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“I know, peanut. I’ll make it better, I promise,” I whispered as I gathered her up and forced my battered body to get me upright. I had done this. I had been holding off getting away from Edward again and again, and now Willow was hurt because of it.
“Daddy hurt you. Why’d he hurt you like that?” she sniffled as tears tracked down her face.
“I’m okay, sweetie. Right now we need to take care of you, okay?”
“I need Mr. Roar mommy.”
“We’ll get him,” I promised as I tiptoed from my room and next door into hers. I grabbed Mr. Roar and a blanket from the bed, wrapping it around her as best I could with one mangled arm and a child in my other. She settled a little once she had the stuffed toy tucked against her and I marveled at how brave she was being, knowing how much pain she was in.
As I passed through the house I realized the crashing and smashing I could hear was coming from the kitchen, which is obviously where Edward had gone to vent the rest of his rage. It meant I had a clear shot to the front door, if I hurried.
Willow pressed harder against me at the sound of smashing and Edward’s enraged rants, so I just held her tighter in an attempt to reassure her as I ran across the living room and straight to the front door, only slowing once to grab my cell from where I had left it on the side table beside the front door.
I slipped out, closing the door as quietly as I could behind me, hoping Edward wouldn’t even notice we had left for some time.
“Mommy, where are we going?” Willow asked as I ran down the street and away from our house as fast as I could.
“To get your arm fixed, peanut. I know it hurts, but we’ll find a doctor to make it all better, okay?” I gasped as I continued running.
“And you too, right mommy? You gots some owies too,” she pointed out. She was shaking hard in my arms and her voice was hoarse from crying.
“Right. Me too. We’re going to be okay, honey. I promise. We’ll be just fine.”
Eventually I made it to the park where I brought Willow every Saturday morning. I collapsed down on a bench, my feet raw from running down the road barefoot, and my whole body screaming for relief from the pain I was putting it through. Willow was quietly sobbing against me as I settled her in my lap and used my good hand to pull my cell from where I had stuffed it in the top of my leggings as I ran.
My hand trembled as I unlocked the screen and searched for the one person I had to call. I hated doing it, but I had no one else and we were desperate.
“Maddie?” Nico answered after two rings. He sounded half asleep and I knew I had woken him.
“Nico,” I gasped, breathlessly. “I…I’m so sorry, but I didn’t have anyone else to call and Willow…she’s hurt and we don’t h-have anywhere else to go. I don’t know what to do,” I cried down the phone all at once.
“Maddie, take a breath and slow down for me, sweetheart. Where are you? Can you tell me that?”
“We…we’re at the park…sunny side park, n-near my house.”
“That’s good, Maddie. Just keep breathing. I’m headed to my car. I’m going to come and get you. Are you hurt?” he asked.
“Yes, and Willow. He…he hurt Willow,” I whimpered.
“Is she conscious, Maddie?”
“Yes, but I th-think her arm is br-broken,” I replied as I fought to keep it together for my daughter.
“And you? Did you hit your head? Are you bleeding?”
“No. I’m okay. I’m just scared he’ll come looking for us,” I admitted in a whisper, hoping Willow wouldn’t hear.
“I’m in my car now. I’m going to be there in less than ten minutes, Maddie. Just hold on, okay. Can you hold on for me?”
“I’m so sorry Nico. I just…I didn’t have anyone else to call,” I whimpered.
“Hey, enough of that. We’re friends. Of course you should have called me. I’m so glad you did,” he told me.
“Mommy, I’m c-cold and my arm is really, really hurting now,” Willow whimpered through her sobs.
“I know, peanut. Nico’s on his way, okay? He’s going to help us,” I promised as I adjusted the blanket around her in an effort to keep her warm, then cradled her even tighter against my front. “Just snuggle Mr. Roar close and keep him warm, okay?”
“I likes Nico,” she sniffled.
