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ONE OF THE OTHER NURSES on shift provided a car seat. Everyone knew of little Ivy North—it had been a matter of time until Social Services acted on the child’s behalf. They had all just been waiting. Before Perci and Nate left for the evening, another nurse ran to her own home three blocks over and grabbed a bag of clothing her twin daughter and son had outgrown. Some of the clothing would be boys’, but she doubted Ivy would mind.
Everything else, either Nate would already have in his own home, or would be available at Perci’s. Ivy would be set for a few days, anyway.
Until more permanent arrangements could be made.
Perci removed the hospital gown and quickly dressed Ivy in clean, dry clothes, and a small rain jacket. She brushed the girl’s blond curls while she waited for Nate to text that he had his truck ready. Ivy just sat and stared. Her eyes would dart to the door, as if waiting for her mother to reappear. But she never asked where her mother was.
Perci’s heart broke over and over with each look of anxiety, of fear, of worry, that crossed the little face.
No two-year-old should ever live in such utter terror.
No matter what happened, Perci was going to do her best to ensure that Ivy had a good future. One with people who loved her.
Like Perci had been loved.
Her family hadn’t had much monetarily, but they had had love. Her parents had never struck her or her siblings. Not even once. It had gotten tight on them so many times, food had even been scarce a time or two, but they had protected one another. Loved one another.
Nate texted.
Perci scooped Ivy up and grabbed her own bag. “Let’s go find Dr. Nate, sweetie. He’ll take us...home.”
It wasn’t their home. Either of them. But she was going to make it the best place for Ivy that she could. Ivy fought getting in the car with Nate. Perci ended up in the backseat, doing her best to soothe. Until the girl fell asleep.
When they pulled into Nate’s front drive, the rains had doubled, lightning flashed everywhere, and thunder was so loud she could barely think.
Ivy slept on.
Nate lifted the child from the car, and Perci covered her with a blanket quickly. Then it was a mad dash to the front door for all of them.
He settled Ivy in the center of the queen bed in the guest room and pulled another quilt over her. “The pain medicine should keep her sedated for the rest of the night.”
“Poor kid. What’s going to happen to her? After all of this? Her mother will eventually get out of jail. Does she just go right back to her?”
“No. I don’t think she’s going back to her mother. Not anytime soon.” Nate slipped his fingers around her elbow and guided her out of the guest room, like she was helpless or something. Perci would have protested—at any other time. But this time she didn’t.
The entire situation was making her feel beyond vulnerable.
Like it or not, she and Nate were in this together.
Them and a little girl who had no one else.