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A commotion at the door interrupted them, a knock followed by Susan Chen asking, “Can we come in?”
Cody rushed to the bed and bent over Mia. “My poor babe, what did they do to you?”
She smiled and cried, “Ouch, so happy you came. Can’t smile. It hurts. Don’t look at me. Please don’t look. I’m hideous.”
“Don’t be silly. You’re my smart and lovely Mia. So what if you’ve been in an accident. Who hasn’t? Don’t make such a big deal of it. We’ll forget all about it in a few days.”
“I love you, Cody. You’re the best.”
“Hmm… Hmm…” Detective Robertson cleared his throat. “You mind stepping out, young man, I have some business to finish before the patient gets too tired.”
“We’re leaving,” Susan said.
“No, wait outside.” The detective ordered. “I’ll have questions for you, too.”
Cody and Susan left the room.
“Five more minutes. Make it quick now,” Matt demanded.
“What happened next in the car, Mia?”
“In the car?”
“Before the accident.”
“Nick was speeding, going too fast. I told him to slow down. He repeatedsour-puss,singing and clapping hands. I got scared, grabbed his arm, and squeezed it. He got mad, yelled, and slapped me. I screamed. The car swerved into the opposite lane and high beams blinded me. I heard screams from the back and then a big bump hitting my head and chest.”
She sighed and shut her eyes.
“Thank you, Mia.” The detective turned off his phone and nodded to the adults. “Thank you all for your patience.”
“You should rest now, Mia. Marly, inject her IV bag with another dose ofoxycodone.” His phone beeped, and he read the message. “I have to leave you now. I’ve just been called in for another surgery. You can go home and rest. Mia will sleep for several hours.”
“Can we come back in the evening?”
“Sure.”
Brenda touched his arm. “Matt, can I have a word with you? Come please.”
She stepped out into the hallway and stopped. On the other side, next to the nurses’ station, the detective conversed with Susan and Cody.
“What is it, Brenda? I have to run.”
“First, I want to thank—”
“No need. I’m doing my job.”
“Still, you saved her. Also I hope you don’t mind if…if Tyron sleeps at the house. This way we can comfort and…and support each other. It’s such a difficult time…for him, too. We both feel guilty but for different reasons. He’s her father, you know.”
“You’re absolutely right. He should be at her side and yours. I’m glad he came. See you later.”
He strode away, eager to get as far as possible from the woman he loved too much, the woman he was about to lose.
He’d done everything in his power to help Mia, and he would continue to do so. His brave little Mia didn’t deserve all this suffering. God knew, he didn’t resent Brenda for welcoming her child’s father. Heck, if she wasn’t the woman he loved, he would support her effort to restore her lost family. But damn, it hurt. Immersing himself in work was the only way to ignore his own pain.
***
Befuddled, Brenda watched Matt stride along the corridor, trying to understand the change in his attitude. A subtle change that only she could feel. He hadn’t hugged her, or kissed her today, or even whispered a word of comfort. Granted, he hadn’t stopped caring for Mia for a minute.
