Abiding Hope: A Novel: Healing Ruby Book 4 by Westall Jennifer H

Author:Westall, Jennifer H. [Westall, Jennifer H.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Jennifer H. Westall
Published: 2017-05-23T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Two

Ruby

August 12, 1945

Houston, Texas

Momma, can I sit in your lap?” Hope looked up at me with large, frightened eyes as she gripped Velveteen.

“Of course.” I pulled her into my lap, keeping my ears trained on the doctor and nurses in the room just behind where we sat. The hospital hallway was mostly empty, so I could hear them discussing Matthew’s vital signs. I slipped my arms under Hope’s, pulling her tight against my chest. For the hundredth time in the past couple of hours, I prayed for Matthew to be all right.

“Momma, does your head hurt?” Hope turned her face to me and brought a tiny hand up to the bandage on my forehead above my right eye.

“No, sweetie. I’m fine. It’s just a little cut.” I glanced at Mrs. Sawyer seated beside me. Her eyebrows lifted, but she said nothing.

“Is Daddy all wight?”

“I think so.”

“Can we go home now?”

“Not yet.”

“I want Skin Horse.”

Mr. Sawyer, seated across from us, leaned forward. “Why don’t we take her home? We’ll feed her, read with her, and get her ready for bed. You can stay here and keep an eye on things as long as you need to.”

I lowered my head and spoke into Hope’s ear. “Would you like to go home with Grandma and Grandpa while I stay with Daddy?”

“Yes ma’am,” she said, nodding. She slid off my lap and went to Mr. Sawyer. He stood and picked her up.

“Come on, Margaret. Let’s get Hope home.”

Mrs. Sawyer let out a deep sigh and turned to me. “At some point, Grace, you need to explain to us what’s actually going on. I don’t want to stick my nose in where it doesn’t belong, but I think…” She looked up at Mr. Sawyer. “We think, for everyone’s safety, Matthew needs to get help.”

Mr. Sawyer cleared his throat. “I’ll just take Hope and get the car.”

“I’ll be along in a few minutes,” Mrs. Sawyer said.

When Hope and Mr. Sawyer were out of earshot, she continued. “I know you love Matthew, and you want to take care of him, but—”

“Mrs. Sawyer,” I interrupted, placing my hand over hers on the armrest. “I know you care about me and my family. Thank you. You mean the world to me. And I understand you’re concerned about Matthew. I am too. I don’t intend to just sit back and let things continue as they have. You’re right. He needs help. The kind of help he can’t get from me. But we have many issues all jumbled into one big mess right now, and I’m not sure which thread to begin with to unwind it all. I just need to think things through and spend some time in prayer.”

She tilted her head and gave me a sad smile. “Like I said, I don’t want to interfere, but I want you to know you can depend on us for support. We can even take care of Hope for a while if you need us to. Just know that we’re here, and that we love you.

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