She sighs, “If I go to the hospital, my parents will find out.”
I stiffen but stay quiet as I continue to remove the glass, pausing when only the biggest piece is left.
“Why does that matter?”
“Because they’re on vacation and if they find out I went to the hospital, they’ll be on the next flight home.”
“Just sounds like they care,” I grumble.
A loud laugh bursts from her, making her whole body jerk before she hisses in pain.
“Sorry, that’s not it,” She shakes her head.
“Hold still a minute,” I tell her as I grasp the largest piece of glass and pull. She cries out and I move quick to get the gauze and press it to her foot, stemming the bleeding. “What do you mean that’s not it?”
“They’d be more worried about their image than me. Even if it’s just a little cut to my foot.” She tells me through her breaths.
“I don’t follow.”
“Don’t worry about it, besides, I’d much prefer them to stay away for the whole three weeks. I never get a break otherwise.”
“A break?”
“From being their daughter,” She sighs, reaching for the gauze. I remove my hand but keep watching her face, even though I have her blood all over my hands.
“You make it sound like it’s a full-time job,” I point out.
“It is,” She shakes her head, “It doesn’t matter.”
“Of course it matters, princess.”
“Just no urgent care, okay?”
“Fine,” I concede, “But you let me clean it and wrap it.”
“Fine.”
I nod, satisfied, before I move to the sink to wash my hands and then back to the kit to pull out the supplies. I’ve patched myself and others up enough to know the best way to do it, even if it’s not a professional job.
She sits still and silent as I work to clean it up and wrap it the best I can, but she’s going to be sore walking on that foot for a few days and I’m almost certain a couple of stitches are needed. I won’t push her though, she’s a big girl and I’m sure she can look after herself.
“I need to clean this up,” She tells me once I help her off the counter, “You can go, you don’t have to hang around.”
She hobbles into a small closet and comes out with a broom.
“You sit,” I order, taking it from her.
“But –”
“Sit,” My tone allows no arguments, and she throws herself down onto one of the stools at the island.
“Is this what you do?” She asks as I start to sweep up the glass.
“What’s that, princess?”
“Take care of people,” I feel her eyes watching me and with each second that ticks by, my stomach knots tighter. I only take care of people I care about. Sadie. Jake. Logan Junior.
This right here isn’t anything more than getting her on my side.
