16. Candice
CANDICE
I knew Jax would do the right thing, he always does. He’ll never admit it, but underneath all those muscles and tattoos is a big, soft, teddy bear with a heart of gold.
Carter’s been working here for a week now and is fitting in nicely.
I can tell that even Jax is enjoying having him around.
They are a lot alike and seem to have similar interests.
Jax has Carter sitting in on all his jobs and is teaching him everything he knows.
It makes me wonder if this is his attempt to keep the two of us apart.
If only he knew. Carter has no interest in me in that way, nor I in him.
He only has eyes for the girl next door … Indiana.
The day he arrived I could tell he was a broken man.
It hurt my heart to see him like that. Carter thinks he’s no good for Indiana, and that she can do better than him.
He has such a low opinion of himself. Why can’t he see what a great guy he is?
I know from experience how they’re both feeling.
I was completely shattered the day Jax walked away from me.
Yesterday, Indiana’s father came to the shop looking for Carter.
The horrified look on Carter’s face when he saw him standing in reception told me he wasn’t expecting the visit.
When I overheard him ask, “How did you find me?” I understood his reaction.
Indiana’s father seems like a nice man and it’s obvious he cares about Carter.
He’s now made it his mission to help him find a place of his own, so he’s not living out of a suitcase and sleeping on Jax’s couch.
Sitting behind the reception desk, I’m scanning through my Facebook newsfeed on my phone when it rings. I see Sophia’s name on the screen and answer straight away.
“Hey.”
“Candice … I’m so sorry,” she cries into the receiver.
My heart drops into the pit of my stomach. “What’s wrong? Are you okay? Is Maddie all right?”
“I’m at the hospital. I only turned my back for a second, I swear.”
“What happened?” I asked, panicked, reaching for my bag under the desk. “Where’s Maddie?”
“She’s in getting an X-ray.”
“An X-ray?” I shriek.
“Yes. The doctor thinks she may have broken her wrist.”
“Oh, God.” I feel my knees go weak as I stand. “What hospital are you at? I’m coming now.”
“I’m at the Children’s Hospital in Randwick. The one we took her to last year when she had a high fever.”
“Shit. That’s twenty minutes from here.”
“I’m sorry, baby.”
“I’ll be there soon.”
Ending the call, I race to Jax’s studio. I don’t even bother knocking.
“What the hell?” he says, swinging around on his stool. He’s in the middle of a job. My eyes dart between him, his client Mason, and then to Carter who’s watching on from the sidelines. “Jesus, Candice. You’re as white as a ghost.”
“Maddie’s in the hospital.”
“What happened?” There’s panic in his voice as he springs to his feet.
“I don’t know … she’s currently getting X-rayed.” My voice cracks as I speak.
“Fuck.”
“I have to go to her.”
He closes the distance between us in two long strides and grasps my shoulders. “I’m coming with you. You’re in no state to drive.”
I’m not going to argue with him. I need him right now. “Thank you.”
He glances at Carter over his shoulder. “Get Gus to finish this job. Can you watch the front counter for me?”
“Of course.”
“I’m sorry, bro,” Jax says, apologising to Mason.
“It’s all right, mate,” the man replies. “It’s an emergency, I have a kid so I understand. I hope it all works out.”
“Come.” Jax places his hand on the small of my back, hastily guiding me out of the room. The moment we’re on the street, he steps towards the kerb.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“Flagging down a taxi, it will be quicker.”
“Good idea.” At least he’s thinking straight. I’m struggling to hold myself together.
Once we’re seated in the back of a cab, Jax reaches for my hand. “Christ, you’re shaking, come here.” Draping his arm over my shoulder, he pulls me into his side. The moment I bury my face in the crook of his neck, I start to cry. “She is going to be all right,” he says, rubbing my back.
I hope so .
The nurse lets us through the doors in emergency, directing us to the examination rooms. The moment I hear Maddie screaming, “No, no, no!” I break into a run.
I can tell by the pitch of her voice that she’s hysterical.
Rushing into the room, I find Sophia standing next to the bed.
Her face is wet with tears. The doctor is on the other side, trying to plaster Maddie’s arm. It must be broken.
“Thank God you’re here,” Sophia whispers.
Reaching for her hand, I give it a comforting squeeze. I know she’d be feeling terrible.
“I’m here, Bubba,” I say to Maddie. My eyes frantically scan her body. Apart from the swollen wrist, she appears to be okay. It’s a relief.
“Sissy,” she cries as I put an arm around her. “I hurt.”
“Sissy’s here,” I say, kissing the top of her head. “You’re going to be okay, baby girl.”
“What happened?” Jax asks Sophia.
“I only looked away for a second. I was replying to a text about a job, and she fell off the monkey bars. I feel terrible.” Covering her face with her hands, she starts to sob.
“You have nothing to be sorry about,” Jax says, wrapping her in his arms. “It was an accident, Sophia. Accidents happen. You’re a great mother, your girls are lucky to have you.”
Jax is right, she is a good mother, and we are lucky. I’m glad he’s here to deal with her because it allows me to focus my attention on Maddie.
“I need to apply the cast,” the doctor informs me.
“No,” Maddie screams when he reaches for her arm. The poor thing is beside herself. She’s too little to understand. It’s heartbreaking to watch.
“So it’s broken?” I ask.
“Yes. She has a small fracture in her wrist. If I can’t plaster her arm this way, we’ll have to sedate her.”
I don’t want them to do that. I glance over my shoulder at Sophia and Jax. I’m sure they can see the despair on my face because Jax lets go of Sophia and comes to stand beside me. His attention is focused on Maddie, but his hand reaches for mine and he interlaces our fingers.
“Hey, Peanut,” he says, softly.
“I broken, Jax.”
Aww. As if my heart wasn’t already hurting enough.
“I know, but you need to let the doctor fix you so you don’t hurt anymore.
” Extending his free arm, he tenderly runs his fingers over her blonde curls.
“You know, when I was a little boy, not much older than you are, I broke my arm too,” he says, letting go of my hand and sitting on the edge of the bed.
Maddie sits perfectly still as she listens intently.
“The doctor had to put a plaster on my arm, just like this doctor wants to do to you. It will make your arm all better.”
When she frowns, I know she’s not going to let this happen without a fight. “No.”
“It’s just like a bandage, but it’s a magic bandage,” Jax continues. “It sets really hard, like rock. I can even draw Puppy on there for you if you like, and he won’t wash off like your tattoo did.”
I grin as I listen to him. Maddie was devastated when her Puppy drawing washed off a few days after Jax had drawn it on her arm, and he knows it. He’s using it to sweeten the deal, but I’m still sceptical as to whether he can pull this off.
“Kay,” Maddie whispers.
My eyes widen. I never thought she’d give in that easily. She’s a Crawford through and through—stubborn as hell.
“Good girl. It may hurt a little bit, but you’re a brave girl aren’t you?”
Maddie nods her head. “Me brave.”
He can deny it all he wants, but he’s definitely a cutie-pie. He’s always said he’d never have children of his own … that he isn’t cut out to be a father. But watching him with Maddie tells me an entirely different story. He’s wonderful with her.
“Do you want to sit on my lap while the doctor bandages up your arm?” Jax asks. I look at Sophia. She has tears in her eyes just like I do. I’m so grateful he’s here. “Maybe the doctor can put a small bandage on Puppy’s arm too.”
Maddie nods again before climbing onto his lap. He softly kisses her hair, and it makes my heart sing and break all at once.
Have I made the biggest mistake of my life ?