“As far as I know, yes… but Ethan said she left them alone before. Just for shorter periods.”
“And did you try contacting her during the weekend?”
“No. She asked me not to call.”
Later that morning, a nurse entered the room smiling.
“Mr. Carter… your daughter is awake.”
Ethan jumped up instantly.
“Lily woke up?!”
“Yes, sweetheart.”
They both hurried inside.
Lily looked weak but alive. When she saw Ethan, she stretched her tiny arms toward him.
“I missed you,” Ethan whispered, climbing carefully onto the bed.
“I missed you too,” Lily murmured.
Thomas placed a hand on both their heads.
“You’re going to be okay. I swear.”
A few hours later Thomas received a call.
“Mr. Carter, this is City General Hospital. Ms. Emily Carter has regained consciousness. She’s asking for you and the children.”
Thomas looked at his kids for a moment.
“I’m on my way.”
Emily looked battered and exhausted when Thomas entered her hospital room.
“The kids are alive,” she said weakly.
“Yes.”
“What happened, Emily?”
She hesitated before answering.
“I thought nothing bad would happen. I went to a party… just to clear my head. The guy I was with said we’d only be gone a few hours.”