Hidden in the Shadows (24 page)

After a few minutes, the doctor came back in. She handed him a bag for Maria’s clothing. “We’re going to get an IV started, and do the ultrasound now. We’ll get one of your friends back here because, unfortunately, I need the sheriff to go out into the waiting room and take care of a little situation. I know you don’t want to be separated, but your family has shown up, and if someone doesn’t calm them down, they’re all going to be arrested.”

Maria closed her eyes. “I guess that answers the question of whether to call them or not. How did they find out so quickly?”

Wyatt sighed. “I don’t know. Will you be okay for a couple of minutes until I can get Stacy or Neva back here?”

“You won’t leave?”

“No. I’ll come back in here as soon as I get things straightened out.”

With a shaky nod, she agreed.

He pressed a quick kiss to her forehead. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“Wyatt? I don’t want to see them if they’re… you know. Okay?”

“Okay.” Drawing in a tense breath, he headed to the waiting room, not knowing what to expect, but counting on the worst possible scenario. “God help us.”

Chapter Thirty One

The waiting room was in absolute chaos. With complete disregard for the other patients and families there, the Paces demanded attention. Maria’s mother and her sister, Georgia, were the loudest. Wyatt tried to remind himself that he had known Joe and Veronica since they were all in high school together, but it didn’t help. With a silent prayer for patience, he cleared his throat and waited as the mob’s attention turned to him.

“You!” Veronica exclaimed, outrage twisting her face. “I should have known you’d be behind this. I’ll bet you told them to keep us out.” She stormed toward him, anger in every step. The rest of the family followed, though her husband placed a restraining hand on her arm.

Wyatt held up his hand. “Folks, you need to calm down and quiet down. This is a hospital, not a circus.”

Veronica said, “Excuse me? Who the hell do you think you are? I want to see my daughter.”

“Well, she doesn’t want to see you,” Wyatt snapped, his temper getting the best of him. “And I don’t blame her.”

“You have no right to dictate to me whether I can see my daughter or not, you perverted lecher.”

“Veronica, stop,” Joe said. “Watch your mouth.”

“Watch my mouth? He’s the one who’s been screwing your daughter, and bragging about it all over town. Do you know what he said to Savannah the other night?”

“Enough!” Wyatt roared. Instantly, the room was quiet enough to hear a pin drop. When Veronica started to open her mouth, Wyatt stepped closer to her and narrowed his eyes. “Not one fucking word, or so help me God, I’ll throw you out of here on your sorry ass. Understand?”

She sucked in an indignant breath, but didn’t speak.

Wyatt continued, “Good. Now let me tell you what is going to happen here. You are all going to sit down and shut up, or you will be escorted off hospital property.” He pointed to the row of chairs against one of the walls. Shooting him looks full of resentment and hostility, they sat.

Taking a deep breath in an effort to calm down, he moved to stand in front of them. “Since all of you seem to be so damned concerned about Maria, let me tell you what’s going on. She’s in a tremendous amount of pain. They’re running some tests to figure out what’s going on. Hopefully, we’ll know soon, but she’s very sick.” He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “As to your accusations about my ‘bragging’ about my relationship Maria, what goes on between us is none of your damned business. Get over it. Any questions?”

With a deadly glare, Veronica raised her hand. He gestured for her to speak.

“I want to see my daughter and make sure she’s okay. For all we know, you’re the reason she’s here. You could have done something to her. And I don’t think you have any business being around her right now,
relationship
or not.” She sat back, looking pleased with herself.

Wyatt was incredulous. “You honestly expect me to leave her to your tender mercies? Unbelieveable. I know all about you, lady, about how you abandoned her when she needed you. You are out of your mind if you think I’m letting you anywhere near her right now.”

Joe stood and got between them with his hands raised in a conciliatory manner. “Wyatt, we’ve known each other for a long time, since we were kids. I’ve always liked you, respected you. That being said, Maria is my daughter. I’d like to see her.”

Studying the other man for a long minute without speaking, Wyatt finally nodded. “Okay. But something you have to understand, Joe, I’m not here to make points with you or anyone else. All I’m worried about is protecting Maria from being hurt, and that includes by her family. I don’t have a problem with you going back there, but if you upset her, you’re gone.”

Joe nodded. “I understand.”

“You can’t be serious,” Veronica protested. “What about me? I’m her mother!” She started crying, and a long-suffering grimace crossed Joe’s face.

“Save it, Veronica. You’re not going back there,” Wyatt said.

Her tears immediately stopped, and she came to her feet. “Are you going to let him talk to me like this, Joe?”

“If you’d just calm down—” Joe started.

“If that’s how it’s going to be, I’m leaving. I don’t have to take this kind of abuse.” With that, she turned and stalked to the door. Georgia, muttering about disgusting old men, followed her.

Savannah broke the subsequent silence. “Well, I’m not leaving. I happen to love my sister, and regardless of her taste in men, I want to be here for her if she needs me.”

“Good,” Wyatt said, obviously surprising her.

The door opened, and the doctor came in, making a beeline for Wyatt. “It’s her gallbladder. It has to come out. We’ve called in a surgeon, as well as her general practitioner. She can have visitors, but only a couple at a time, and only if you stay calm.” She looked pointedly at Joe and Savannah. “We’ve given her something for the pain, so she’s a little goofy right now.”

Wyatt was almost giddy with relief. “Her gallbladder? That’s all?” He was almost ready to hug the doctor.

“Don’t think this isn’t serious, Sheriff. I think her pancreas is also inflamed. That should settle down once the gallbladder is out, but it can be quite dangerous. There’s also the chance that she has a stone stuck in the bile duct of her liver. We won’t know if that’s the case until the surgeon gets in there.”

“How soon will you operate?” Joe asked.

“Unless something comes up, in about an hour or so.” She looked at what Maria’s remaining family members, then back at Wyatt. “You can bring one guest back with you when you’re ready.”

“Okay. Thank you.” He turned at Joe as the doctor left. “You’ll stay calm?”

“Of course.”

Neva touched Wyatt’s arm. “We’re going to stay out here. Just make sure she knows we’re here, and we love her.”

He assured her that he would. Turning back to Joe, he gestured to the door. “Let’s head back.”

Once they were inside the emergency department, Joe stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Wyatt, how serious are you about my daughter?”

“Very serious. So much that it scares me.”

“But not enough to make you walk away.” His words were a statement, not a question.

Wyatt answered anyway. “No, not enough to walk away. That scares me more.”

Joe sighed. “I was afraid of that.”

Neither man spoke again until they reached Maria’s room. The door was open, and Stacy was holding one of her hands as Damon started an IV in the other.

When Maria looked up, she smiled. “Daddy, you’re here.”

Standing back so that Joe could go in, Wyatt motioned for Stacy to join him outside. They moved to stand at the nurse’s station in the center of the room, and he leaned against it with a tired groan.

“How bad was it?” Stacy asked in a low voice. Arms crossed over his chest, he met her gaze briefly. She winced. “That bad, huh?”

“Her mother and Georgia left before the doctor even came in to tell us what was wrong. Savannah and Joe are the only ones who seem to give a rat’s ass about her.” He could see the shock on Stacy’s face.

“They just left? You can’t be serious.”

“I’m afraid I am.”

She closed her eyes. “Oh, Wyatt, that’s going to devastate her.”

He cursed. “I know. I just hope her dad doesn’t say anything to her. Can you speak to Savannah, make sure she doesn’t bring it up? I’m not her favorite person right this minute.”

“Of course. Should we let dispatch know about this?”

Wyatt had completely forgotten about dispatch. “Good lord. I didn’t even think about that.”

To his surprise, she smiled. “I’ll take care of it. Do you have a change of clothes at the office? I’m guessing you won’t be leaving the hospital any time soon.”

“Yes. I keep a bag ready. Gretchen knows where it is. What’s so funny?” he asked as her smile widened.

She struggled for words. “Two of my favorite people are ga-ga over each other. That makes me happy.”

With a relieved chuckle, he reached out and ruffled her hair. “Go take care of Savannah.” He waited until she’d taken a few steps away, then cleared his throat. When she looked back at him, he made a point of looking around before he spoke. “Two words: Galen Gordon.” Stacy’s cheeks instantly flushed, and he grinned. “Your turn’s coming, like it or not, Detective.” Not waiting for her response, he went to check on Maria.

Chapter Thirty Two

When Maria woke up, she was very sore. The sun was shining, and from the brightness outside the window, she knew it had to be at least midday. Wyatt, dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt, sat in a chair beside her hospital bed. He was working on paperwork, his wire-framed glasses only making him look more distinguished. As she watched him, snippets of memory from the night before and from after she’d come out of surgery resurfaced. When she carefully stretched, the movement caught his eye, and he looked up.

“Hey, sleepyhead. How do you feel?” He set the papers aside, stood, and moved to the bed.

“Okay, I guess. Sore, but I don’t seem to be hurting like I was. What time is it?”

He checked his watch. “Almost noon.”

She moved around so that she could press the button to raise the bed. “Wow. Have you had any sleep?”

“Enough.” Her gown had slipped off her shoulder, and he reached out to pull it back up.

Maria captured his hand with hers, pressing the back of it to her cheek. “You stayed.”

“Of course.” He sat on the edge of the bed. “Where else would I be? You scared me nearly to death last night, you know.”

“I scared
me
nearly to death. Thank you for staying.”

“No place else I’d rather be.” Sitting beside her hip, he carefully pulled her into a hug. Maria wrapped her arms around him, sighing with contentment. They sat like that until there was a knock at the door, and reluctantly, she let him go.

A woman dressed in scrubs peeked around the privacy curtain, her expression cheerful. “Good, you’re awake. How do you feel?”

“Better, thanks.”

“Why don’t we get you up and about a little? Maybe visit the restroom?” she asked.

Wyatt stood. “If it’s okay with you, while this nice lady is here, I’m going to stretch my legs. Maybe run downstairs and get something to eat.”

Maria touched his hand. “Actually, I think I’m okay. Take your time, if you need to.”

He placed a soft kiss on her temple. “I won’t be gone long.”

As the aide helped Maria stand and walk the short distance to the bathroom, she smiled. “I guess the sheriff’s been here all night. How long have the two of you been dating?”

“Just a couple of weeks.”

With help, Maria got cleaned up a little and into some comfortable pajamas she recognized from home.

“Lunch will be coming around soon. If you feel up to it, you can have some broth and some toast.”

Maria’s stomach growled. “I guess that’s a yes.” Sighing as she eased down into the recliner Wyatt had vacated, she relaxed.

Becky pulled the curtain back, and as she left the room, a knock sounded at the door. Stella Moore waved when Maria looked up. “Hey, sweetie. You feel like a little bit of company?”

“Of course.”

Ethan’s mother came in, set the bright, cheery vase of flowers on the rolling tray, then gave Maria a very cautious hug. “This was unexpected. Are you okay?”

With a rueful grin, Maria said, “It was very unexpected, and I think I’m okay. Pull up a chair and have a seat. I’ve been wanting to talk to you for a while now. Are you okay?”