I shot Fitz a look that could have melted steel.
He coughed again, harder, and turned away.
“I’m sorry,” Cate was saying, her hands gesturing wildly now. “I’m so sorry. I should have been more careful. I should have—I’ve been over it a thousand times in my head. A thousand different ways I could have prevented it. If I’d just been standing closer, or if I’d suggested rollerblades instead, or if I’d—”
“Cate.” My voice was firm. “Stop.”
She looked at me, her eyes wide and panicked.
“It was an accident,” I said again, slower this time. “You did everything right. You kept her calm. You stayed with herthroughout the entire process. You did exactly what you should have done.”
“But—”
“No buts.” I turned to Ms. Rodriguez. “My wife takes excellent care of Megan. This was an unfortunate accident, properly handled, properly documented. If you’d like to see the medical records, I can have them sent over today.”
Ms. Rodriguez studied us for a long moment, her pen tapping against her clipboard.
Say something.
Tell us this isn’t a problem.
Tell us we’re not losing Megan over a broken arm that will heal perfectly.
“I appreciate your transparency,” she said finally. “I will need to see those records. And I’ll need to speak with Megan privately for a few minutes, if that’s alright?”
Privately.
She wants to talk to Megan alone.
To see if our stories match.
To see if Megan is afraid of us.
“Of course,” I said.
We stepped out into the hallway, leaving Megan with Ms. Rodriguez.
The moment the door closed, Cate turned to me, her face pale.
“She’s going to take her away,” she whispered. “She’s going to think I’m negligent, and she’s going to take Megan away, and it will be all my fault.”
“She’s not going to take her away.” I pulled her against me, my hand on the back of her head. “Breathe, Cate. Just breathe.”
“I can’t. I can’t breathe. I can’t—”
“Yes, you can.” My voice was low and steady. “In through your nose. Out through your mouth. With me.”
I breathed with her, slow and controlled, feeling her gradually start to match my rhythm.
From downstairs, I heard a burst of laughter, quickly muffled.
Fitz.
That was definitely Fitz.
“I’m going to kill him,” I muttered.
“What?” Cate’s voice was muffled against my chest.
