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I swung the bag over my shoulder and the keys dug into my palm. “You’re right.”
Her chin lifted, and her eyes narrowed.
I expected her to crow when I agreed. Instead, her suspicious gaze only deepened.
My eyes burned as I quickly looked around at all we did. All the hours I’d spent here making it perfect. Maybe Adriana got sick from being with me all the time.
Around so many people.
Outside all day while I worked.
Maybe I wanted this too much. Wanted to prove to everyone that I could do both.
I couldn’t worry about that right now. My daughter needed me and that was more important than arguing with Gillian.
She won.
And I just didn’t care.
You do care. You care so much.
I ignored the whispers at the back of my mind as I rushed back down the dock and across the grass.
“Emma,” Mason called after me. “Emma, wait.”
I didn’t wait. I couldn’t.
If I did, I might do something stupid like beg him to come with me. Selfishly, I didn’t want to do this alone.
I had Clint and Kitty.
I had my true family.
I jumped into my station wagon and put it in reverse. When I looked up, Mason was hurrying across the grass, then stopping with his hands on his hips, worry etched on his face.
My stomach clenched, but nothing was more important than Adriana.
I didn’t remember getting to the urgent care. Some part of me managed to find the name of it on my maps app and I parked. I wasn’t even sure it was a legal parking spot, but I’d deal with a towed car later if need be.
The waiting room was eye-searingly bright. The waiting area was empty save for an older man with a cough in the corner. I went to the intake desk, and no one was there either.
I peered over the edge of the desk and caught the gaze of a woman. She held up a finger, on the phone with someone.
I gnawed on the corner of my thumb and paced away from the desk, then back. Were they already in an exam room?
Did she have to get admitted?
Was it even worse?
A shrill cry echoed from the back of the office. I didn’t think, just ran for the cry. I knew it well. Had shushed it hundreds of times at this point. Sung to her until she stopped, sometimes I even cried with her some nights.
My breasts physically ached at the sound of it. I’d waited too long to pump because of all the excitement at the end of the party.
“Miss!” The nurse chased after me.
“That’s my baby.” I snaked my way around the curtained off stalls. “Clint?” I called out.
The curtain at the far side of the room moved and my brother’s head peeked around it. Relief and worry warred on his face.
