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“Promise.”
“She’s a beautiful little girl,” Autumn said, as Isla began to skip away. “She’s lucky she has your hair.”
“I hated being a redhead when I was younger,” Meghan said, sitting down next to Autumn, with half an eye on Isla. “I used to get all the same jokes about carrot tops. But Isla seems happy enough, the only downside is our skin. We have to slather sunscreen on or we burn at the sight of the first ray.”
“I’d kill to have skin as pale as yours,” Ally said, shooting Meghan a grin. She was gorgeous – tall and athletic, with tan skin and beautiful blonde hair that was pulled into a top knot. “And your freckles are to die for.”
A scream came from Meghan’s left. Her head whipped around and she saw Isla fall onto the sand, dropping her bucket as the shells she’d collected spilled out onto the golden ground. Her hands were holding her foot, and blood poured out of her heel. Without taking a breath, Meghan was up and running toward her, dropping down to her knees to check if she was okay.
“I stepped on something,” Isla gasped, sobs peppering her words. “It hurts.”
“I know, sweetheart.” Meghan tried to be calm, but the blood was pouring. “Try to stay still. Let me check your foot.” She winced when she saw the jagged edge of glass glinting in the sun. It was still half inside Isla’s foot, cutting a gash into her skin.
“I have water,” Autumn said, passing her a large plastic bottle. “You can use it to wash the wound.”
Isla cried louder as Meghan attempted to clean the sand and blood away from her daughter’s foot. It was taking everything Meghan had in her not to join her daughter. It looked so painful, and that glass was so damn big, too.
“What the hell are people doing leaving broken glass on the beach?” Autumn muttered.
“I need to take her to urgent care,” Meghan said, still wincing at the cut.
“I can go with you.”
Meghan shook her head. “It’s okay. I have my work van at the shop. I’ll carry Isla there and drive over.”
Autumn’s friend, Harper, joined them, her two year old daughter in her arms. “Go to Saint Vincent’s,” she urged. “My husband works there. It’s the best. I’ll call him. If he’s not in surgery he can come check on you.”
“That’s a good idea,” Autumn agreed. “It’s the closest ER. They have the best facilities there.”
“Mommy, are they going to operate on me?” Isla asked, her voice trembling.
“I don’t think so.” Meghan tried to sound reassuring. “But they need to remove the glass and sew you up.”
“With a needle?” Isla’s voice rose up an octave. “I hate needles.”
Meghan exchanged glances with Harper. Empathy flowed from her face. “You know what?” Harper said to Isla, leaning down to whisper in her ear. “I hear they have amazing stickers for kids who are hurt. And the best doctors, too. They’ll make a huge fuss over you.”
“I love Saint Vincent’s,” Autumn agreed. “That’s where Skyler was born.”
“And Alyssa.” Harper smiled. “It’s very special.”
Isla slowly nodded. “I guess I can be brave.”
“That’s my girl.” Meghan gently
picked her up, kissing her hair because dammit she loved this kid so much. “Let’s go tell Jeannie we’re on our way to the ER.”
It was a beautiful spring day, but Rich had spent most of it beneath the bright lights of the ER, dealing with a heart attack, a home improvement accident, and two surfers who’d somehow managed to drift far out into the ocean, and had to be rescued by the Coast Guard. But right now he was taking a break, drinking coffee on the balcony of the fourth floor break room that overlooked the whole of Angel Sands and the coastline beyond.
The ocean was sparkling in the sunshine, and he tried to remember the last time he’d even made it to the beach. A few months ago? He could recall going to collect some driftwood for Belle for one of her college assignments, but that had been last summer.
It was crazy living so close to the beach and never actually getting to enjoy it, but his free hours always seemed to fill up quickly, never leaving time for relaxing or listening to the waves.
“Hey.” His friend, James, nudged him in the shoulder. He was wearing a suit with a short white coat over it. “Who said you could take a break?”
Rich grinned. “I didn’t know you were working today.”
“I’m covering a shift. It’s quiet, so I thought I’d grab a coffee. I’m about to head down to the ER actually.”
