Julia
"Where is my daughter?" Panic like I have never felt before claws its way through my chest and just simply breathing has become hard. Riley must see the mess that I'm getting into as he starts to look worried and takes a step closer to me. "Don't!" I can't bear the idea of him touching me right now. I knew he was too good to be true, I fucking knew it and now... now my daughter is, God knows where with God knows who, and it's all my own stupid fault! "Where is she, Riley?"
"She's fine, Julia, my best friend Josh has taken her for a McDonald's. She was hungry, and the food here is shit, so he offered to take her." The more he speaks the more I feel like my blood drains from my body. "You what?" My panic quickly turns to anger and once again I find myself heading for the door in search of my daughter.
"What are you doing? Get back in here, now!" His firm tone just pisses me off more, and then he moves in front of me blocking my way, only pissing me off even more. I kick out to try and shift him, but he doesn't even wince, despite me getting a good kick to his shin more than once.
"Calm down and listen. Josh is my best friend, has been since we were small, and he would never do anything to harm your little girl. The guy wouldn't hurt anyone, especially children. If you knew him you'd understand why." But that's the problem... I don't know him.
"Is that supposed to make me feel better? Some man that I've never met has my daughter, and you expect me to just accept it and be fine with it?" As the seconds tick by I'm getting more and more pissed. I go to try and shove Riley back, but he must already know this as his whole body turns to stone, and he doesn't move an inch despite my trying.
"Hey, cool it!" The next thing I know, my legs leave the ground as I'm put back on the bed by Riley. I go to speak, but he holds up his hand, "Get out of that bed again before the doctor approves it, and I'm going to spank your ass until you can't stand, understood?" What the hell did he just say to me? "I mean it, Julia. You need to rest and the more you keep trying to get up and wonder the more time you are going to be stuck in here."
"I know you're right in what you're saying, but it doesn't matter, Riley, not really. I can't stay in this place any longer. I need to get to Nina, I'm all she has." he lets out a sigh and takes a seat next to me. "I know you're worried about Nina, but she's safe. I promise."
"As I said before, I don't know that, do I? Because you let some stranger wonder of with her. OMG what was you thinking?" He looks slightly pissed but, appears to try and keep it in. "As I said, she is safe. Josh will look after her and keep her safe, I promise. Now, I know you don't know me enough to believe my promises, but I assure you that I am a man of my word."
"When will he be back with her?" I don't know if I should believe him. I mean I want to, but he's still a stranger to me and when it comes to Nina, I can't and won't risk her safety, not for anyone. "He should be back anytime now." He leans over in his chair a little bit, then shocks the hell out of me when he takes my hand in one of his and gently squeezes. His hand completely covers mine which is funny, but it also feels warm and safe and stirs something inside of me that it shouldn't.
"You don't know me or my mom, not really, but you seem to trust us with Nina, right?" I give a slight nod, but it's resident but how can it not be when I'm not really sure about my answer. "I promise you, she is safe with, Josh."
I nod again, but still, I'm not convinced, but I'm up against a wall here. I don't know this Josh guy or even where the hell he is, so right now I have no choice but to put my trust in Riley and pray that I don't regret it. Riley's phone ringing in his pocket distracts me from my thoughts and has me holding my breath.
"Hey, Josh. Where are you?"
"She didn't... that brilliant!" He laughs at whatever Josh says while I remain anxious waiting to see my little girl.
"OK, cool. See you soon."
The moment he puts the phone down, I'm straight on him. "Where are they? Is Nina ok? When will they be back?" He looks a little pissed at my sudden burst of questions, but I don't care. Clearly, he doesn't have children, or he'd understand my behavior.
Suddenly, his look softens as if he is maybe trying to understand as best he can. "She is fine, Julia, just like I promised. They are back at the hospital. Josh was just calling to let me know that Nina got food all down herself when they went to eat so he bought her some new clothes on the way back and my mom has taken her to the bathroom to change. She'll bring her straight here when she's done."
I nod to show that I've heard him, but my mind is whirling. Yes, his mom seems a lovely woman, but my opinion is based on one meeting with her and now she's in the bathroom helping my daughter change. "I know what you're thinking but stop. My mom will protect your little girl with her life and so will Josh. You don't know us I get that, and I know you only have my word, but if you knew us... knew our story you would know that what I say is true."
The door opens, and my words die on my tongue as my little girl, my baby, runs through the room beaming as she heads for me. "Whoah whoah, little one. Be gentle with your momma." Riley stands up to stop her from jumping on me, causing her to giggle when she can't slow down in time, and ends up bumping into him and almost hitting the floor... but of course, he doesn't let that happen.
"Momma!" she calls as Riley lifts her onto the bed. The moment he lets go of her, she's straight on me with the biggest hug and, as always, her hugs make all my worries fade away. Hell, this girl is my absolute world. "Are you OK, baby girl?" She looks and seems fine, and I don't want her to know that I'm suspicious of this guy, Josh, but still, I just need to hear it from her. She pulls back, nodding as she smiles, and, despite not being able to sense anything wrong with her, I'm still worried.
The door to the room opens once more as a man and woman come in. I recognize the woman as Riley's mom, but I'm not sure who the guy is. Of course, Riley notices my confusion and is quick to make introductions. "Julia, you remember my mom, Mandy, don't you? And this is Josh." Oh, so this is the guy that took my daughter?
He steps closer to the bed, and it's then that I realize that I know him... but how can that be? How's he here? Why?
"Julia?"