“What else is wrong with it?” Erin panicked.
“Nothing, honey. Right now, I’m pretty sure you have a broken foot. You’re going to be okay, sweetie,” Joel promised.
“How did you find me?” she asked.
“When you didn’t show up after sunset, your mother called me, worried that something had happened to you. The police said they couldn’t send out a search party to look for you unless you had been missing for twenty-four hours, but we couldn’t wait that long. Not when you could be laying in a ravine somewhere dy…” Joel’s voice cracked at the end. “I was so fearful of losing you, Baby Bear,” he confessed, coming to sit at her side. “I couldn’t imagine my life if I couldn’t find you.”
“I’m sorry for scaring you like that,” Erin apologized, resting her head on his shoulder. “I’m sorry for the way I behaved toward you. You didn’t deserve it,” she breathed out.
Her father’s shoulder jostled as he jerked his head from side to side. “You have nothing to apologize for,” he assured her. “I’m the one that’s sorry. I broke your trust, and I hurt my family deeply. If I could go back to that time and change all that I did, I would, but I can’t. For now, I just want to fix our relationship, and I want you to know that no matter what changes in this life, my love for you and your sister never will.”
Erin smiled against his shoulder. “I know, and I forgive you. I would like it very much if we could work on our relationship too.”
Joel’s arm rounded her back and drew her by her arm closer to his side as he rested his chin on her head. “I love you, Baby Bear.”
Her lips lifted in a bright smile at the mention of his nickname for her.
“I love you too, Papa Bear.”
“Erin. Joel. Are you guys okay?”
Erin lifted her head off her father’s arm and widened her eyes. “Brian’s here?”
“Yes. He showed up a few hours ago at the house,” Joel explained.
“Erin?”
“I’m okay, Brian. I’m just glad to hear your voice,” she called up.
“Oh thank heavens. Stay tight. We’ll get you up,” he instructed.
“I’m not going anywhere,” she replied, her eyes glistening once more.
A half hour later, she had been lifted from the ledge and was smothered in Brian’s tight embrace as she lay on a stretcher from an ambulance service they’d called.
“My heart nearly stopped at the thought of losing you,” he revealed. Erin realized that he was crying when she felt the wetness on her fingertips as she touched his face.
Cupping his cheek firmly as her own tears rolled down her cheeks, she said seriously, “There’s no chance of you ever losing me again.” She lifted her face until she fitted her lips against his.
“I’m happy you’re okay, Erin.” Jamie grinned. Relief was written on his face.
“Thanks for coming to find me, Jamie,” she beamed. “You too, Donny.”
“Anytime, kiddo,” her aunt’s boyfriend replied, tipping his imaginary hat.
“Okay, we need to get her to the hospital now,” one of the two paramedics who had been quiet during their interaction spoke up.
“Alright,” the men agreed. The group picked their way along the path utilizing the light from the flashlights they’d brought to illuminate the way. When they made it to the parking lot, Cora, Julia, and Andrea were there.
“Oh my gosh, sweetie.” Cora rushed up to throw her hands over her daughter’s shoulders as tears streamed down her face. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
“I’m sorry for scaring you,” she sobbed against her mother’s shoulders.
“Shhh, it’s okay. Don’t worry about that now, sweetie. You’re alive. That’s what matters.”
Jules was next in, hugging her and crying, expressing how distraught she had been when they couldn’t find her. Guilt crushed her chest as she realized how selfish her actions had been. She knew she had a lot to make up for.
“Who will be riding in the ambulance with her?” the paramedic asked.
