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My mouth was dry, and my heart was beating hard. I needed to see Kendall. I needed to make sure she was in one piece. That nothing had happened to her.
Colton led us into an exam room with two beds. Kendall sat on one. Drew on the other. Ellie stood on the side of Drew’s bed, an unfamiliar man next to her. Was it his dad?
Kendall’s eyes filled with tears as I crossed the room to her.
“Daddy!”
She hadn’t called me that since she was little. I wrapped my arms around her. Being near her soothed my soul. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
“I’m okay.” But Kendall’s voice was shaky. “Mom?” Kendall asked, her gaze behind me.
I hated to let her go, but I stepped back so they could reconnect.
Kendall’s eyes filled with tears. “You’re back? Because I ran away?”
“I was worried about you.” Melanie’s eyes darted away.
The soft expression on Kendall’s face hardened. “You left. I didn’t know if you were ever coming back.”
Melanie crossed her arms over her chest. “Did you run away because of Sophie?”
“Sophie?” Kendall’s eyes were wide, her expression uncertain.
Melanie huffed impatiently. “You didn’t want your father dating her.”
I didn’t like Melanie’s approach, but I wanted to hear what Kendall would say.
“I like Sophie,” Kendall said softly.
“The custody papers, then,” Melanie persisted.
Kendall shook her head. “It wasn’t that.”
I rubbed Kendall’s shoulder, and she leaned into me, seeking comfort. She rested her head against my chest, and the tension I’d been feeling all day melted away.
Sophie rushed in, her gaze flitting around the room before it rested on Drew. “You’re okay.”
Melanie moved to the other side of Kendall as Sophie hugged Drew.
Sophie pulled back to run her hands over Drew as if searching for injuries.
“I’m fine,” Drew said.
“You scared us.” Sophie hugged him again, and I saw the love that she had for her nephew.
“What happened?” Sophie pulled back to see Drew’s face.
Drew nodded toward Kendall. “I wanted to make sure Kendall was okay.”
I wished Drew had called us first, but I was grateful that Kendall wasn’t alone. He’d tried to help her in the only way a ten-year-old could—by being there for her.
Sophie pulled away as the doctor came in to talk to Drew. He drew the curtain around the bed. Sophie moved to stand in front of us, her gaze on Kendall. “Areyouokay?”
Kendall looked up at Sophie. “I’m fine. I’m sorry I worried everyone.”
“I love you, sweet girl.” Sophie’s voice broke as she threw her arms around Kendall and hugged her tight.
I kept my arm around Kendall, so Sophie ended up pressed against me, too.
