is here. Do you want to say hi?”
Evan nodded, his hazel gaze taking her in as Jeff raised the back of the bed for him. “Tara Foo-jee-mo-to?” he asked.
She smiled at the way he sounded out every syllable, so carefully and perfectly. “Yes. I’m happy to meet you.”
“Thank you for the socks.” He grinnedand tunneled a foot through the mound of covers until it stuck out the side so he could wiggle his toes. “Spider-Man is awesome.”
Tara couldn’t stop a small laugh. “I think so too.” Despite the physical and emotional pain he had to be suffering, he was so sweet. “Who else do you like?”
“Bumblebee.”
“The car from Transformers?” she asked.
He nodded, his eyes lighting. “And Mr. Incredible.And Pikachu.”
“All good choices.” Tara was finally starting to relax. The morning’s ordeal already felt like a bad dream, but it wasn’t over—not while the person behind today’s attempt on her and Jeff’s lives was still a mystery. Since she wasn’t going to make it to Virginia for her meeting with Detective Niegard tomorrow morning, she’d told the local police everything, and sat with a sketchartist to make a decent drawing of the blonde. “My best friend’s son is a big fan of Mr. Incredible and Spider-Man too.”
“How old is he?” Evan asked.
“Three.” She’d called Mick on her way to the hospital to let him know what had happened and explained why she couldn’t return yet. He’d sounded ready to crush heads on her behalf, but she wasn’t going to let him leave Jenna for anything. Afterassuring him that she was fine and that she’d call Kurt with an update, he reluctantly let her go. “His name is Robbie.”
“I have a friend named Robbie in my preschool class, but he’s five.”
Tara smiled. The poor kid probably missed his friends.
Evan smiled back and her heart melted even more.
“Hey, kiddo,” Jeff said, “can you keep Miss Tara company for me? I have to talk to the doctorabout how soon we can get you out of here, okay?”
“Now?” Evan said, his voice turning whiny? “You just got here.”
Jeff leaned down and put his forehead to Evan’s. “I’m sorry, Ev. I’ll be as quick as I can.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
Evan held his gaze for several heartbeats and then nodded.
“Maybe you can show Miss Tara your dog while I’m gone.”
“Okay.” Evan didn’t smile, but he didn’tbeg Jeff to stay.
“I’ll be back as soon as possible,” Jeff said to Tara, giving her hand a quick squeeze. He whispered, “I’m going to call Olivia and have her post a guard outside the door.”
Evan was watching, but she forced herself not to pull away.
