Page 32 of Silent Echo
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
I had to do what any good mother would and put my own safety at risk for the good of my child.
I rode with him in the ambulance, declining to give any identification, claiming it had been lost on our bus trip.
The paramedics didn’t have time to argue with me, because poor Sebastion was in agony by then.
I waited as long as I possibly could, but when his screams were so loud that they drew the attention of the manager at the motel, I knew it was time to take him.
They said if I’d waited any longer, he might not have made it.
So I did a good thing by finally calling.
I had him admitted under a fake name, and told them I could pay cash, that we don’t have insurance and that my ID was lost. They seemed to believe me.
Now I just have to wait this out, and then we’ll be on our way again.
As I pace in the waiting room, scenes from the past year flood my mind.
Now that he’s finally accepted me as his true mother, I can’t lose him.
I’ve put in so much work, suffered through all his tantrums and demands, his defiance and his complaining.
It can’t all be for nothing. He has to make it through the surgery.
If he dies, it will be her fault for finding us and making us go on the run.
Selfish. That’s what Charlotte is. Only caring about her own needs and not allowing Sebastion to thrive in his new life.
I look up as the doors swing open and the doctor walks toward me. I try to read the expression on his face. He looks angry.
“He’s out of surgery.” He shakes his head. “I don’t understand why you waited so long to bring him in. He developed peritonitis, which is life-threatening. Fortunately, we were able to clean the abdominal cavity. Now we have to monitor him for infection.”
How dare he lecture me? “I thought he had the flu. We don’t have insurance and you doctors and hospitals charge exorbitant fees. Maybe if you didn’t, I would have brought him sooner. But I didn’t want a ten-thousand-dollar bill for the flu.”
His jaw tightens. “He’s headed to recovery now.”
“When can I see him?”
“A nurse will be out to take you back as soon as he’s awake.”
“Fine.” I won’t thank him for doing his job, especially after the way he’s just spoken to me. He shakes his head and walks off without another word.
I turn as I hear the elevator ding and see a woman and a man step out. Something about the way they look at me makes my hair stand on end. I’m about to get up and go to the cafeteria when the woman walks up to me.
“Hello, Penelope.”
I spring up, my heart beating faster. How does she know my name? “You must have me confused with someone else.” I start to walk away but she clamps a firm hand around my arm.
“Get off of me! What do you think you’re doing?”
I hear the click of metal and realize I’m being handcuffed. The woman speaks.
“Penelope Watson, you’re under arrest for kidnapping. You have the right to remain silent—”
Blood rushes in my ears as she continues reading my rights. “Stop. I have to see my son. He needs me! You can’t take me, he’s in surgery and—”
They drag me away before I can finish the sentence, and my heart breaks as the image of my son waking up and looking for me flashes in my mind.