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“You’re so brave, buddy,” I say, giving his shoulder a squeeze..
He screws his eyes closed tightly, and I watch how hard he holds his mom’s hand. The swab clearly doesn’t hurt. It seems being in the hospital is making Skylar nervous and Crew is feeding off his mother’s distress.
“How about we go for ice cream after this?” I ask, and his eyes open and light up.
That makes me chuckle. “I take it that’s a yes?”
Crew looks over at his mom.
“That’s a definite yes,” Skylar confirms.
I felt terrible I was out of town when Carter went by the diner. I could tell from Skylar’s voice how shaken up she was. I was grateful the team was in town today.
“How long will it take to get the results?” Skylar asks the technician.
“About forty-eight hours,” she replies.
I’m supposed to play Philadelphia in two nights.
Dammit. I don’t like not being here for them.
We head out of the hospital and take a quick drive.
“Have you ever been to Mr. Ice Cream?” I ask Crew.
He shakes his head.
“It’s the best place,” I say. “It’s a little out of the way but so worth it. They make their own homemade ice cream and have cool flavors. They also make their cones.”
“That sounds delicious,” Skylar comments, but I can see she’s a bag of nerves.
We finally get to Mr. Ice Cream. I find parking at a meter on the street, and when Skylar goes to help Crew out of the car, I tell her I’ll do it. He’s already unbuckled himself when I open the door.
He lunges himself into my arms, and my heart stutters. Something about this little boy has gotten under my skin from the start. He’s sweet and loving. I grab him in my arms and ruffle the hair on his head, and when I place him down on the sidewalk, he extends his hand to mine. I close the door with one hand and press the button on my keychain to lock the doors. Then I take Crew’s hand. Skylar walks over to us, and I take her hand too.
We walk quietly to the ice cream shop.
“What’s your favorite flavor?” I ask Crew.
“Um. . .I like brownie chocolate sundae, cotton candy, and peanut butter chocolate swirl.”
“I think they have all those flavors.” I nod to Crew.
“What flavor are you going to get, Mommy?” Crew asks and waits.
“Hmm.” Skylar looks dazed when she answers her son. I can see how terrifying this has all been for her. I want to make it better, make her feel safe, but I feel helpless.
“What flavor?” Crew asks again.
“Oh, Mommy isn’t in the mood for ice cream,” she answers.
I rub her back and lean into her ear. “You heard what Flynn said. Everything is going to work out.”
“She can’t say that with one-hundred-percent certainty,” she replies.
That is the truth.
Crew orders the peanut butter chocolate ice cream in a white chocolate dipped waffle cone with rainbow sprinkles, and I take the same thing, which makes him super happy.
