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| Faith Creek Mysteries |
The elevator doors closed, but Mason's grin lingered in Tessa's thoughts—along with that ridiculous promise to save her a seat in church.
When the doors opened again, she was on the second floor.
Outside Room 214 stood four familiar women.
Anne leaned against the wall, arms folded.
Rae paced.
Delilah smoothed invisible wrinkles from her blouse.
Noelle sat quietly with her hands clasped in her lap.
Anne spotted Tessa first.
"Well," she said, pushing away from the wall, "the prodigal daughter decided to rent a car."
A tired smile tugged at Tessa's lips.
"I figured I'd save everybody the trip."
"You also robbed us of the chance to embarrass you at baggage claim," Rae said, pulling her into a quick hug.
Delilah followed with one of her own. "It's good to have you home."
Home.
The word landed heavier than Tessa expected.
She looked toward the closed hospital door.
"How's Dad?"
Anne's teasing expression disappeared.
"He's stable."
Relief washed through Tessa, though it lasted only a heartbeat.
"Can I see him?"
"The doctor's inside now," Delilah said gently. "She should be finished any minute."
As if on cue, the door opened.
A petite physician stepped into the hallway, clipboard tucked beneath one arm.
"Family?"
Five sisters nodded in unison.
The doctor's expression softened.
"Mr. James was fortunate. The bullet missed his vital organs. He's awake, alert, and asking for his daughters."
Tessa closed her eyes for the briefest moment.
Thank God.
"But only ten minutes," the doctor continued. "He needs his rest."
"Thank you, Doctor," Tessa said.
The doctor smiled politely and disappeared down the hallway.
For a second, none of the sisters moved.
Then Anne reached for the door.
"Ready?"
No one answered.
They didn't need to.
The five women entered together.
The familiar scent of antiseptic settled over them.
Machines hummed softly.
Jonah lay against the white pillows, looking smaller than Tessa had ever seen him.
His eyes remained closed until the door clicked shut.
Then they opened.
He blinked once.
Twice.
"Tessa."
His voice was rough.
"You came."
She crossed the room before anyone else could move.
"Of course I came."
A tired smile creased his face.
"Four states away."
"You expected me to stay in New York after somebody shot you?"
"I figured maybe a phone call." He managed the ghost of a grin. "Probably a lecture."
"You'll still get one."
That earned a quiet chuckle.
Jonah reached for her hand.
She took it carefully.
His grip was weaker than she remembered, but unmistakably her father's.
Anne stepped beside the bed and brushed a stray lock of hair from Jonah's forehead.
"We couldn't keep her away."
"I wouldn't want you to."
His gaze drifted around the room, lingering on each daughter.
"Everybody's here."
Rae sniffed.
"You scared us."
"I've been through worse."
"You keep saying that," Anne replied.
"And someday it'll stop being true."
Jonah ignored her.
His eyes found Tessa again.
"Seeing you walk through that door..." He squeezed her hand. "...that's the best medicine I've had all day."
Tessa laughed despite the tears threatening to surface.
"You're lucky I love you."
His smile widened just enough.
“I had to find some way to get you back to Faith Creek."
***
Evening settled quietly over Faith Creek Regional Hospital.
The rush of doctors and nurses gave way to the steady hum of monitors and the squeak of an occasional cart rolling down the hallway.
Jonah drifted in and out of sleep while his daughters lingered around the room.
Noelle kissed his forehead.
"I've got to get home before the kids decide I've moved into the hospital."
"They'll survive," Jonah murmured.
"Barely."
Delilah adjusted his blanket.
"I'll be back first thing in the morning."
"You don't have to."
"You don't get a vote."
Rae reached for her purse.
"I'm bringing coffee at sunrise."
"And probably forgetting everything else," Anne teased.
"I heard that."
"You were supposed to."
A tired laugh passed around the room.
Anne looked toward Tessa.
"You staying?"
Tessa nodded.
"I'll stay."
One by one, her sisters gathered their things.
Soon the room was quiet again.
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