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Hadley wrapped her arms around me. “Don’t leave me, Emma.”
Rubbing a hand over her back to soothe her, I whispered, “Never, Hadley. I’ll never leave you.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
EMMA - DADDY IS HERE
Lanceand I sat in the ER waiting room for what felt like forever before they called us back. Now we were sitting in a room waiting to hear from the doctor what the X-rays said.
“Emma?” Hadley asked, looking up at me from where she had her head on my lap.
“Yes, pumpkin?”
“Will you stay in my room with me tonight?”
I tried to swallow the lump in my throat before I answered. I wasn’t sure what to say. How would Aiden feel about that?
“Hey.”
His voice sent a shiver down my spine. Looking up, I saw Aiden standing there, dressed in his uniform, his hair a mess from where he must have been running his fingers through it because he was worried.
“Daddy!” Hadley cried out, sitting up and reaching for him.
“I’m so sorry, baby girl,” he said, kissing her on the forehead and hugging her. When his eyes met mine, I lost my breath.
He looked mad.
Lance stood up and stretched. “We’re waiting on the X-rays, but the doctor is almost positive it’s just a sprain.”
Aiden glanced at his father and nodded. Then he turned to me. “I’d like to speak with you in the waiting room, please, Emma.” Aiden’s voice was filled with more anger than his expression.
After he handed Hadley to his father, he turned and walked out of the room. I rubbed my hands together in a nervous manner. Following him, I remained quiet.
The second we were standing in a quiet corner, Aiden went off.
“What in the hell happened? How could you let her get hurt?”
My mouth fell open, and I struggled to find my voice.
“When she isn’t with me, she’s in your care. You were responsible for her. What if she’d broken her arm?”
I stared at him, my own anger building now. “You don’t even know what happened, Aiden. Yet you instantly assume it was my fault?”
He started to talk, but I put my hand up to stop him. My days of letting men get in the last word were over.
“We were at the church; she was standing behind someone who was climbing off a ladder. He didn’t see her, backed into her, and she fell over the wagon display. She caught herself with both hands, but most of the fall was caught on her left hand. It was anaccident, you jackass!”
His eyes widened, and he took a step back.
“If you don’t think I’m capable of taking care of your daughter, then tell me now. I’ll leave effective immediately and you can explain to Hadley why you had to find someone else to deal withyou.”
Aiden just stood there with a stunned expression on his face.
“I don’t need this. I don’t need someone blaming me for something I didn’t do. Something I had zero control over. For anaccident. I dealt with that for enough of my life, thank you very much.” My voice cracked, and I could see Aiden’s throat bob.
“I didn’t mean?—”
“Hedidn’t mean to either, Aiden. But he did it anyway.” I fought to keep my tears at bay. “Over and over again. I willnotstand here and be yelled at or belittled or accused of being neglectful. There was nothing I could have done, even if I’d been standing right next to her.”
