Page 114 of Rescued Dreams

“Yes, sir.”

He gave her a wave and left her by herself long enough for Amelia to slide out of the bed.

She’d convinced the staff she didn’t need to change her clothes, so all she had to do was find her shoes. Her head swam while she moved around. Amelia could ignore it just enough thanks to the meds they’d given her—not much more than a basic over-the-counter painkiller.

In the hallway, she asked a nurse where to find Ridge and the twins.

The nurse lifted a brow. “Have you been discharged?”

“Not exactly. Yet. But I’m sure that’s the next thing.” She wasn’t going to sit around for hours waiting. “I’ll be back for the paperwork. I’m just going to check on my friends.”

“I’m sure.” She didn’t like it, but the nurse told her where to find the Foster family.

Amelia approached the bay but spotted someone exiting the elevator at the end of the hall. Meg stepped off, followed by the twins and then Maria and Kane. All of them had Styrofoam bowls and plastic spoons. It looked like they’d gone out for ice cream.

The bay was empty.

Maddie came rushing over, Meg and Ella right behind her. Apparently they’d made friends with the woman who was the closest thing Amelia had to a sister.

Amelia hugged all three of them in turn, her head swimming anew with all the movement. She probably needed to sit down. “You went out for ice cream?”

“Only to the cafeteria.” Meg sent an endearing smile to the twins.

Amelia wanted to ask Meg if they were okay but wasn’t going to ask in front of them.

Ella bit her lip. “Are you okay?”

Amelia said, “Nothing a loaded baked potato and two weeks on the couch with the remote won’t fix.”

Maddie let out a loud whimper, then gave Amelia another hug. “You should stay with us again!”

“Whatever you want.” For a while, at least. After what they’d been through, Amelia wanted to be close by so she could be sure they were all right. That they would continue to be all right. “Also, let’s call Natalie. Macon’s wife is a counselor. We’re all going. Deal?”

The twins nodded. Ella sniffed. “I’m glad it’s over.”

“It is.” Amelia pulled her over for a hug, catching both the girls in it. Meg put her arms around all of them.

Maria said, “Kane, it’s a group thing. Get over here.” She slammed into them, and they all jolted. Amelia grinned, and one of the girls snorted.

“I’m good back here.”

She looked over and saw Kane glance at his watch.

Ella let go with one arm and turned to Kane, motioning him over. “It’s a group thing, you know.”

Amelia sniffed, unable to keep from thinking about how far she’d come. Long days alone in her lieutenant’s office followed by long days in her cabin. Living a solitary life.

Now she had firefighters who showed up to see if she was all right.

She had her best friend and this family, people she had connected with during tragedy. Brought together to be a kind of family.

Kane put his arms around all of them. “Later we should celebrate because Maria and I just got a job offer. Looks like we might be putting down roots in Last Chance County.”

Maddie squealed, everyone else chuckled, and Amelia had to wipe away a tear.

“That’s great news.” She stepped back and saw a couple of hospital staff members wheel a bed out of the elevator at the end of the hall. “He’s back.”

Ridge lay on the bed, his arm hooked up to an IV. Kind of pale, with his eyes closed.