But that wasn’t the only reason she was excited. She could sense King’s feelings warming toward them. He might not have said it yet, but he cared for her, and he cared for Faith. There was no way he would have arranged for this top-secret trip to the hospital in the middle of the night if hedidn’t.
So he was a bit gruff around the edges tonight, she was more than willing todeal.
Juarez turned the vehicle into the covered parking lot, rolling to a stop in front of the elevator doors leading up to the hospital. Gray concrete walls flanked them on all sides and a few cars dotted the interior. The place was basically deserted, as it should be at two o’clock in the morning. Faith started to lean up and look out the window. Laura put a hand on her shoulder, keeping her down. “Stay down until they get us out, okay?” shesigned.
“I need to go to the bathroom,” Faith quickly signed back. Laura bit her lip to keep from grinning. In her short tenure as aunt and mother, she’d learned that Faith’s bladder was about the size of her pinkyfinger.
“We’ll go inside, for now we have to wait on Mr. King and Mr.Juarez.”
King lifted his arm and spoke slowly into what she figured out was a hidden microphone and then he nodded to Juarez. “We’reclear.”
Both men got out, opening the door closest to the elevator. He reached in and held out his hand and Laura took it and slid from the car. “Thankyou.”
Only King wasn’t looking at her, he was scanning the parking lot, his gaze moving with purpose and concentration. Juarez did the same, his hand resting lightly on the bulge near the waistband of his pants. She’d known the men were armed, but seeing them like this, as if they were preparing for battle, made her frown. Not because she was scared, but because she knew they were expecting her brother to come in guns blazing and kill themall.
A dash of darkness had thrown her happiness. Laura reached inside the car for Faith, and lifted her onto her hip and carried her to the elevator. King and Juarez entered silently behind her, the door slid shut and then they were movingup.
Faith trapped Kitty between her arm and Laura’s chest, and she got a whiff of the stuffed animal. She quickly fanned her hand under her nose and pointed to Kitty. “Kitty needs a bath,” shemouthed.
“Cats don’t take baths,” Faithsigned.
“This onedoes.”
Faith gave up on the conversation and laid her head down on Laura’s shoulder. Laura shifted, adjusting Faith up higher on her hip. She might be small for seven years but the girl was solid, and Laura’s arm had already started toache.
King reached for her, taking Faith from her arms before Laura could protest. “I’ve gother.”
Faith immediately got comfortable, wrapped her back arm around King’s neck and laid her face on his chest just like she belonged there. Laura’s heart squeezed. “Thanks.”
He held her naturally, as if he’d been holding her his whole life. What would he do when he found out Faith wasn’t herdaughter?
Laura had to look away, focusing on her hazy reflection in the stainless-steel elevator doors, praying he wouldn’t see the guilt rushing to her face. These past several days they’d blended so easily together. They’d turned into a type of pseudo family. And in her foolish need to be closer to King, she’d allowed herself to pretend that theywere.
The elevator doors dinged open and Juarez exited first. King gestured for Laura to follow and then he brought up the rear, Faith in his arms. They traveled in silence down the half-lit hallways of the audiology and speech clinic, well away from the active section of the hospital. The clinic here would only need to be open during normal business hours, allowing them to now move aboutfreely.
They stopped in front of room 504. Juarez held up a hand and then extracted his pistol. Laura’s breath caught. He eased the door open and peered inside. Seconds later, he holstered his weapon and gestured for them to enter. “Allclear.”
Juarez opened the door wide. King waited on Laura to enter first. She entered the smallest clinical room where a young woman she didn’t recognize stood next to a computer, an open and friendly smile on her face. She stuck out her hand as Laura got close, “I’m Dr. Bentley, you can call me Breanne. I’m a friend of MelissaAvery’s.”
Laura shook her hand, glancing back at King. For some reason, she’d assumed they’d be seeing Faith’s original audiologist. He gave her a reassuring nod and Laura returned the handshake. “I’m Laura, and this is Faith. Thank you so much for doing this forus.”
Breanne waved a hand in front of her. “Think nothing of it. I know Melissa wouldn’t have asked unless there was a need. Now, are you ready to get down tobusiness?”
Faith let out a long, sleepy yawn, drawing a chuckle from Laura. “We’d better or I’m afraid our patient is going to fall sleep before she gets her newprocessor.”
“I’ll leave y’all to it then,” Juarez said and stepped out into the hallway. “Holler if you needanything.”
Once the door was shut, Breanne gestured for them all to take a seat around the small table near the laptop. Laura slid easily into her chair. King carefully perched on his with Faith still huddled on his lap. The bright orange plastic chair groaned under hisweight.
Laura scooted to the edge of her seat, ready to sweep in if the chair gave way, but after a few seconds it held firm and she relaxed. King gently rubbed his hand in small circles on Faith’s tiny back. Laura’s heart squeezed for the second time thatnight.
Breanne got down to business, picking up a small bright yellow processor off the table. It was connected by a tiny wire to her laptop. “Faith, are you ready to put thison?”
Breanne spoke slowly, very clearly enunciating her words and lip movements. Faith stayed tucked in close to King andnodded.
Breanne glanced up at King with a small smile. “You might have to scoot her my way just a littlebit.”
“All right.” King pulled Faith’s arm from behind his neck and picked her up, turning her so that she facedBreanne.
