Brodie tucked the blanket around her. “Get some rest. We’ll be here if you need us.”
“I didn’t want you to upset your life.”
“You’re not,” Raul said. “Get some sleep.”
She nodded, closed her eyes, sighed, and fell asleep.
She had no idea how much time had passed before she started to see dark shadows moving around the room, reaching out to her. “No, no, don’t. Leave me alone.”
They wouldn’t stop, and her breathing became harsh as she thrashed around on the mattress. “No!” she screamed.
She heard running, and then the light turned on. She blinked a few times as the agents rushed into the room and sat down beside her.
“Easy, honey, it was just a dream,” Raul said.
She was still gasping for air. Her heart thundered in her chest, but it was starting to settle down.
Brodie returned with a washcloth, wiped her face, and then handed her a glass of water that she drank down.
Raul helped her lie back. “Do you want to talk about it?”
She shook her head. “No. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. The whole situation sucks,” Brodie said. “I have to admit I’m surprised by your strength. I don’t know many people who have it to your level.”
“I’ve had to be strong my whole life.”
“Why?”
“My parents were violent alcoholics, and I got the brunt of their anger until they died in a car accident.”
“How old were you?”
“Seventeen. Holly and I lived in my house and workedpart-time to pay the bills and finish high school.”
“Damn, woman. I’m so proud of you,” Brodie said.
“I had it a lot easier than some.”
“Do you think you can go back to sleep?”
She nodded. “Yes. The pill you gave me is still making me groggy. Thank you.”
“All right. We’ll be here.”
“Okay.”
She waited until they turned off the light and left the room before pressing her face into the mattress and sobbing. She didn’t understand why everything had to be so difficult. The fact that it felt like she had lost Nolan was more than she could take.
Where had her life gone so wrong?
Chapter Fourteen
Nolan walked down the hospital hallway toward Caylee’s room. He’d been gone longer than he had planned. He’d been aimlessly walking the hallways when he came upon the hospital chapel.
He opened the door and walked in. When the door gently closed behind him, he was left in an empty, dim, quiet room with a cross on the wall and several pews on either side facing the cross.
He slid into the back pew and just stared at the cross for a long time.