Dancing with Shadows ✔

Hearts Reconnected

Dancing with Shadows

Chapter 29

Emma stood by as her parents finalized the paperwork to sign them out. Relief washed over her, knowing they had reached her in time, sparing her from the nightmares Logan had described. She shuddered to think what might have happened to her and her baby if they had stayed any longer. Logan had risked everything by revealing his secret to her parents, and for that, she was forever grateful.

As the nurse rifled through the filing cabinet, her father's patience wore thin. "Is there a reason why you'd like to sign this boy out, Mr. Hunt? I can't just release him to you; you're not family," the nurse said, her tone questioning.

"This boy has a connection to why my daughter is pregnant. If you plan on challenging me, I'll have no problem involving my lawyer. Besides, he has no family in this city," her father responded coldly, his glare intended to silence further inquiries. The nurse, clearly unsettled by the implied threat, flinched but continued searching for the documents.

"Oh, that's interesting," she muttered. "Finding your daughter's boyfriend in a mental institution... a strange way to meet him. So, having a family get-together?" Her attempt at small talk only further nettled Emma's father, who remained silent, refusing to dignify her comment with a response.

"Finally. Here are their files. I need you to sign both of them," the nurse said, sliding the papers across the counter. Emma's father sighed in relief as he signed her documents first and handed them back. He then picked up Logan's file and scanned it.

"...anger issues," he muttered, giving Logan a side glance that was more scowl than scrutiny. Emma's mother lightly slapped his arm, whispering, "Behave." Logan's frown deepened at the comment, but before he could react, Emma quickly grabbed his hand, her thumb tracing calming circles on the back of it.

Logan tensed at the unexpected touch, then whipped his head around to look at Emma in shock. Slowly, he relaxed, and to Emma's surprise, he gently squeezed her hand and lifted it to his lips, kissing the back of it. A flush of warmth spread through her—whether from his gesture or something else, she couldn't tell.

"Hey! None of that!" her father barked, jolting Emma from her trance. She quickly pulled her hand back, while Logan sighed, letting his drop.

"A-are we ready?" Emma asked softly, her hands instinctively resting on her growing belly.

"Yes, everything's signed. Let's go home," her father replied, reaching out to her. Emma didn't hesitate to step into his embrace, feeling the familiar warmth and security she had missed. He wrapped his arms around her and began leading them toward the exit.

As they walked out of the building, a smile slowly crept onto Emma's face. She couldn't wait to see her brothers again, to be surrounded by family.

**

Emma sat in the back seat of the car, glancing out the window as her mother turned around to address Logan, who sat beside her.

"So, Logan, how long has it been since you've been outside?" her mother asked, her voice gentle but curious.

Logan hesitated, his gaze shifting between Emma and her mother. "I'm not sure, ma'am. I was only in this world for an hour before I was caught. I've been in that mental facility ever since."

Emma's heart skipped a beat. "W-wait. What? I-if that's true, w-why was i-it so easy to s-sign you out?" she stammered, confusion and concern lacing her words.