Tears pricked my eyes and I struggled to sit up.
Dane picked up a control and pushed a button. The bed lifted me up until I was almost sitting.
I winced as pain shot through my ribs and I let my head rest back against the pillows.
“I had a girl.”
I’d always wanted a girl.
Of course, I would have been happy with a boy, with twins. A puppy, even. But a baby girl was the true fantasy.
“Yes, you did, my love. And she’s beautiful. Sam’s watching over her as we speak.”
“What happened?” I didn’t remember much at all. “Why am I here?”
Sam pulled up a chair and sat next to me, gripping my hand like he’d never let go.
“You ran away, into the forest, and fell. We thought we were going to lose you both, but you were very lucky. You’ve got a cracked rib or two and some cuts and bruising, but considering how far you fell, we’re all thanking our lucky stars that you got away from it so unscathed.”
Cracked ribs? I looked down at my hand where a drip was inserted, probably with some very good painkillers too.
“Why would I run away from you all?”
Then the memories came flooding back and I gasped, pulling my hand from Dane’s grip.
“You’re going to give me to the bears! You don’t even want me.”
I began to scream, “Help! Somebody! Help me!”
Dane grabbed for my hands.
I pushed at him, my heart pounding against my ribs. “No! Get away from me! I want my baby! Give me my baby!”
Two nurses and Claire came rushing in. “Celeste, calm down. Please.”
I grabbed for Claire’s arm and held her tight. “They’re going to send me back to the bears, you need to protect me, please. My baby, I need my baby. They’re going to steal her from me.”
Claire grabbed my hands and squeezed hard.
“Celeste, listen to me. Okay? Listen. No one is taking your baby away. She’s in a crib, in the NICU. I can bring her to you, but you can’t hold her yet, okay?”
I nodded but couldn’t stop shaking.
Claire tried to move away but I grabbed her arm tighter.
“Claire, you can’t leave. Tayte said he was going to hand me over to the bears once the baby came. If she’s here, then he’ll throw me away.”
My throat closed up as the betrayal truly hit home.
After giving myself entirely over to them, they were going to get rid of me. After I’d finally let my guard down, let myself believe that they loved me.
A sob rose and I couldn’t hold it in.
Claire grabbed for me again. “I’m not going anywhere until we figure all this out, okay? Nurse Myers, could you bring Celeste’s baby to us, please?”
I watched the woman go and relaxed a fraction. But I wasn’t letting Claire’s hand go. No way.
Dane was still in the room, and I shot him a glare before looking back at the doctor.