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Charlie’s little eyes lit up. “Yeah!” He eagerly tried to jump up.
I applauded the doctor for making all the scary stuff seem less so.
“Hang on. Let’s get you into a wheelchair.”
Olivia lifted her son into the wheelchair the nurse offered.
“I’ll see you afterward, Charlie.” Olivia kissed his forehead.
We followed them down the hallway to the waiting room of the x-ray area. While Charlie was off with the doctors, Olivia glanced through the forms. She visibly shook as she fought to hold herself together.
My heart won out. I couldn’t stand to see her so upset. I rubbed my hand over her shoulder. “Hey. It’s going to be okay.”
“No, it’s not. I’m not going to be able to feed us for at least six months.” Olivia shot me a guilty look and began filling out the paperwork.
“What was he doing home alone?”
Olivia’s walls went straight up. “Thanks for your help, Emmett. I’ve got it from here.”
I blocked her path as she tried to walk away from me. “Olivia. I have to ask the question. You know what I do for work.”
Fear flashed through her eyes. “Yeah, and you know what I do for work. I do what I have to, to take care of my son. Sometimes that means I have to take a double shift.”
“He’s too young to be left home alone.” When Olivia didn’t answer, I pushed further. “How long has this been going on for?”
In that instant, she turned from the sweet woman I’d been getting to know to a scary mama bear. She took a challenging step toward me. “If you eventhinkabout taking my son from me, I will fight you tooth and nail.”
I sighed. “Olivia. You need to think about what’s best for Charlie.”
“I know exactly what’s best for Charlie!” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “You know nothing about us, or me. You don’t know why I have to do what I do.”
“Then tell me. Let me in. If you need help, let me know. I could help you find a sitter?”
“Are you kidding? Do you know how much a good babysitter costs?” She took a step backward.
“Olivia, let me help you.”
“I think you’ve done enough.”
She turned and walked away. With every step she took, I felt like I was losing her, and she was taking a part of me with her.
