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I’m more than worried enough for the both of us.
I’m downright petrified.
“Amazing, isn’t it?” he says after what I swear is an eternity. “Shocking how easy the worry sets in once you turn into a parent. Your entire world shifts”—he snaps his fingers—“like that.”
I give him half an eye. “Why aren’t you more worried?”
Hailey’s dad chuckles softly, squeezing my shoulder. “I think you’ve got enough for everyone and then some.”
Why does he find this funny? If it wasn’t Hailey’s father, I’d tell him exactly where to put his humor—
“It was an honest mistake,” he concedes. “Besides, I know my daughter and I know there’s not a chance she hasn’t started introducing Aiden to the water. Sure, he may not be a pro, but he’s not unfamiliar with it.”
Surprisingly, his confession makes me feel an inch less pathetic.
“And anyway, with how fast you reacted, I doubt he got much, if any, water in his lungs. I respect and understand Hailey as his mother. She wants to be cautious, and bringing Aiden to the hospital was a safe bet, but I’m positive he’ll be fine.”
“You think?” I catch the shock in my own voice.
“I know, same as I know you and my daughter will be too.”
He rises from his spot after that, our conversation over and my head straightens back toward the painting in his absence. Her father is optimistic, and I thought I could be once too about his daughter, but after tonight…
My head falls to my chest, guilt present and more alive than the water as it rushes to the sandy shore of the artwork.
“We need to talk.”
The muscles in her back twitch, but other than that, I get nothing as she continues her movements in closing the door to Aiden’s room.
To be fair, the small reaction could’ve been a misinterpretation seeing as her shoulders haven’t rested once from the pointed peaks of earlier. Not even after the doctor cleared Aiden—Hailey’s father was correct about him being okay. And other than a possibly upset tummy for the next day or so, he’s perfect.
Thankfully.
She hasn’t said a direct word to me. Our drive home was silent. Profusely, she apologized to Cole and Rory for messing up their event, but I get nothing. And definitely not after she closed the door to his room in my face, choosing to put him to bed alone.
The entire time I gave her space because I knew it was what she needed, even though it hurt to not be included. The most important thing is I know our son is alright, and this one fact is more than I deserve.
I’ve been patient, waiting outside the hallway and in the lobby at the hospital, but I’m done now. My tolerance is stretched way past thin, and I’m over it.
Even in the dim overhead lighting, I can see how dark circles have settled underneath her eyes. Hailey’s legs seem spongy like if she could, she’d collapse from exhaustion right here on the plush carpet underneath our feet.
Tonight’s taken it out of her, but that makes two of us.
“I’m tired, Finn,” she answers. I blame her mildly annoyed tone on her being drained and it’s the only reason I disregard the unnecessary attitude. “Tomorrow’s a big day, and I’d like at least an hour of sleep before I have to start helping Rory get ready.”
My teeth lock.Right. The wedding.
“I’m tired, and I don’t want to argue tonight.Please…” she whispers, and it’s pained. Broken. “Let’s be civil for them and not mess this up more than what’s already happened.”
“What happened was an accident.”
I instantly regret how I make her wince, the bite in my words coming off harsher than I intended, but I’m frustrated too.
“My son could have died!”
“Our,” I correct with everything in my being. “He’sourson, Hailey. Yoursandmine.”
“Go home, Finn, not tonight.”
