Page 46 of Her Loving Hero

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Wyatt feltlike he was in the middle of that movie Groundhog Day or something as he snuck into the hospital hallway to call Emily.

“Wyatt?”

“Honey, everybody’s fine,” he rushed to assure her. He knew that was going to be uppermost on her mind. “As a matter of fact, your sister and her friends did really well,” he whispered as he went further down the hall. He didn’t want anybody overhearing what he was saying.

“Wyatt, I want to tell you-”

“Just one more thing Em,” he interrupted her.

“Okay,” she said slowly.

“Your sister is fine. She’s going home with your mom. She had to get a few stitches.”

“I thought you said everybody’s fine,” she said sharply. “How could everybody be fine if Carly needed stitches?” Emily demanded angrily.

“Emily, there were no weapons of any kind, there was one guy who threw a table and glasses shattered, one cut Carly. She needed stitches. She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“This is not making me feel better.” Emily was definitely mad. “Can I talk to her?”

“Honey, your mom is with her right now. If I handed over the phone it would seem weird.”

There was a long pause. He could picture Emily pulling herself together. She’d be squaring her shoulders and tilting her chin upwards.

“Are you in a good place to talk?” she asked.

“Sure. Kane’s arranging for a flight home right now. He figures we’ve got the proof that he and his lieutenant will need to convince the brass that those al-Qaeda leaders are alive. That will make these threats a number one priority.”

“So, you’ll be home soon?” Emily asked.

“Yep.”

“Good.”

“You’ve missed me?” he teased.

“Wyatt, I’m here at the hospital with your brother Ben, he’s been in a bad accident.”

“Ben? Hospital?”

“Yes. Ben Mazur, your younger brother.” It was as if Emily’s words were piped in from a different universe.

The yellow of the hallway seemed to close in like sour butter. Acrid smells of antiseptic gusted into his nostrils, making it hard for him to breathe. His eyes watered and he had to hold onto his phone with all of his might so that his clammy hands didn’t drop it.

“Benny? Benny’s hurt?” Did he just moan those words? “How bad Em. Tell me.”

“Right now, they’ve got him in a medically induced coma, he was in a motorcycle accident in San Bernardino.”

Wyatt turned so that his head rested against the wall. He swallowed, trying not to gag. Finally, he could talk again. “But he lives in Indiana. I don’t understand.”

“He graduated from Navy Boot Camp at the Great Lakes and was on his way to Point Loma to start his training.”

“He joined the Navy? But he’s too young.” He stopped. “Never, mind. I’ll be there as soon as possible. Please don’t leave him. He needs you.”

“Oh Wyatt.” She sounded like she was going to cry. Why was she going to cry?

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