He didn’t ask her to understand.

He lowered himself into the chair beside her bed and set both hands where she could see them.

“I was trying to come back,” he said. “But you were alone, and you were frightened. I’m sorry.”

Ella looked down at Buddy. “I gave him water.” “You took good care of him.” “He was scared too.”

Andrew nodded, unable to speak for a moment. After a quiet while, Ella pushed Buddy across the blanket toward him. He held the stuffed puppy, and Ella reached for his hand.

Chapter 13 — The Purple List

The review of everything that had happened didn’t stop just because Andrew had been found injured.