And I still waited for word on Mason.

A half hour later, Neely Kate and Jed were on their second episode, bickering over the price of a ski boat in the showcase.

I couldn’t take it anymore. “I’m going to check on Maeve.”

“You can’t,” Neely Kate protested.

“Watch me.” I slid my feet over the side of the bed and nearly fell when my legs turned to rubber and the room swam. I fought a round of nausea.

Neely Kate tried to push me back into bed, but when she realized I was so intent on doing this that I’d crawl if need be, she insisted that I at least ride in a wheelchair. I refused. I didn’t want Maeve to see me acting like an invalid because of a bunch of scrapes and bruises. Not while her only living child was in surgery.

Neely Kate grabbed another hospital gown to use as a robe so my booty wasn’t flashing the world, and the three of us slowly hobbled down the hall and up one floor by the elevator to the surgery waiting room. Everything was spinning and I felt close to throwing up, so I clutched my IV pole for dear life. Neely Kate held onto my left arm, and Jed gripped my right elbow. He took most of my weight, keeping me upright and on course until we reached the entrance to the waiting room.

I stopped and gasped.

The room was overflowing. Jonah and Jessica, Bruce Wayne and Anna, Miss Mildred, and at least twenty other people sat around Maeve like she was their queen.

“You’re almost there,” Neely Kate said, giving me a little push. “I’m sure someone will give up their seat for you.”

“I can’t,” I whispered, realizing what a bad idea this was. “I can’t face her. What if she hates me? I don’t think I can stand it.”

“Why would she hate you?” Neely Kate asked in disbelief.

“Because I did this to her son.” Despite what Carter had said to me, I knew it was true. Someone else might have pulled the trigger, but Mason would never have been there if not for me.

“No. J.R. did this to her son,” Neely Kate insisted.

Deep in my heart, I knew Maeve would never blame me. It was my own guilt holding me back.

I was about to turn around and leave, but Maeve glanced up and noticed me. She slowly got to her feet, and the people around her parted, making a path. I remained frozen in place, scared to death of how she’d react.

When she stopped in front of me, she gently cupped my neck.

“Thank God you’re okay,” she said.

“Mason . . .” My voice broke off into tears.

“He’s still in surgery. We’re waiting.”

I nodded, which sent a new wave of pain through my head and a tsunami of nausea through my gut.

“No offense, my dear, but you look terrible,” she said. Though her eyes were shiny with tears, she was grinning.

Most of the people in the waiting room were openly gawking at me, and it occurred to me that my face was undoubtedly a mess. Neely Kate had moved in front of any reflective surfaces during our ten-minute trek, so I had no idea what I looked like.

“Come sit down,” Maeve said, taking my hand.

“I can’t,” I said. “It’s not right. It’s my fault he’s in there.”

“No.” Her eyes turned stormy. “He’s in there because a very bad man shot him.” She took a breath. “That lovely Mr. Malcolm came to see me. He told me how Mason attacked J.R. Simmons to save you. Joe told me that Mr. Malcolm was the man who carried Mason out of the building before it collapsed.” She looked deep into my eyes. “You are not to blame.”

Skeeter had saved Mason without being coerced. He really had changed.

I looked at Maeve and considered forcing a vision to see if Mason would survive, but I was too chicken to see the future. If I saw his death, I’d have no idea how to change it. Maybe Jed was right. Maybe sometimes you just needed to accept fate.

A murmur swept through the group as a man in surgical scrubs appeared at the opposite end of the room.

My heart stuttered with fear. I gave Maeve a tiny push. “Go. It will take me forever to get over there. I’ll catch up.”

The older woman looked torn, but she crossed the room toward the doctor. Jonah met her halfway. The doctor talked to her for a few seconds before Maeve’s legs buckled. Jonah and the doctor led her to a chair someone had vacated.

I felt lightheaded, but I stayed on my feet. I had to know.

I had to hear the words.

But then Jonah stood and looked around the room. “He’s okay. He’s going to be okay.”

That was all I needed to hear.

Everything went black and the next thing I knew, I was back in my bed, Neely Kate hovering over me like a momma duck.

“I’m fine, Neely Kate.”

“You just passed out for fifteen minutes. You are not fine.” Fear filled her eyes.

I grabbed her hand and stroked her knuckles and stared into her face. “I’m not goin’ anywhere.”

“Who said you were?”

“You’re stuck with me for a good fifty years.”

“Fifty?” she scoffed. “I was thinking more like seventy years. We’ll be past ninety, wearing those purple dresses and red hats.” Then she scrunched up her nose. “Although I look terrible in purple. It makes me look washed out.”

I grinned. “Then we’ll start our own red hat club. We can wear pink dresses. You look great in pink.”

“I do,” she said. “It makes my skin glow.”

My smile fell. Seeing Maeve’s terrified face had taken a lot out of me. “I want to see Mason.”

Neely Kate turned serious. “He’s still in ICU, but Maeve said they expect him to be moved to a regular room tomorrow.” She paused. “You’ll still be here. After your faintin’ episode, they want to keep you another night for observation.”

Violet came to see me in the early afternoon, holding an envelope. Neely Kate stood to leave, declaring she was going to grab some lunch.

I’d been dozing, but I forced myself awake, a task more difficult than it should have been. “I’m sorry I didn’t come to see you this morning.”

Violet laughed despite the tears in her eyes. “You have an excuse this time. Besides, I wasn’t even home. I just got back into town.”

“What’s in the envelope?”

“Your test results.”

I sucked in a breath. “Am I a match?”