Visiting her parents seemed like a strange dream after the crazy day. Natalie walked into the hospital room, pasted a smile on her face and the stress fell off her shoulders the second she saw her mother’s healthy glow as she sat on the bed. Her mother was always the strong one in their family, so seeing her as frail scared something deep inside Natalie’s soul.
Holding Galen’s hand the entire way from the parking lot had kept her calm. He hung back now as she had the urge to run forward. So she walked calmer next to him and introduced everyone. As she pointed to her bald, but clear blue-eyed mother, whose face was free from pain and her cheeks flushed with health, next to her gray haired brown-eyed father, whose shoulders were still tight with worry, she said, “Galen, this is my mother, Ana Parker, and my father, Eugene Parker.”
Her father stood, with the bowed shoulders of a middle aged man who worked his entire life, and offered his hand to shake. “Gene is fine. Nice to meet you, Galen, and thank you for watching out for my daughter today.”
Galen took his hand back with a nod. “It’s my pleasure.”
Her father then tapped him on the arm like they were going to have a man-to-man talk. “I don’t expect you have much experience talking to fathers of young ladies.”
Galen quickly shook her mother’s hand, but then returned to her father while he kept his head lower, showing respect. “Not at all. My own dad wasn’t a good example but I want to assure you that I’m nothing like him.” Then he glanced up and met her father’s brown eyes directly. “If your daughter marries me, she’ll be respected and cared for.”
Her body froze. She hadn’t expected to talk about marriage today. They were here to ensure that her parents were safe. Her father nodded, “So you do want to marry our Natalie.”
Galen stood and towered over her family. “Absolutely.”
Her mother’s voice was the calming tone as she asked, “Natalie, sweetie, do you want to marry Galen?”
Adrenaline and the question of what might happen next were her entire focus. Thinking about the future wasn’t possible right now. “Yes, I do, but I can’t think about that until they catch whoever threatened you here.”
“We aren’t sure it was a direct threat sweetie.” Her mother patted the mattress. “Security was being cautious.”
Natalie fixed her glasses and glanced from one beloved face to the other. “Well I was worried about you. You’re my parents.”
“Security took your flowers from the other day,” her mother mentioned as if this was strange.
Could they change the subject? “I can get you more flowers, Mom.”
Her mother massaged her shoulder like she was the one who needed to calm down. “You’ve already given me a reason to get well and get out of the hospital. I can’t wait to see our baby in a white dress on her wedding day.”
Heat formed in her face. This wasn’t the time to talk about weddings, not when some crazy person was trying to hurt her. “Mom.”
Galen patted her father on the back and walked toward the door with him. “Security is returning.”
The room quieted when the security guard entered. “We’re going to need everyone to stay here while we handle something outside.”
Galen crossed his arms and acted like he was lord of the manor. “What’s going on?”
The security guard lowered his head. “Nothing to concern yourself with, Mr. Morgan. We’re prepared.”
Galen clearly wasn’t letting it go as he widened his stance. Her father had the same attitude and lifted his chin. “Do you know who’s threatening the hospital and why security is so concerned with us?”
“Mr. Dubois was just seen near the parking lot.” The guard spoke into a mic and left.
The door locked and they all heard the snap. Galen then patted her father on the back like they were partners. “Natalie dated a Rocco Dubois in college.”
Great. Natalie slumped on the bed next to her mother. “Was that the boy who cheated on you, sweetie?”
“Yeah,” Natalie said.
Galen informed her father of the rest. “Turns out he’s a bad guy who’s been following Natalie all week. I won’t let anyone get to her, but what is going on here at the hospital might be related.”
Her father’s eyes widened in surprise.
Her mother massaged her arm like she was still a toddler. “We never liked him anyhow.”
Both men returned to their seats, but her father leaned forward with his hands folded between his legs. “Why is he targeting Natalie?”
Galen met her gaze as he said, “Now that we don’t know yet.”
