A Happy Coincidence

Chapter 11

I wait impatiently, and then I see the Range Rover pull up.

I press the button to open the gate.

It opens, and Blake drives in, and after, Delaney pulls in.

I hear the garage opening, and then a minute or so later, Delaney comes walking into the kitchen.

She has blood on her hands.

"I want you to prepare yourselves." She warns. "How long were you on the phone?"

"The whole time." I say.

She sighs.

"He pushed her through the glass door. She has deep cuts all over her hands and she's dripping blood onto her jeans and her sweater. She won't talk. She won't look at anybody, and she's shaking. She's holding onto her wrist because she landed on it. I think she broke it."

I'm gonna go over there when I'm done with my Sunshine.

"He pushed her through the back door?" Cooper asks. Delaney nods.

Blake comes into the house, and he's got blood on his hands too.

"She won't let me touch her. Every time I try, she pulls away. She's not crying or shaking her head. She's just pulling herself out of my reach."

I walk past him, but I pause, looking at Blake.

"Did you-"

"I broke his nose." He says.

I sigh.

"Good."

And then I turn around and walk out into the garage.

She's bleeding all over the place.

She doesn't look at me.

"Sunshine?" I say gently. "Come on." I reach for her, but she pulls away.

I look down at her hands.

She's bleeding so much.

"Come on baby." I lift her out of the car, carrying her into the kitchen.

I sit her on the counter.

She just stares at me.

"Can I see your wrist?" I ask.

"I just need to go to the hospital." She whispers so quietly that I almost don't hear her.

"They're going to want a police report." I warn.

"I just need to go to the hospital." She repeats.

"Okay." I kiss her forehead, grabbing a towel. I hold it against her hands, walking with her to the car.

I drive us to the hospital.

I sit with her while they pick out glass and stitch her back up.

Her right wrist is sprained, so they give her a brace for it.

They wrap her hands with gauze, and I pay and take her home.

"I'll be back." I say.

She stares at me, not really saying anything.

I kiss her lips, and I leave, taking the Land Rover.

I drive to the Schuler house, letting myself in.

The alarm starts to go off, and I silence it.

I've seen Carmen put that code in so many times.

They're all here still.