Collateral Damage by Hannah Alexander

Author:Hannah Alexander
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780373446025
Publisher: Love Inspired
Published: 2014-06-02T16:00:00+00:00

NINE

Nick’s arm came around Sarah before she even had time to panic. “It’s okay. We’ll check it out.” He knelt beside Emma. “What smell caught your attention?”

Emma touched her nose, then scratched it as if it itched. “Fruity? Spicy?”

“Like perfume?” Sarah asked.

Emma grimaced. “It smelled good, but not perfumy, you know?”

“So not a cologne.” Gerard nodded to Nick, then took off along the hospital hallway to catch up with the crowd.

Emma looked up at Nick, and he could read the fear in her eyes.

“Don’t worry, Emma. Gerard’s got a nose like a bloodhound and a voice like a bullhorn, so if someone who smells like fruit and spice was in the room and Gerard finds this person, he’ll do some extreme questioning and maybe an in-depth sniff test.”

Emma’s giggle made Sarah’s heart contract with tenderness and love.

“Did anybody come here from the diner?” Sarah asked. “It smelled wonderful there, like cinnamon and bacon and smoked ham.” She was suddenly hungry just thinking about it, despite the overwhelming anxiety of the morning. Maybe she was unwinding from the anxiety, knowing how many friends surrounded her, and how many she knew for sure she could trust. “It followed us all the way up the hill, remember, Nick?”

“Emma, did you smell bacon just now? Or ham?”

Emma nodded. “But something more. Not like food.”

“Someone else might have brought one of those huge cinnamon rolls from Parker’s,” Nick said. “Billy was here.”

“Nora told us she’d been baking a new spice cookie,” Sarah said. “And she smelled wonderful.” It had been comforting to spend a few moments with Nora, Kirstie and Carmen, three of Mom’s best friends when they lived here, but now that they’d walked out, she lingered beside Edward, basking in the comfort of his presence.

He took her into his big, strong arms and hugged her, and she felt as if some of his strength melted into her, infusing her with courage she knew she wouldn’t have without him here. How she loved this man. How she’d missed him.

What would his reaction be when he discovered Emma was the granddaughter he’d never known—and Aunt Peg would never know?

The truth would have to come out, and soon.

Edward patted her hand and then reached for the wheelchair. “Let’s get Emma settled in Gerard’s monster SUV. It’s going to be okay, sweethearts. I’m not leaving you, and neither will Nick. I’ve already decided to stay at Carmen’s with you tonight.” He stepped out into the broad hallway and turned the silent wheelchair to the left. “I’m here so much, the staff trusts me with the wheelchair, especially when they’re busy. Emma, you’re going to love Carmen’s big old teddy bear of a Doberman. Nina might eat an intruder, but she’s going to fall in love with you. In fact, I’d be surprised if she didn’t stay by your side from the moment the two of you are introduced.”

“Really?” Emma looked up at Sarah. She’d wanted her own dog ever since their family dachshund died of old age.

“A lot of animals can sense when someone’s sick or in pain.

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