“Of course, we’d just need to see proof of this so we could edit our files."
Pinching my nose and sighing, I tell Leo I’ll be one second before rushing back to my car and grabbing the copy of Zara’s contract I keep there. When I return, I hand it to the doctor, and after giving it a once-over, he passes it off to a colleague.
I assess Leo’s injury myself. Like the doctor said, his arm is a little swollen and will be tender for a little while, but he’s a strong and brave boy, so I know this won’t stop him from running around and scaling everything he sets his sight on.
Brushing some of Leo’s hair out of his eyes, I kiss his face. “Where’s that smile I love so much? Come on, show me.”
Blinking his tears away, my son grins and sniffles, pulling Donkey closer to his side using his good arm as the doctor checks him over. “There he is.” Of course, everything Leo gets done, so does Donkey, including their temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure.
My arms envelop him, and I inhale deeply, a wave of relief washing over me that instantly eases the tension in my chest.
He’s okay.
He’s going to be okay.
He’s safe.
My kid is safe.
“You’ve been so brave. All of the crew from Whisker Wheelers would be so proud of you.”
Leo’s laughter rings out like a bell, but then he looks back down at his arm, and the tears start again. I rock him in place gently, letting my eyes fall shut while I listen to the thudding of my son’s heart against my flesh. It’s a little faster than I would like, and I wait until it’s lowered before I let him go and wrap the hospital blanket around his body to keep him nice and warm.
How would my son even react if Zara were to march down here and demand to see him? A part of me would want to stop her and tell her she's too late, that she has no right, but ultimately, I'd want it to be my son's decision. However, he's never asked for her. Never shown much of an interest.
A nurse returns and hands me back my contract, face flickering with pity. It was Zara's responsibility to relinquish her custody of Leo everywhere, leaving no trace, and she didn't do it thoroughly. I had no idea she was still listed as one of Leo's guardians on the hospital's records, but there's no point in being frustrated with the staff here, because even though the records they had were out of date, how were they to know that Zara wasn't around? They were doing their jobs.
Mae joins us now, a few dollars in hand, and she presses them into Leo’s palm, saying, “For you to buy anything you want from the vending machine for being so brave.”
Leo’s eyes glow, but his nose still runs as tears linger on his cheeks. “Thank you.”
Grabbing a tissue, I clear my son’s face and press another kiss to the top of his head, breathing in his clean scent.
Thank God he’s no longer crying. The sight was like a stab to the heart.
“Mae, where’s Flo?”
Mae’s face drops. “She needed a moment, but just so you know, she refused to leave Leo’s side the whole time on the way to the hospital, and during his assessment, but I think it… got a little much for her. She feels awful, Evan.”
Sure, if this were any other nanny, I’d probably deem them responsible, but I know Flo, and she helps me see things clearly. This wouldn’t have been anyone’s fault—just a simple accident that happens to clumsy little children. I mean, Leo asks me at least every few weeks when he’ll be old enough to climb Mount Everest, so something like this was bound to happen at some point. In fact, I’m surprised it’s taken him this long to hurt himself to the point it warrants a hospital visit.
“Leo, why don’t you head to the vending machine down the hall with Auntie Mae and pick out something yummy? Get as much as you want.” I’m already picking him up and placing him on the floor, making sure he’s steady on his feet. “I’ll be right behind you with Flo, okay?” I turn to Mae now, lowering my voice so my son can’t pick up on the worry in it. “Where is she?”
“Evan, I think she just needs to be by herself—”
“I’d rather die than let Flo wallow in self-hatred for something that was out of her control for even another second. I won’t allow it, sowhere is she, Mae? Please.”
Her face softens as she understands my logic. She takes Leo’s hand and points down a long corridor. "There's a bathroom down there.” Mae beams at Leo now, pulling out even more cash from her purse. “Come on, I want to see how much candy you can get for twenty bucks!”
“Daddy, hurry up with Flo,” Leo calls back to me, which makes me smile. Even when he’s the one hurt, he’s worried about her.
I’m standing outside the bathroom door before I know it, having raced down here. My fist knocks on it, making myself known, before I push it open. Only one stall is locked, and once I hear a sniffle, I know Flo’s in there.
“Florence.”
“I’m not going to respond to that.”
“You just did.”
