“If he comes home in the same mood he was in this morning, yes,” Madison says. I don’t doubt her. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s had to sleep on the couch, and I’m sure it won’t be thelast. I don’t know any other couple with as much fire between them as these two.
She looks at me. “How has Blade never had to sleep on the couch? My brother can’t bethatperfect.”
I laugh as I reach for the sunscreen in my bag. “Trust me, he is far from perfect.”
“But still, no couch?” she says.
I arch a brow. “You seriously think I could get away with telling Donovan to sleep on the couch?”
“You have a point,” she says.
Donovan and I have had many fights over the years, but I know better than I know anything that there’s no way he’d stand for us going to bed separately. Even after one of our worst fights, I woke to his arms around me, and although I didn’t like him very much that day, I wanted his arms right where they were.
“Oh, shit,” Madison says, jumping up from the sand where she and I are sitting under a beach umbrella. “Something’s happened.”
Madison and I have been watching the girls while they make sandcastles, and Harlow has been with the boys. She took them up to the park to play on the swings and is now coming our way with Keaton and Sawyer who is crying and holding his arm.
I stand and run to them, my eyes firmly on my son who appears to be in pain.
“He fell off the swing,” Harlow says, her voice filled with worry. “I’m concerned he’s broken his wrist.”
I crouch in front of Sawyer and find his eyes. “It’s going to be okay, baby.”
He nods through his tears. There aren’t a lot of tears, though. My son is like his father: made of stone at times. And always fiercely brave.
I look at the swelling in his wrist and note the tenderness I can see simply by the way he’s holding his arm. “I’m going to take you to the hospital.”
Sawyer nods again, swallowing hard.
I stand and look at Madison and Harlow. “Can I leave Elizabeth with you guys while we go to the hospital?”
“Of course,” Harlow says. Then, pulling a pained face, she says, “I’m so sorry this happened.”
I place my hand on her arm. “There’s no need to apologise. These things happen.”
I gather my bag and my son, and we make our way to my car. I send a text to Donovan to let him know what’s happened.
Me
Sawyer fell off a swing and hurt his wrist. I’m taking him to the Gold Coast hospital to get them to check him out. I’ll keep you updated.
He calls almost instantly.
“Hey,” I say as I help Sawyer into the car.
“I’ll meet you at the hospital. I’m about forty minutes away.”
His voice calms me like it always does. I didn’t realise I was tense until this moment. “I know you’re busy today. I can keep you updated with texts.”
“I’m on my way.”
“Donovan, you don’t have to come. Sawyer’s okay. It may not even be broken.”
“I’m not just coming for Sawyer.”
I finish helping Sawyer buckle in, close his door, and release a long breath. “Thank you.”
“I’ll see you soon,” he says and ends the call.
