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Elizabeth sat by Josh’s bed gazing at his pale face. He looked so peaceful and quiet, but she was sure his soul was full of torment. Josh would be furious when he discovered what happened and who was responsible. Randy didn’t want to discuss how he managed the horror filled ATV ride to the truck, but Elizabeth knew he saved Josh’s life. Elizabeth knew Randy was a true hero in every sense of the word, and if Amy didn’t marry that man, she was a fool!
Elizabeth was jolted from her thoughts. What did she just decide? Amy should marry a man she’s only known for a few months? What about the Three-year rule? No, Elizabeth knew Amy was incapable of a pseudo persona. She had struggled too hard and too long to overcome her past and define herself. Amy was the most solid person Elizabeth had ever known until she met Josh, and now Randy.
Was she so completely wrong about the Three-year rule? Was she a raving lunatic that spilled her insanity over to millions of unsuspecting women? No! Elizabeth sat up straight in her seat. The Three-year rule was solid, but perhaps there were exceptions. There were always exceptions, weren’t there? Was she fooling herself into believing something her heart was desperate to know?
The nurse appeared and motioned for Elizabeth to leave. Her time was up. Elizabeth rose slowly and kissed Josh’s forehead. She whispered, “I’m here with you, Josh. I’m not leaving you. Randy and Amy are here. You are not alone. Be strong and come back to me… I love you.”
Randy waited for her out in the hall. Tears welled in her eyes as she gazed up at him.
“Is he okay?” Randy asked, quietly moving to her side.
“There’s been no change,” Elizabeth said.
“That’s good,” Randy, reasoned, “No change is better than getting worse.”
“I suppose,” Elizabeth tried to smile.
“Beth,” Randy began, “I have to go. The State Police found fingerprints on the deer stand, and blood in the woods that I’m pretty sure belongs to the stalker.”
“I understand,” Elizabeth began, “Josh would want you to go.”
“There’s something else,” Randy added, glancing behind him.
Elizabeth followed his gaze to two young children. Before her stood a boy around twelve years old and a little girl age six. Elizabeth’s heart raced as she recognized the deep blue eyes and blonde hair. They were Josh’s children.
“Jake and Molly,” Randy called to them. They were both dressed just as Elizabeth would expect in jeans and t-shirts. Molly’s jeans were purple, and her t-shirt had a picture of a kitty cat on it. Jake was all boy in his torn jeans and a ratty t-shirt. He looked so much like his father Elizabeth’s stomach tied into knots. Randy knelt down next to Molly and said, “This is Elizabeth; she’s a friend of your dads.” Randy glanced up at Elizabeth and smiled.
Elizabeth smiled at the two beautiful children and stepped forward. “Hello, you can call me Beth.”
“Is my daddy in that room?” Molly asked as she leaned against Randy, her tiny fingers grasping his hand.
“Yes, he’s sleeping,” Elizabeth answered.
“Can we see him?” Jake asked, glancing at the door.
Randy rose and said, “They don’t allow children in intensive care, but there’s a window right there you can look through.” Randy pointed to the large glass window in the wall that overlooked the intensive care unit. He scooped up Molly and put his arm around Jake’s shoulders and walked slowly to the window adding, “He’s asleep like Beth said, and he’s got some tubes attached to him giving him medicine. So he might look a little funny, but he’s okay.”
Elizabeth followed them to the window. She watched the children stare through the window at their father. Her heart melted as their young eyes filled with tears. Molly sank her face into Randy’s chest and cried in tiny little sniffles. Jake brushed the tears away roughly with the back of his hand and turned to face away from them.
Elizabeth said, “There’s a waiting room down the hall with a TV and a table. We can wait down there for your dad to wake up.”
Randy kissed Molly’s head and added, “Beth is an author. Do you know what that is?”
Jake turned slowly around and said, “She writes books.”
Elizabeth smiled and said, “That’s right.”
Molly raised her head, looked at her, and asked, “Like Dr. Seuss?”
Elizabeth touched her golden hair and said, “Not exactly. I’m afraid you would find the books I write pretty boring. They are for grown-ups.”
“Oh,” Molly said, glancing at Jake. “That means no pictures.”
“You are absolutely right,” Elizabeth laughed and added, “but I do have a laptop, and an iPad Amy brought me this morning. We can download some games.”
Molly smiled and reached out to Elizabeth. Randy handed her to Elizabeth with a huge grin on his face. Jake stared at her, his eyes narrowed, and he asked, “How will we know when dad wakes up.”
Elizabeth met his gaze and said softly, “They have my cell phone number, and there is a phone in the waiting room. They will call us.”
“Okay, then,” Jake looked at Randy, who gave him a pat on the back.