Rowan had never made a promise with such uncertainty and necessity.  “Yes. She’ll be alright.”

While the doctors were attending to Elsie, Rowan provided the receptionist with all the information he had, then repeated the same story to a hospital social worker, and then to another member of the pediatric admissions staff. He explained the custody arrangement, Delaney’s message saying she had left with friends, the unanswered calls, the empty house, and the fact that Micah had said it wasn’t the first time she had left them alone, but only the first time it had lasted this long.

The social worker, a calm woman wearing silver glasses and a notepad balanced on her lap, asked,  “Do you know where the children’s mother is right now?”

“No,”  Rowan replied neutrally.  “I haven’t known since Friday.”

“Are you willing to temporarily assume full responsibility while we document this?”

“I am ready to do everything to ensure their safety.”

The doctor returned after what had seemed like an eternity condensed into forty minutes. Elsie had an IV in her arm and was beginning to regain color.

“Her condition is stable,”  the doctor said.  “She is severely dehydrated and has an intestinal infection that worsened because she wasn’t eating properly. We’re keeping her under observation, but you brought her in just in time.”

Rowan closed his eyes for a second and let out a breath he hadn’t even realized he was holding back.

Micah immediately looked up at him.  “Can I see her?”

The doctor smiled gently.  “Soon. She’s resting for now, but she’s in good hands.”

Rowan placed his hand on the back of his son’s neck and realized that Micah was still trembling.

What happened to Delaney?

Two hours later, after Micah had finally eaten some biscuits, applesauce, and half a turkey sandwich with the stunned concentration of a child remembering hunger, a nurse approached Rowan with an attentive expression of a completely different kind.

“Mr. Mercer, another hospital contacted us after we requested information to inform the family. Your former partner was admitted to Nashville General very early Saturday morning following a serious car accident.”