“Listen, B, I don’t know what’s been happening or what happened today. I mean, I think I know, and I’ll have to face it eventually.”
“This could be a wonderful ending to the shitty time you had before you came back to Brooklyn, rather than anything you have to work up toface.”
“Maybe,” I allowed, exhaustion washing over me from a very long, very scary, and very confusing day. “I need a pain pill and a nap right now. I’ll consider possibilities once my head stops hurting.”
I wasn’t sure if the dull, pounding ache was fueled more by the ball or by Lee. Right now, it seemed to split thedifference.
“Stella!”
Bennie’s voice wafted up the stairs, followed by the sound of little feet scampering up the steps.
“Daddy said you hurt your head,” Bennie said, climbing onto the bed and crawling up to me. “But it’s okay because we’re going to take care of you.”
My nose burned at the innocent, genuine concern etching her beautiful little face. She pressed her hands into my cheeks, her blue eyes tracking over me.
“Thank you, Bennie,” I said, squeezing her chin as my words came out with a gritty whisper. “But I’m okay, just a little bruised.”
“Don’t crowd Stella, Ben,” Lee said, his mouth curving in a wistful smile when I found his gaze.
“She’s okay,” I said, wrapping my arm around her waist to draw her into my side. “She’s good medicine.”
Bennie peered up at me, her eyes full of pure love that only kids could give. It had barely been a couple of months, and she’d burrowed into my heart so quickly, it was as if she’d always been there.
My mother had warned me about this, and I’d known at the time she was probably right, but I hadn’t expected it to be so powerful so early.
“Bennie, this is my best friend, Bailee.”
“Hi, Bennie. It’s so great to meet you after hearing so many awesome things about you,” Bailee said.
“Hi. A lot of people say awesome things about me. My grams calls me sunshine because I make things brighter.”
“I can tell,” Bailee said, biting back a laugh.
“Have you been friends with Stella longer than Daddy?”
“No. Daddy came first,” Bailee said, smirking at me as she glanced at her phone.
“Carl is here. I told him to come and hang outdownstairs until Lee got back.” She kissed my forehead. “I will text you to check on you later.”
“She shouldn’t be looking at a screen or reading anything tonight. Calling would probably be better,” Lee said.
Bailee snuck me a smile and nodded.
“That’s no problem. Either way, we’ll talk later.”
“If you can’t read, I can read to you.” Bennie scampered off the bed. “Let me get some books to start with.”
Lee chuckled, his gaze tracking her quick departure.
“She always thinks of everything,” I said, my tired eyes following Lee as he lingered by the doorway.
“I’m sleeping in here tonight. On the chair,” he said, motioning to the small armchair next to my bed.
“You don’t have to do that. I promise I won’t read anything or text anyone.”
He shook his head.
“I need to check on you during the night. The only thing a CT scan canalmostrule out is a brain bleed. And you need to stay up for a little bit, even though you’re probably tired from a long day.”
