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“Thank you,” Liam said while Hadley crossed to Maggie.
“She looks even tinier hooked up to the IV.”
Liam came to stand beside her and stared down at Maggie. A muscle jumped in his jaw. His eyes had developed a haunted look. Suddenly it was Hadley’s turn to offer comfort.
“She’s going to be fine.”
“Thank you for being here,” he said. “It’s...”
She’d never know what he intended to say because a man in a white lab coat entered the room with Agnes at his heels.
“Good morning, I’m Dr. Davison. I’ve spoken with Dr. Stringer and he filled me in on what’s been going on. I’m sure you’re anxious to hear about the tests we ran on Maggie,” The doctor met each of their gazes in turn before shifting his attention to the infant. “What we’re looking at is a blood infection. That’s what’s causing the fever, her jaundice and her listlessness.”
A knot formed in Hadley’s chest. She gripped Liam’s forearm for stability. “Is it serious?”
“It can be. But Maggie is in good hands with us here at Royal Memorial. I’m sure she’ll make a full recovery. The sooner she gets treatment the better the outcome. We’ve already started her on antibiotics, and we’re going to monitor her for the next couple days while we run a battery of tests to determine what’s causing the infection.”
“How long will she be here?” Liam gave Hadley’s fingers a gentle squeeze.
“Probably not more than three days. If there’s bacteria in her blood, she’ll be on antibiotics for three weeks and you’ll be bringing her in for periodic checkups.”
“Thank you, Dr. Davison.” Liam extended his hand to the pediatrician and appeared less overwhelmed than he had before the doctor’s arrival.
“Yes, thank you.” Hadley summoned a smile.
Dr. Davison turned to the nurse. “Agnes, would you prepare Maggie for a lumbar puncture?”
“Certainly, Dr. Davison.” She smiled at Liam and Hadley. “We have some paperwork at the nurses’ station for you to fill out,” she said. “We’ll need just a few minutes for the spinal tap and then you can come back and be with Maggie.”
Hadley tensed, intending to resist being evicted for the procedure, but then she remembered that she was the nanny, nothing more. She’d given up her rights when she’d given Liam back his ring.
When they stepped into the hallway, Hadley turned to Liam. “I should go.”
“Go?” he echoed, his expression blank, eyes unfocused. “Go where?”
“I don’t really belong here.” As much as that was true in a practical sense, she couldn’t shake a feeling of responsibility to Maggie and to him.
Foolishness. If anyone besides Liam had hired her, she wouldn’t have let herself get personally involved. She’d never slept with any of her other clients, either. Even with Noah she hadn’t stepped across that line. They’d been close, but something about sleeping with him with his children down the hall hadn’t sat well with her. And right before the weekend they were supposed to go away and be together for the first time was when Noah decided to go back to his ex-wife.
“Maggie needs you,” Liam countered. “You can’t leave her now.”
“I’m her nanny.” It hurt to admit it, but Hadley knew that after what had happened between her and Liam, she needed to start pulling back. “What she needs is her family. Why don’t you call her grandmother?”
“You mean the woman who left her with me and hasn’t demonstrated any grandmotherly concern since?”
Hadley was torn. Her presence wasn’t needed while Maggie was at the hospital. The nurses would see to it that the baby was well tended. Liam could give her all the love and snuggling she required.
“I’m sorry that Maggie’s mother died and her grandmother is so far away, but I can’t be here for you and for her in this way. She’s in good hands with the nurses and with you. I’ve already gotten too involved. I can’t keep pretending like nothing has changed.” Hadley turned in the direction of the elevator so Liam wouldn’t see her tears.
He caught her arm before she could take a step. “I’m sorry, too,” he murmured in her ear, his breath warm against her temple. “I never meant for any of this to hurt you.”
And then he set her free. Gutted and empty, she walked away without glancing back.
