Chapter 15 #2
“Just go get your girl, and I’ll check on mine. And then, you can come and check on her too.”
Feet heavy, I moved past the open doorway, and into the next, knowing that if I went into Brooklyn’s room in that moment, I would fall to my knees and not be strong enough for my little girl.
Because if I looked at Brooklyn in that moment, I would fail at being the father I needed to be. Bella needed me to be strong, so I would be, and then I would hold the woman that I loved. The gasp that escaped the room nearly made me pause, but I ignored it, knowing that Bella had to be scared.
Brooklyn wasn’t alone, and I would be there soon. But I needed to see my daughter.
She looked so small in the hospital bed, with a temporary cast on her arm. She spoke in quiet tones to Everly, before she looked up and smiled at me.
Fucking smiled.
“Dad. You’re here. Is Brooklyn okay?”
I looked at Everly and gave her a tight nod. “Thank you. If you want to go check on your daughter…”
“I will. We were just making friends. But I’ll be back.
” Everly stepped toward me and went to her tiptoes to kiss me on my cheek, and my shoulders relaxed ever so slightly.
She was just like her daughter in being able to calm me, calm people.
But I only had eyes for Bella in that moment.
I moved forward, wanting to pull her close to make sure she was alive, and safe, but I didn’t want to hurt her any more than she already was.
“Brooklyn’s parents are with her, and I will go check on her, but I needed to see you first.”
“You should see her. I don’t want her to be scared.”
Her eyes were wide, a little watery, and I cursed, before going to her other side without the broken arm, and holding her close. I did my best not to make her shift, and she sank into my chest and let out a deep sigh.
“I was so damn scared that I lost you, Bells.”
“I’m okay. Brooklyn did really good. She took care of me even when my arm hit the dashboard.”
“I’m going to find your doctor and nurses, and I’m going to get everything that I need to know about this, and then you’re about to be pampered like nobody’s business. Just wait until your grandma and grandpa hear about this and get here. You’re going to be so spoiled. It’s going to be insane.”
I was trying to make light of it, even though I felt like I wanted to throw up.
“If you marry Brooklyn, I get another set of grandparents. I really like Everly. And Storm is really nice and pretty.”
I rolled my eyes. “We need to talk about your ideas of pretty,” I said dryly.
“And I like calling Ms. Kathy Grandma. You think she’ll be okay with that?”
“She’ll be damn fine with it.” I wasn’t sure how I was able to speak with my throat so tight, but I nodded at the top of her head.
Before I could say anything else, the doctors and nurses were there, and they explained about the clean break, the lack of surgery, and the fact that Bella was young and strong and would heal quickly.
By the time my parents and brothers were allowed back, I was able to break free, with instructions in hand, and went to check on Brooklyn.
Bella was safe, in good hands, and I needed to see her. I hated that I hadn’t even been near her yet, but it wasn’t as if they were in the same fucking room. As it was, if it wasn’t for Storm and Everly’s lie, things could have been even more complicated.
Before I could get there though, the two people I did not want to see most in the world, stood there, chins lifted.
“I see you finally showed up.” I ignored Mrs. Long and stared at the older man. “Is there a reason you left her alone in that room?” I asked, my voice shaky.
“She was just fine with that other woman. And I didn’t like seeing her hurt like that.”
“Of course we didn’t,” Mrs. Long added, surprising the hell out of me.
I stared between the two of them, not understanding them at all. Who the hell were these people, and why could I never get a read on them?
“I don’t know what the hell is going on, but my daughter was hurt, and she’s safe now. I know you want to walk away, and maybe that would be better for everyone, but we’re going to need to figure this out. You too. I don’t know what that means, but for now, I need you to get out of my way.”
“She got hurt under your care,” Mr. Long snapped.
“She did. Because kids get hurt. And the woman that I love got hurt. It was an accident. One that someone else caused. But I will die before I let anything happen to them. Even from you. I know we need to talk, but that’s my kid in there, and that other door holds the woman that I love.
And I need to see her. If you are going to make things more difficult, you need to leave. ”
They didn’t say a damn thing, instead they stared at me, before finally walking away, leaving me in the hallway, wondering what the fuck I was supposed to do.
That’s when I realized that I had practically shouted those words, and countless nurses, doctors, and Montgomerys were standing there, wide-eyed.
And finally when I took two steps forward so I could see into Brooklyn’s room, I saw her sitting at the edge of the bed, stitches on her forehead, and the side of her arm, with wide eyes.
I ignored the others, knowing that this wasn’t going to be easy, but I took a few steps in, needing to breathe.
“I take it you heard all of that?” I asked, before moving closer. I was standing right above her, hovering. She had been hurt, waiting, bruised, and it took all within me not to pick her up just like I wanted to do Bella.
“You were kind of shouting it.”
“I didn’t actually mean to scream like that, but I was fucking scared. And pissed off.”
“When you walked by like that, I thought you hated me. Because of the accident.” I caught her hurt.
Shame coated me, and I realized I had made the wrong decision.
I had thought by leaving her with her family when I could focus on Bella and not want to throw up, I had been doing the right thing. Only in the end, I had hurt her more.
I cupped her face, careful of her stitches, and leaned down to brush my lips against hers.
“I’m sorry, Freckles. I didn’t mean to do that. I needed to check on Bella, and I knew if I walked in here, I’d break down like I want to right now, and then neither one of us would be strong enough for that little girl in the next room.”
She let out a shaky breath, before smiling softly up at me.
“I guess that’s a good answer. Because I thought you would be so fucking angry with me. I didn’t see the car. I didn’t know it was there until it was too late.”
“Lex told me what happened. It wasn’t your fault. But if I find that guy, it’s going to be a problem.”
“I’m pretty sure that he has a host of other problems that have nothing to do with us. But is she okay? I keep wanting to go in there, but nurses and doctors keep coming in and then Montgomerys.” She gave an exaggerated eye roll. “I just want to make sure she’s safe.”
I kept my palms on her cheeks and let out a deep breath.
“She’s safe because of you.”
“I didn’t do anything. I’m the one who got her in an accident to begin with.”
“It could have been worse. We both know that. But she’s safe. And you are too. Although every single bruise and cut on your body makes me want to strangle someone. You’re going to have to be patient with me. I’m not good at this kind of thing.”
“And what thing is that?” she asked, eyes wide.
“You heard what I said out there. This whole love thing. I didn’t mean to fall in love with you, Freckles. But I don’t want anything else. I just want you. So you better be damn okay. And you better forgive me for having to walk past your door.”
“I forgave you the moment you did it. I know why. And I love you too. I didn’t mean to. You’re growly and old and mean, but I love you.”
She was crying and laughing as she said the last part, and I rolled my eyes, knowing that my nosy brothers, her family, and countless others were listening in. I was going to hear about this for years. But I didn’t care. Instead, I lowered my mouth to hers and kissed her softly.
“I love you.”
“Yay!” I whirled to see my daughter on Denver’s phone, waving. “It’s about time.”
I scowled at my brother.
He just shrugged. “You wouldn’t let me bring her over, and I figured she should be part of this. It’s a momentous occasion.”
“I would ask for time alone but I don’t think you’re ever going to give it,” I said dryly.
“Never,” Bella and the others said simultaneously, and I laughed before leaning down to take Brooklyn’s lips again.
I moved out of the way when the nurses came back, and knowing that Brooklyn would be discharged soon, I went back to check on my daughter, and did my best to figure out this whole single dad thing.
But as my family and Brooklyn’s surrounded me, I realized I wasn’t doing this solo.
And I never had been. And when Brooklyn was finally discharged, and we waited for Bella to be ready, I held onto the woman that I loved, and we made plans for our future.
Something I never would’ve expected even this past spring.
But the two girls in my life were anything but expected. And I knew the path in front of us was never going to be boring.