Rowan had never made a promise with less certainty and more need behind it. “Yes. She’s going to be okay.”
While doctors worked on Elsie, Rowan gave the registration desk every piece of information he had, then repeated the same story again for a hospital social worker and then for another staff member from pediatric intake. He explained the custody arrangement, Delaney’s message about being away with friends, the unanswered calls, the empty house, the fact that Micah had said this was not the first time she had left them alone, only the first time it had gone on this long.
The social worker, a composed woman with silver glasses and a notepad balanced on her knee, asked, “Do you know where the children’s mother is right now?”
“No,” Rowan said flatly. “I haven’t known since Friday.”
“Are you prepared to take temporary full responsibility while we document this?”
“I’m prepared to do whatever keeps them safe.”
The doctor returned after what felt like a lifetime packed into forty minutes. Elsie had an IV in her arm and color beginning to creep back into her face.
“She’s stable,” the doctor said. “She’s severely dehydrated and has a stomach infection that became much harder on her because she hadn’t been eating properly. We’re keeping her for observation, but you got her here in time.”
Rowan closed his eyes for one second and let out a breath he had not realized he was holding.
Micah looked up at him immediately. “Can I see her?”
The doctor smiled gently. “Soon. She’s resting now, but she’s in good hands.”
Rowan put his hand on the back of his son’s neck and realized Micah was still trembling.
What Happened To Delaney
Two hours later, after Micah had finally eaten crackers, applesauce, and half a turkey sandwich with the stunned concentration of a child remembering hunger, a nurse approached Rowan with a different kind of careful expression.
“Mr. Mercer, another hospital contacted us after we requested information for family notification. Your former partner was admitted to Nashville General very early Saturday morning after a serious car accident.”
Rowan stared at her. “An accident?”
