CHAPTER 4 #2
I swallowed hard and looked at her little pigtails. “It looks like it. We’re going to get him all fixed up.”
“It’s okay. He has asthma.”
She said it with such aplomb that I nodded. “Good to know.”
The oldest kid moved forward. “That’s Holden. I’m Jackson. Thank you for driving us.”
Jackson moved to the back row, his gaze narrowed on me before he focused on watching over his siblings.
I pulled on Clay’s shoulder as he kept trying to tuck in Holden even more and wrap a blanket around him.
“Come on, get in the car. I’ll get us to the emergency room.”
“St. Mary’s,” he whispered and shook his head. “That’s the emergency room we go to. His pediatrician is closed now, or I would just take him there.”
“I’ve got this. Get in the passenger seat. I have one of those little mirror things that pops down so you can check on the kids so you’re not craning your neck. We’ve got this.”
Clay looked around, picked up a bag I hadn’t seen, and shoved it into the back seat with Jackson before hopping into the passenger seat.
“We’ve got this,” Clay whispered, repeating my words. “Thank you.”
I pulled out onto the road and went the exact speed limit. I’d never really driven with kids in the car before, and I had no idea what I was doing.
“Turn right up here,” Clay said.
My lips crept into a smile. “I’m friends with the Montgomerys, too. I know where the hospital is.”
Clay winced and nodded. There was a running joke with the Montgomerys that in each city they lived in, they tried to have a wing of their own at the hospital.
Considering how many incidents happened within that family, it was a little worrying to be friends with them.
You never knew when you’d end up back in that waiting room.
We pulled into the emergency room lot, and Clay pointed off to the side. “Just park, and we’ll carry them in. That way, we’re all together and don’t leave you behind.”
I nodded, sweat breaking out. I hadn’t thought of the logistics of what was about to happen. “Okay, you got me all night.”
Clay blinked. “I mean…I guess. Crap. I’m sorry. Don’t you have to work?”
I met Clay’s gaze and knew we didn’t have a lot of time.
And I didn’t want to touch him in front of his kids, just in case they didn’t know anything about Clay’s personal life.
Plus, I didn’t know what Clay wanted. It was so not the time, and my brain wasn’t working right.
“I’ve got it. You’ve got me for the night. ”
“Thank you.” Relief flooded his features before he moved quickly.
Jackson was already getting out of the car as I moved around and took the bags from him.
“Okay, I’ve got a pink unicorn bag and this gray one that might be Clay’s?”
“I’ve got Clay’s bag,” Jackson ordered softly. “You get Mariah’s.”
“I’m tired,” Mariah said with a yawn as she unbuckled herself from her car seat and held out her hands. “And hungry.”
I swallowed hard and then plucked her out of the car, settling her on my hip. When was the last time I’d held a child? I didn’t know. She had to be what, five? Wasn’t that what Clay had said once?
What the hell was I doing?
Clay looked at all of us, Mariah in my arms, and blinked before giving me a tight nod. “Okay, in we go.”
We walked into the emergency room, and I was grateful to see that it wasn’t too busy. Jackson clung to Clay’s side as he and Holden made their way through, and I kept Mariah in my arms.
“I’ve got to go check in. Jackson? Go sit with Riggs and Mariah, okay?”
“I want to go with you,” Jackson whispered.
“I need to make sure Holden is all set up. Can you make sure that Riggs knows what he’s doing with Mariah?
It’s a little daunting with the three of you.
I’m just saying.” Clay winked as he said it, a smile playing on his face, and I knew that was exactly the right thing to say.
Give Jackson a job, and the oldest kid seemed to understand.
He came to my side and raised his chin. “Let’s go sit down. I can take care of Mariah.”
My lips crept into a smile, even though there wasn’t much to smile about with Holden being so sick.
“I appreciate the confidence and the help.” I met Clay’s gaze. “Go. I’ve got them.”
Clay looked like he wanted to say something, but there wasn’t any time.
The nurse took one look at Holden, and they brought Clay and Holden to the back.
The fact that they did it so quickly, even as Clay filled out the paperwork, worried me, but I tried not to let it show.
Instead, I set Mariah down on one of the chairs, took a seat next to her, and looked over at Jackson, who sat next to the little girl.
Mariah held her bag close, then pulled out her little pink tablet and earbuds.
“Only twenty minutes. It’s a weeknight,” Jackson whispered.
“I’ll be okay.”
“What’s only twenty minutes?” I asked.
“Her show. It’s a weeknight, and we’re not allowed to watch a lot of TV because we have school and then bed.”
I nodded. “Good to know because I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m just here to make sure that you guys are safe.”
Jackson narrowed his eyes at me. “I thought one of the Montgomerys would come. Clay said they were all busy or out of town.”
I swallowed hard, wondering what the hell I should be saying. “Well, you’ve got me. Don’t worry, we’ll just stay right here and make sure that we’re here when Clay comes out.”
“I have to go to the bathroom,” Mariah said suddenly, taking out her earbuds, even though she had just put them in.
Alarm shot through me. Fear, panic, and everything that could connect to that emotion.
Germs surrounded us, but there was a small family restroom across the way. What was I supposed to do? Leave Jackson with the chairs? Did I let Mariah go by herself? That didn’t seem right.
Jackson sighed and stuffed everything back into Mariah’s bag. “Come on. I’ve got you.”
I cleared my throat, oddly relieved Jackson knew what he was doing. “I’ll go with you.”
“You can’t go into the bathroom with her,” Jackson whined as if he were a forty-year-old matron.
“No, but we can stand outside the door.” I paused. “You are potty-trained, right?” I asked Mariah.
Mariah giggled. “Of course, I am. I’m not a baby.”
“I don’t know these things. You guys have to teach me.”
Mariah skipped her way to the bathroom, something I would never be able to do, let alone if I had to pee, but I didn’t try to think about it. She went into the restroom and closed the door by herself as Jackson spoke through the other side of the door. “Don’t lock it.”
“What if someone comes in?” Mariah asked.
“We’re here. We won’t let anyone go in,” Jackson countered.
I nodded. “Sounds like a plan.” I didn’t relish figuring out how to break a kid out of a bathroom if Mariah locked herself inside. I looked at Jackson as he folded his arms in front of him.
“Holden will be okay,” I said, hoping to hell I wasn’t lying.
He scrunched up his face. “He has asthma. Anytime it gets a little cold, it turns into something more. I hate it.”
I swallowed hard. “I’m sorry. That’s got to be scary.”
“I’m not scared. I just said I hate it.”
I nodded. “Okay, then.”
“I just wish Storm and Everly were here. They could help. That way, Clay wouldn’t have to call you.”
I blinked. “I’m sorry I’m here then.”
“I don’t know you. Holden’s going to be scared, and Mariah will be, too. They need someone they know.”
Not sure where I stood with the kid, I nodded. “Clay knows me. So, let’s get to know each other.”
Jackson narrowed his eyes at me before nodding tightly. “Okay.”
The sound of water running and a little girl giggling filled my ears, and then the door opened, and Mariah threw paper towels into the trash receptacle before walking out. “All done. And I washed my hands. And I used the paper towel on the door handle like Clay taught us.”
My lips threatened to quirk into a smile, but I nodded solemnly. “Very germ conscientious.”
“I don’t like germs,” Mariah said, shaking her head.
“Me, either. Let’s go get our seats back since they’re still open.”
“Okay,” Mariah said as she skipped her way to her seat.
Jackson and I followed, and we got back into position, waiting to hear anything from Clay.
I had my phone out, anticipating a text. When it buzzed, I looked down at the screen and held back a curse—no need to scare the kids.
Instead, I hit ignore on Neil’s name and told myself I should just block his number.
Jackson gave me a weird look, and I shrugged, not bothering to explain to a kid I didn’t even know why I was ignoring my ex-husband.
We had enough on our plates. I didn’t need to add the drama that was my life to the drama that seemed to be Clay’s.
Only Clay had called me.
He had asked for help, and I’d dropped everything for him.
I had no idea what I was supposed to do with that.