Based on everything I’d been through in the past, they had to. I wasn’t about to risk my relationship with my son. And anyone who tried to get in the way of that had no place in my life.
25
NINA
Thankfully, the hospital was efficient, and it wasn’t long before we were playing the incredibly tense waiting room waiting game while Noah went through testing and X-rays.
At this hour, the waiting room was mainly empty. I imagined most people were outside, enjoying the gorgeous summer morning. The warm-weather roller skating and hiking injuries would probably fill the space later in the day.
For now, it was just an older couple on the far side of the room and then Logan and me, trying to lean as far away from each other as the chairs would allow. The sound of a decorative water wall filled the silence between us.
The drive to the hospital had been awful, mainly because Noah kept alternating between crying and whimpering, and there was nothing I could do to make it better—which made me feel like the most useless excuse of a human being who had ever lived. The cherry on top had been the waves of sheer fury coming off of Logan from the front seat.
This is your fault.
You should’ve kept a closer eye on him.
You’re not fit to watch him.
I suppose he was at least partially justified because I couldn’t stop thinking the same things about myself. But at the same time, I knew I wasn’t solely to blame. The entire reason why I was more focused on Logan than his son in that horribly crucial moment was thanks to the reaming out he’d been giving me about the camp idea. His over-the-top reaction to what I thought was a darn good summer activity made zero sense to me, so of course I’d shifted my focus to him, to try to figure out what the hell was going on and what about it had set him off so badly.
After all, before all of the fake marriage drama, he’d hired me to help Noah blossom, and I was trying my best to do exactly that. Shame he couldn’t see it as well, current hospital waiting room scenario notwithstanding.
A doctor with a kind face and little stuffed animals hanging off her lanyard walked straight over to us. We braced for the news.
“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Ashford,” she began. “I’m Doctor Halligan.”
Logan’s jaw tightened at the name. I felt farther away from being Mrs. Ashford than ever.
“I’ve got good news and bad news,” the doctor continued. “The bad is little Noah had a typical impact injury—a distal radius fracture. It happens when you try to brace for a fall. Hands out, then impact.” She demonstrated what she meant.
“Damnit,” Logan muttered.
“The good news is that it could’ve been so much worse. Catching himself like that meant he didn’t hit his head, which is always tobe avoided, and the break itself is a simple fracture that won’t impact the growth plates or require special monitoring.”
“What are we looking at, recovery wise?” Logan asked, all business.
The doctor smiled as if she appreciated the question. “He’s going to be in a cast for the next month, then you’ll need to limit his activity for a few weeks afterward. But other than that, he’ll be in great shape.” She glanced at me, and her smile grew even warmer, more comforting. “And what a trooper! He told us all about how it happened, and how it was his second time trying rock climbing. We told him that he had to take a break for a while, and his first question was how long he’d have to wait before he could try it again. I think you’ve got a little adventurer on your hands!”
Logan finally smiled, though it looked strained. “Thank you for your help. Glad to hear he’s okay. When will he be out?”
“They’re just finishing up with the cast. A couple more minutes, then you can head home.”
“Thank you,” I finally said. “We appreciate your help.”
Logan started pacing. He was justifiably worried and upset, but I didn’t like the little glares he was sending my way, making it clear that all his ire was directed at me. He had to know that I always kept Noah’s best interest at heart. And that accidents happen.
Hell, he was there too.
But then again, maybe that was part of what was eating at him. The fact that he was now a full-time solo parent, and this sort of accident could happen at any moment. My heart softened a little.
Until he turned to me abruptly, like he could feel the weight of my stare. I gave him a tight smile, and he pivoted away just as abruptly.
Now that we had a diagnosis that was nothing to stress about, his anger was all aboutme.
I wanted to talk to him about what was going on, but the waiting room wasn’t the place, especially with Noah about to come out. We needed to fake being okay until we were back home and could hash out the whole situation in private.
I didn’t need to be told that the last thing an Ashford wanted was a public scene. I’d heard all about what Emilia and Gwen had gone through with the brothers.
