Page 38 of Between Steel and Secrets
“I can do it.” Trembling, I reach for the bottle, and she plops down, sitting beside me, her back against the wall.
“I’m Izzie,” she says, introducing herself as she hands me the water bottle.
“Bristol.”
“How often do you faint?” Izzie asks, and when I struggle to open the bottle because of the tremors, she undoes the lid for me.
I dig into my purse to pull out an electrolyte flavor packet.
“Here, let me,” Izzie says and takes the packet, tearing the foil open and dumping the contents into the water before reattaching the lid and shaking the contents.
“I could have shaken it up,” I say with a laugh.
“I’m sure. It’s not a big deal. I’ve helped Ella with hers.”
“Who’s Ella?” I ask.
“Ariella, my mom.”
“Now that we’re all acquainted,” Jaxson says and glances from me to his daughter, “how are things with the girls?”
The girls?
“They’re doing as well as can be expected. We’ve managed to find a few of those who have families searching for them,” Izzie says, “but some of the girls don’t want to go back home.”
“If it’s not safe for them, then we need to fully vet their placement into a foster home,” Jaxson says.
Izzie nods. “I know the drill. It’s just heartbreaking to hear what they’ve gone through and now some of them only have each other. Separating them seems cruel.”
Jaxson bends down to our level. He rests a hand on his daughter’s shoulder. “What was cruel is what was done to them. We’re just trying to help them the best way that we can now.”
My brow pinches. What are they talking about? What girls?
“Maybe bringing Bristol along wasn’t the right call,” Jaxson says, glancing me over. “I’m going to drive her back to the office, unless you want me to drop you off at home?”
“Great Falls is a trek from here. Besides, you’ve got work to do. Don’t let me keep you. I’ll grab the bus.”
Jaxson shakes his head. “Not after what just happened here. The air conditioning on the bus is subpar, and if you’re anything like my wife, you’re going to be struggling for the rest of the day. Let me guess, after the tremors cease, you’ll have one hell of a migraine?”
“How’d you know?” I’m lucky if that’s the only setback. Saturday, I kept passing out, like my body couldn’t ever recover. It was the first time I didn’t have a migraine after fainting, but I also had been so preoccupied and fighting with Liam that my blood pressure was probably the highest it’s ever been in my life.
“Ariella is the queen of fainting. She’s doing better, once we got an actual diagnosis for her condition.” Jaxson glances me over. “Let me know when you’re feeling capable of standing, and Izzie and I can help you back down to the car.”
“Mom has a plethora of abbreviations, stuff that’s supposed to be super rare, but it’s crazy how many people she’s met over the past couple years who share the same or similar conditions,” Izzie says.
“Rarely diagnosed,” Jaxson corrects his daughter. “It’s only rare because doctors aren’t knowledgeable on all the latest research and symptoms. I’m sure it’s just a coincidence. Fainting can happen for all sorts of reasons, but maybe you should talk to Ariella about it.”
The door down the hallway opens and a teenage girl in sweatpants and a t-shirt pokes her head out of the hotel room. “Izzie, can we have pizza for dinner?”
Another girl, who looks a little younger, pops her head out next. “With pepperoni, please.”
“Of course,” Jaxson answers for Izzie. “We’ll order it in a few minutes. Go back in the room, and don’t open the door for anyone. Remember?”
The door clicks, and I can’t help but wonder what the hell is going on around here.
“I’m ready to stand.” It’s obvious that I’m just getting in the way. Jaxson and Izzie have work to do, and I don’t want to be a hindrance.
The two of them help me to my feet, and they both keep an arm around me as I sway slightly. Jaxson could probably carry me on his own, but I get the distinct feeling he wants his daughter around to prove that he’s not trying to take advantage of me.
