“Followers of Christ is a . . . religion that doesn’t believe in medical intervention,” Dani said quietly. “I had no idea there were any in Canada, though. I thought they were based in the States.”
Allie shrugged. “I don’t know. My father was from the States originally. My mother was Canadian and born Catholic, but converted when she met and married him. He was pretty fanatical about religion. He was also maniacally controlling. It made for an interesting childhood,” she added dryly. “I’ve had nothing to do with him or his religion since I was sixteen.”
“So, you’re not a Follower of Christ?” Dani asked, looking worried.
“No,” Allie said firmly. That answer made relief wash across Dani’s face and Allie supposed the woman had feared she’d gone against her religion by treating her.
“And yet you’ve still never had a blood test?” she asked. “Not once since you were sixteen?”
“I’ve never been to a doctor. Never needed to,” she added. “I seem to have a healthy constitution. I don’t catch colds, or the flu. I’ve never been injured or hospitalized . . . until I fainted and hit my head in the blood bank,” she added, and then paused and frowned. “I wonder if they took blood while I was unconscious.”
“Probably not for a head injury,” Dani said quietly.
There was silence for a minute and then Allie cleared her throat and asked, “Where is my son?”
“He’s downstairs,” Leonora said reassuringly. “He wanted to come up right away when he heard you were awake, but Elvi told him he had to finish his breakfast first. I think she was trying to give you a few minutes to wake up before you were surrounded with children.”
“If Liam comes up, Teddy, Sunny, and Gracie will no doubt follow,” Dani assured her with amusement.
“I know Sunny is someone named Elvi’s daughter, but who is Gracie?” Allie asked with confusion.
“She is Mabel and DJ’s daughter, who are good friends of Elvi and Victor’s, as well as Tricia and Teddy Sr.’s,” Magnus explained solemnly. “Teddy, Elvi, and Mabel grew up together and wanted their children to do the same so set out to have babies around the same time. The three kids were born weeks apart about four years ago.”
“Liam’s age,” Allie murmured.
“Yes.” Leonora grinned. “The four have become quite chummy since his arrival. Thick as thieves.”
“Oh.” Allie smiled faintly at the thought of Liam having friends. It would be something new for him. She was glad something good had come out of all this. Clearing her throat, she asked, “So, I’ve had the transfusion and everything is fine?”
“So far so good. I need to continue to monitor you over the next twenty-four hours, but problems usually pop up early on so I think everything is good.”
“Does that mean I can get out of bed?” she asked.
Dani looked surprised. “If you want to.”
“I want to,” Allie assured her. “I need to pee.” The words left her lips before she thought about them . . . and the fact that Magnus was sitting there. Flushing with embarrassment, she avoided looking at him and grimaced.
Dani smiled with amusement, but quickly removed the rope that had been tied around Allie’s left wrist to keep her from moving it and knocking out her IV.
The moment she was done, Allie pulled the blanket and sheet covering her aside, not even thinking about what she was or wasn’t wearing until she saw the black jeans and blouse she still wore. Relieved that she hadn’t been undressed, Allie got cautiously to her feet, noting that the rope from her wrist had been tied around the bed frame under the mattress. She didn’t comment, but let Dani take her arm to lead her to the bathroom.
“Do you need help?” Dani asked as they stopped in the room.
“No. Thank you, though,” Allie murmured, and much to her relief Dani headed out of the room at once.
“Shout if you need help,” Dani said as she closed the door.
Allie mumbled an agreement, but knew she wouldn’t need help. She felt surprisingly good. Better than she had in weeks. Certainly better than she had the last time she was awake. Her breath wasn’t coming in pants from the small exertion of walking, and the cold clammy feel she’d been suffering was gone. She felt pretty much back to normal, or as normal as she had been in a long time. She still wasn’t as strong as she’d been when she was first handed Liam