Page 91 of Worth the Want

“I don’t know. I didn’t recognize him, and I didn’t get a good look at him. I’m sorry, I should have?—”

“No, baby. None of this is on you. You—I can’t believe you just…”

Tom and Mary arrive after that, and I repeat all that I know. It’s only a few minutes after that Marigold comes out with an update for us.

“Florence is physically okay. There is bruising to her neck and chin. No concussion,” she says.Thank God. “She’ll have a sore throat, and it may be painful for her to speak for a few days, but she’s going to make a full recovery.”

“Can we see her?” Mary asks.

“Yes. She’s awake and alert. I’m going to prescribe her something to sleep, and she shouldn’t be alone tonight.”

“She’ll stay with us,” Tom says.

“Alright, follow me.” I stand but reach for Hazel.

“I’ll stay out here with Hazel. You all can go ahead.” Knox hands her over to me, and I sit back into my chair with her, letting her cuddle into me with her blanket. He leans down and kisses me. It’s quick but firm and very welcome.

“I love you.”

“I loveyou,” I reply.

I hold Hazel’s head to my shoulder with one hand and pat her back softly with the other.

When Ivy and Alder walk in, I tell them which room Florence is in. Ivy hugs me and Hazel tightly after I repeat the events of the evening. As awful as it is to relive the fear and the panic, if it helps them to hear it, I’ll keep telling them what happened.

“Indie, you could have been injured as well,” Ivy says.

“I could have been,” I repeat.

“I’m so glad you’re okay. Has someone checked on you yet?” Alder asks.

“I don’t think I need to be seen; I’m fine.” It’s true for the most part. The headache that’s coming on is a small price to pay to make sure Florence was okay.

Hazel is dozing when Knox comes back out.

“How is she?” I whisper.

“She’s okay. Shaken and sore, but she’s going to be alright.” The relief at hearing that makes my shoulders relax. When they do, I start to feel a little soreness in my muscles. I must have been tensing them since the hotel.

“She’s okay,” I repeat.

“Thanks to you. She still isn’t talking. Her throat hurts too badly, but she was able to write down what happened. I guess the fucker surprised her, yanked her to the ground, and then started choking her.” His jaw is clenched so tight, I’m worried he’ll break his teeth. I shudder. “She said she fought for a minute but then her vision started going fuzzy. She remembers you leaning over her and talking to her. She said she’s able to remember everything,” he tells me quietly.

“She must have been so scared. I should have gone outthere sooner. I had this awful feeling, but I didn’t listen to my instincts quickly enough,” I admit.Could I have prevented this?

“She’s alive because of how you reacted, Indie. I don’t know how to thank you for that.”

“I don’t want a thank you, not for something like this. I just want her to be okay.”

“She will be.”

I nod. “Okay.”

“Mom and Dad are taking her home with them, and I need to get Hazel home. Come home with us? Please?”

I nod. “Yes, please.”

I keep hold of Hazel until I buckle her into her car seat, covering her with her blanket. Knox holds open my door for me, stopping me before I get in.