“It hurts.”
“I know, sweetheart. Let me see.”
He pulled her shirt up carefully and peeled back the bandage. Raw and red. He took the tube of medicine from Janie and put a generous amount over the long, stitched cut. He gently pressed the bandage back over the angry wound. He glanced at Brooke’s pale face. Tears spilled down her cheeks and into her hair. He brushed them away with his thumbs and kissed her forehead. “How’re the arms?”
“Fine.”
“Sure?”
She nodded. He decided to leave her be. She hurt enough. But he did tuck the spare pillow under her broken wrist.
Susanne came back into the room and sidestepped Kristi, who simply stood there staring, not offering any help. Moving to herdaughter, Susanne handed Cody the glass of water. He already had a handful of pills. “Brooke, are you okay?”
Brooke didn’t answer, but looked to him with that horrible vacant look in her eyes.
Suanne’s sad gaze held a thousand questions.
He stared down at Brooke, hoping she believed him when he said, “She’s going to be fine. It’s been a very hard day.”
He put his hand over Brooke’s on their daughter. “Her friends held a memorial service this morning for our daughter. As thoughtful and beautiful as it was, we weren’t quite ready for it. Brooke had a difficult time taking her test, but we got through it. Didn’t we, honey?” Brooke only stared. “The drive took a lot out of her. She’s in a tremendous amount of pain.”
He felt it echo through him. He didn’t take his eyes off Brooke’s. Sliding his arm under her shoulders, he held her up so she could take the pills, then slowly lowered her back down to the pillow.
“I’m going to give you some time with your mom. I’ll come back and check on you in a little while.”
He put his hand on Susanne’s shoulder to reassure her everything would be all right. “She needs to eat and get some sleep.”
Susanne nodded, then settled on the side of the bed.
He left her alone with Brooke and walked out of the room.
Kristi followed him. She wanted answers.
He was on the razor’s edge of losing his shit. He didn’t want to put all his fury on her.
She deserved to take the brunt of his wild emotions. But the scowl he shot her let her know he wasn’t happy she was here, in Brooke’s home, after he asked her to give Brooke some space.
If he could go back and change that morning after he’d been with Brooke and woke up happier than he’d ever been, clearerthan he’d ever been about what he wanted, he’d have done everything differently.
He’d have chosen Brooke and the love they shared. He’d have promised to support Kristi through her pregnancy and to be the best father he could be to their child. He’d have made it clear that being with Brooke meant they could both be happy and that Kristi would find someone who loved her the way she deserved to be loved.
He’d have made the right decision for all of them.
But right now, he didn’t have the strength or presence of mind to say all of that to her, because the rage and grief roiling inside him made him want to lash out.
And he wouldn’t do that to her.
Exhausted, he felt empty like he’d never felt in his whole life. He didn’t want to start a conversation with Kristi that he knew would turn ugly. He wanted to talk to her when he was rested and had his emotions under control.
He needed a stiff drink and a hot meal. Then, he wanted a shower and sleep.
What he really wanted to do was crawl in bed with Brooke and hold her while she slept. Maybe then, he’d be able to breathe without his chest hurting for her.
Maybe then he wouldn’t be plotting all the ways he wanted to make Adam pay.
No. That was going to run in a loop in the back of his mind until Adam got what he deserved.
“Cody, we need to talk.” Kristi dogged his heels.
