“I’ve got her.” Beck ran a hand up and down the little girl’s back.
The woman looked from Beck to Callan beforesettling her gaze on me. Her eyes widened before her mouth popped open. “Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry. You must be Parker. I’m Sage, Callan’s girlfriend.”
She went to hold out her hand, but stopped as she remembered she was pressing a rag to her bleeding finger.
I waved her off. “It’s okay. Keep pressure on that. It’s nice to meet you, Sage. Sorry about the…” I glanced at the blood dripping down her arm.
“I was cutting fruit when Avery ran out here like a bat out of hell because she saw Beck pull up. I thought her scream was because she got hurt, and the knife must’ve slipped when I looked up.” Her focus moved behind me before turning to me and Beck again. “Did you two come together?”
I looked at Beckham to answer that, but he stood there stiff as a board with Avery sniffling in his arms. I wasn’t sure when she’d started crying, but I was sure she felt guilty.
“We did,” I answered, and braced for the barrage of questions.Are you dating? Is this his baby? When did you find time to get together, let alone have a baby?
“We should go,” Callan urged, placing a palm on Sage’s lower back.
His suggestion had a trapped breath loosening from my chest.
Sage sent a sympathetic look at Beckham. “Are you sure it’s okay? I know this dinner was for Parker, and the last thing I want to do is take any attention away from that.”
He frowned at her. “Sage. You accidentally cut yourself. This wasn’t some malicious plan. Please, go. I’m more than happy to watch Avery.”
Something about her hoping she hadn’t ruined the night had me wondering about her past—if there was a pattern there, and if this worry came from somewhere deep.
“We’ll send you updates,” Callan said, leading Sage toward the porch steps.
“Mama,” Avery called out, reaching for her over Beck’s shoulder.
Callan squeezed Avery’s hand while Sage reached up on tiptoes to place a kiss to her cheek. “I’m okay, honey. It’s not your fault. Mommy’s just clumsy sometimes.”
“Like me?” Avery sniffed.
Sage nodded, a reassuring smile on her lips. “It must run in the family.”
After they departed, Beckham turned to me and opened his mouth.
“Don’t apologize,” I said quickly.
He snapped his mouth shut and lowered Avery to the ground.
I smiled down at her. “You must be Avery.”
She nodded, rubbing puffy eyes.
“You know”—I lowered myself to a crouch in front of her, ignoring how it was becoming more difficult with my growing belly—“I’ve accidentally cut myself plenty of times.”
“You have?” she asked.
I held out my arm, pointing to the scar on the inside of my elbow. “This was from barbed wire.”
She studied it, angling her head to get a better look. “Mama said never to play with that.”
I dipped my chin in agreement. “Your mom’s right. It’s super sharp. But the important part is that it healed.” I dropped my arm, meeting her gaze. “Your mom’s going to be okay.”
Her bottom lip puffed out. “I just don’t want her to be in pain.”
Beckham ran a hand down the back of her head. “Your mom’s strong, Aves. Just like you. She’ll be good as new once they stitch it up.”
She craned her neck to look up at him. “Will the stitches hurt?”
