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Grimacing, Bridget stared wide-eyed as her plans fell apart right in front of her eyes. She had to put a stop to it, but she was so exhausted from the nightmare last night and struggling with her panic attack. She had to do something to put an end to it. Desperately looking toward Eli, she begged her silently to step in and stop it.

Sharon’s look hardened, and her anger turned on Bridget. This was worse than she had expected. If she’d talked to her mom first, it would have been less of a fight. All she wanted was for Eli to take her home and leave her alone.

Eli leaned down, whispering in Bridget’s ear, “You told me you were going to your house.”

Shaking her head, Bridget gave her a desperate look.

“Hold on,” Eli answered, straightening her back. “Bridget is going to come stay atIndigowith me. She won’t be alone.”

“Hardly.” Sharon sneered. “Our daughter willnotbe staying with you.”

Eli put her hands on her hips. “I’m pretty sure Bridget gets to answer that question. Where do you want to stay?”

All eyes turned on her. Bridget’s heart thundered, and she worried she was going to be thrown into another panic attack. June moved in and grasped her hand, holding on as if to center her. Bridget was thankful for the move, but Sharon’s sharp gaze filled her with shame about it. She shouldn’t need anyone’s comfort and support to answer this question. She should just say what she wanted and be done with it. Drama be damned.

But she couldn’t speak. No matter how many times Bridget tried to get her voice to work, no words came out. She was silent in her defense of what she wanted.

“That’s it. She’s coming home with us, as short notice as it is.” Disdain leached from every word.

Bridget shook her head and took comfort in June’s tightening grip. “No. I want to go with Eli.”

Sharon snorted, crossing her arms, her eyes pure fury. “You won’t go withthatgirl.”

Eli straightened her spine. “I hardly think I’m a girl, Sharon. And Bridget has spent more nights at my house than you probably remember.”

Surely Sharon wouldn’t make a spectacle of herself in front of all these people. She wouldn’t dare say what Bridget thought she would, she wouldn’t lob those accusations in Eli’s direction in the middle of a room filled with witnesses.

“Bridget will be perfectly safe at my house. She can have the spare room, and there’s easy access to everything on one floor.”

“You live in the middle of the country,” Edward started. “What will you do if she needs to see a doctor?”

“The same thing I would do with anyone who needed to see a doctor. I’ll take her to the doctor.” Eli crossed her arms, stubbornly, but she didn’t move from Bridget’s side.

June moved to step between them, but Bridget held her back and shook her head. “I want to stay with Eli, so that’s where I’m going to stay.”

“You will not stay withher.” Sharon scrunched her nose in Eli’s direction.

Bridget clenched her jaw. “I’m an adult, as much as you don’t want to admit it, and I am going to stay where I want to stay.”

“I won’t allow you to leave this hospital with her. You’re my child, and you’ll come home with me.”

“I won’t do it. I’ll stay here longer if I have to, but I’m not going home with you.” Something had happened, and Bridget finally found her voice. Eli nodded at her in appreciation, and pride bloomed in Bridget’s chest. “I’m going with Eli, and I would appreciate it if you and Daddy didn’t come visit me while I’m healing. I hear it’s not good to be agitated when you’re trying to rest.”

Sharon’s jaw dropped. Eli snickered behind her hand, and June stepped between them then. She let go of Bridget’s hand and moved to block her from her parent’s view. “I think Bridget is right in one way, none of this energy is good for her healing. Let’s talk about this outside, shall we?”

“She’s our daughter!” Sharon screeched, and Bridget knew they were all about to be in for the rage she’d been holding in. “She won’t go with that woman. She’ll be corrupted if she goes with her.”

Bridget’s stomach twisted hard, sharp pain filling it. She hated when her mother talked about Eli like that. She’d heard it far too many times over the years to count, and yet she’d never stood up to defend her best friend. Not when they were teenagers, and not even now. The words escaped her again. The pride she’d just felt vanished in the blink of an eye.

June and the nurse stepped between her parents and Bridget. They walked them out of the room, shutting the door behind them. Eli collapsed onto the side of the bed, sighing heavily. “If you needed some place to go that wasn’t with them, you should have just asked.”

“I know.” Embarrassment filled her, not for the first time since she’d come to the hospital. She hated being the center of attention, and she hated being in her parents’ line of fire just as much if not more. She just wanted everyone to be peaceful with each other and to let her do what she wanted, which was to go home and be by herself.

“So they won’t release you unless you stay with someone?”

Bridget nodded. “I can’t…I can’t even go to the bathroom by myself right now because I can’t get my pants down. It’s ridiculous, Eli. I hate it.”

“We’ll figure it out. I promise, I won’t let you go with them unless you really want to.”