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I didn’t move. Instead, I relished Sophie’s warm embrace. Was it crazy to wish for more hugs with the three of us?
When Sophie pulled back, there were tears in her eyes. “I’m sorry if I said something—”
Sophie felt guilty. I was probably an asshole when she first called to tell me.
“Sophie—” I started, wanting to tell her it wasn’t her fault. That I’d overreacted.
“Aren’t you the reason she ran away?” Melanie’s shrill voice, full of disbelief, rang around the otherwise quiet room.
Sophie flinched and stepped back from the venom in Melanie’s voice. “I didn’t mean for this to happen. I feel awful.”
“Sophie, it’s not—” I interjected.
But she’d already spun on her heel and was gone. A second doctor arrived, pulling the curtain closed behind her.
I didn’t have time to deal with Sophie or the fallout. I needed to be there for Kendall.
The doctor examined Kendall, not finding anything concerning. She just had some scratches from running through the brush. She was tired and hungry, but otherwise okay.
When the nurse handed us the discharge papers, Melanie placed a hand on my arm. “Can I come home with you?”
“It’s up to Kendall.”
Kendall rubbed her arms. “Not tonight, Mom. I need some time.”
“But I’m your mother—”
Melanie had hurt Kendall, and she’d need to repair that relationship. But tonight was not the time. “I’m going to get her home, feed her, and get her into bed. She needs to rest.”
“I have every right to take her.”
Sucking in a steadying breath, I said carefully, “Technically, you could, but do you really think it’s a good idea?”
I tipped my head in Kendall’s direction, where her eyes were filling up with tears. “She’s asked for space, and I think you should give it to her.”
Melanie opened her mouth, and I held my hand up. “Now isn’t the time to discuss custody or visitation.”
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” Melanie finally said to Kendall.
Kendall nodded, and we moved past her. I wouldn’t keep her from her mother. I knew seeing her after so many months away was a shock.
When we were in the truck, Kendall asked, “Did you call Mom?”
I tapped a finger on the steering wheel. “You were missing. I thought she might have talked to you about something that could help us.
She rested her head against the headrest. “I didn’t even know where she was living. How messed up is that?”
“Melanie didn’t tell me anything more than she did you. Did you want to talk about the custody papers?”
She let out a breath. “I understand that you wanted something official so she couldn’t just show up and take me.”
I held up a hand. “But I won’t keep her from you. She’s your mother.”
She chewed her lower lip. “I know.”
I took a deep breath, knowing I had to ask. “If you want to move back to Indiana, we can do that.”
“You’d move to Indianawith me, or you’d let me move back with Mom?”
