“Wh—where are the children?” As a mother, her first thoughts always jumped directly to the safety of her babies.
Alarmed by his shocked expression, she flung herself into a sitting position and leaped to her feet. Instantly, her legs quivered and her body swayed precariously. Figures moved around her to help, but Alik was the fastest, his muscle reflexes wrapping his strong arm around his mother’s waist.
“Alik?” Margo reached up and touched her son’s face before looking around the dimly lit room. “Evan?”
“I’m here, Mom.” Then Evan was at her side, holding her hand.
“Meggie?” she called.
“She’s in the States, Mom. Remember?” Evan spoke slowly sensing his mother’s confusion. Theo moved to stand in front of the woman he loved so completely.
“Where’s Cole?” she searched Theo’s eyes.
“I’m here,” Cole spoke from behind her, “I’m trying not to freak out, but I’m here.”
“Everybody is fine, Margo—Danny, Creed, Farrow, Sloan, Maze—even Evan’s friend Kylie. We are all remarkably well.”
She looked into Theo’s misting eyes before scanning the dimly lit room herself. Her shoulders relaxed just a fraction before she nodded slightly.
Her eyes slowly crawled down her wet shirt and jeans and stopped to stare at her bare feet.
She looked up again. This time her expression was hardened.
“A dream. This is just a dream.” She let her head hang sadly. “Why couldn’t I dream Meg was with us, too? I miss my little girl so much.” Her voice could barely be heard above the noise of the storm raging outside.
“Margo, you’re not dreaming.” Theo lifted her chin trying to force her to see him through her fog.
“Oh, Theo, you always say that in my dreams.” She reached up and patted his scruffy cheek tenderly.
“Mom, this is really happening,” Evan squeezed her hand hard enough to give her a small jolt of pain for emphasis.
“Ow! Evan!” She flinched.
“Sorry, Mom,” he grinned sheepishly.
“It’s true, Mom. This is really happening,” Alik nudged her small frame with his large, muscular one and smiled down at her.
“Margo, think back. We were under attack at the house in Cairo. We had to escape. Some of the children were badly injured,” Theo nodded. His eyes were wide, searching her face for that moment when she would remember and know he was telling her the truth.
When he saw her eyes dart worriedly to Alik, he knew her fog was lifting.
“Alik? Your face! Your eyes!” she reached up and pulled her son down to her level so she could study him.
“I’m fine now,” Alik grinned at her. His skin looked fresh and pink under a dusting of sand. “Everyone’s all right, Mom.” Evan nodded reassuringly, “Even you,” he added carefully as he nodded toward her legs.
Margo followed her son’s eyes. Her jaw dropped as her knees buckled.
Alik caught her effortlessly before easing her back to the sofa. Her gaze settled on Danny’s sleeping body. Maze’s coat was nearly dry from the vigorous shanking he’d given it when they’d arrived and now he was using his warmth to keep the little boy comfortable. The coydog’s warm yellow eyes watched the child sleep.
“He was praying,” she whispered in awe.
“Mom?” Evan knelt at her feet and tried to catch her eye—worried she’d slipped back into the dreamlike fog.
Margo blinked and met Evan’s searching look with knowing resolve.
“In the lake,” she said with a certainty. “Danny prayed for our healing.” The room waivered in silence—absorbing the implications.
Margo nodded slowly, her gaze settling back on the little boy.
Theo reached out to Farrow for the sheet she’d removed from the coffee table and walked toward the little boy. He gently draped the cloth over him. “I’m sorry I doubted you, Danny. You are truly touched by God.”
32 Eyes Wide Open
While waiting out the storm, the family had resigned themselves to finding various pieces of clothing in the closets of the three bedroom villa and changing into the dry things.
Farrow and Sloan had helped dress Kylie in a traditional galabeya. The loose fit of the full-length robe made it easy to put on the unconscious girl. They had slipped a cushion under her head and covered her with a light sheet before Evan could approach.
“She’s still resting. Her heart rate is steady. I think it’s just a matter of time before she wakes. Maybe it would help if she heard your familiar voice.” Sloan frowned at Evan’s profile wondering if he’d heard anything she just said. His eyes never left the sleeping girl.