“April?”
Her worried eyes lock with mine, and we both move at the same time, rushing toward each other and colliding in a tight hug.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, tears already filling my eyes again.
“We got on a plane as fast as we could,” she says. “I couldn’t leave you here alone.”
I pull back just long enough to look at her before hugging her again.
Her hand begins rubbing slow circles across my back, just like Mom used to do when we were sick, and the comfort that settles over me at having her here is stronger than I expected.
When we finally pull apart, I turn to Max and hug him too.
“Thank you for coming.”
“Of course,” he says, hugging me back. “Whatever you need, we’re here.”
April turns to Finn and wraps him in a hug.
“You wonderful human being,” she tells him.
Finn chuckles.
“This is my boyfriend, Max,” she says, introducing them.
Max steps forward and offers his hand.
“Thank you for your service.”
Finn shakes it firmly.
“Aye. Nice to meet you, lad.”
“So tell us all about it,” April says eagerly.
And he does.
A few minutes later, we’re all settled into the waiting room chairs, me between April and Finn while she holds my hand and listens wide-eyed as Finn retells the story of the rescue, gasping and oohing at all the right moments.
And as I sit there surrounded by them, watching the people who rushed here without hesitation just to stand beside me inone of the hardest moments of my life, I can’t help but feel how lucky I am.
Because somehow, in the middle of all of this chaos and fear, I get to call these wonderful people my family.
About an hour passes before Uncle Mike and Nathan make their way back into the waiting room.
Aiden’s uncle looks exhausted, the weight of the day written plainly across his face as he makes his way carefully across the room with his cane steady in one hand. The moment he sees me standing there waiting for him, his expression softens.
I cross the distance between us and wrap my arms around him.
He hugs me back just as tightly.
“Thank you,” he says after a moment, his voice quiet but full of meaning. “For taking such good care of him.”
Emotion presses suddenly against the back of my throat, but I manage a small nod when I pull back to look at him.
“I’m not going anywhere. I’ll stay with him as long as he needs.”
He studies my face for a moment before turning to Finn, who has already stood to greet him.
