Page 84 of Into The Rabbit Hole

Chapter 15

Taylor

* * *

The last fewhours were a shock to her system. Although Taylor knew the whole saga was over and she was safe, she couldn’t feelgood.

Her father, the father that raised her, took care of her, and gave her a good life, wasdead.

BenjaminVanderville.

She couldn’t believe it. It felt weird and she felt displaced intime.

“How are you doing?” her mother askedher.

“I’m okay.” They were still at the hospital. Had been now for the last five hours. The doctors were running various tests on her and Chloe to make sure they were okay and hadn’t been affected by the gas they had inhaled from the green smoke. They’d also given their statements to thepolice.

She felt fine health-wise. Emotionally, not somuch.

“I guess so,” she replied. “He saved us, Mom. Dad savedus.”

The image of her father’s face after he shot Zeek burned into hermemory.

“I know. I feel… I’m lost for words, my dear girl. I tried to find another way to save us both, but he wouldn’t letme.”

Her mother had filled her in on what had happened during her father’s final moments. Taylor was proud of him. She was proud that he put them first, and that he loved them enough to sacrifice himself to savethem.

Those were the facts, it didn’t do anything to heal the hurt she felt inside, but it was something for her to hold ontoforever.

Brian and Wes came inside the room. They’d just finished talking with the police. Brian smiled when he sawher.

She’d called him “Dad” earlier. It felt natural for her to do, and she supposed it couldn’t hurt for her to, he was her real father, after all. It wouldn’t mean she’d forget Ben. Just that she was embracing the man who wanted to be a part of her life and hadn’t been ableto.

“They have that hot chocolate you like in the café, with the cinnamon and vanilla,” he stated. “We could go and get some while we wait for Wade andChloe.”

“I’d love some…Dad.” She smiled back at him. He held her gaze and she could see the wealth of appreciation deep within hiseyes.

Her mother rested her hand on her shoulder and gave her a gratefulsmile.

“Could I maybe meet you and Mom there? I just want a minute with myboyfriend.”

Wes’ face brightened at thatremark.

“Of course.” Brian gave Wes a curtnod.

“How about you both join us in a little while,” her motheroffered.

Taylor noted the sparkle in her eyes and felt better. Earlier her mother had cried and looked extremely distraught after the bomb went off, killing herfather.

“Sure.”

The minute they left her and Wes together, Taylor hopped off the hospital bed and flew into his arms, straight to his lips to kiss him. This was the first moment they’d hadtogether.

“Taylor, be careful, you should be resting,” he said against herkisses.

She reached up and slipped her arms around his neck and gazed into his gorgeous brown eyes, admiring the perfect sculpture of his chiseled face. He brought another smile to herface.

“I’m okay. Iam.”