“I kn-know,” she acknowledged, her voice wobbling alarmingly. “IknowI’m wallowing. It’s against the rules to w-wallow.”
Oh,God, the woman was breaking his fucking heart right now.
“You’re allowed to wallow,” he reassured. “Just this once. I’ll wallow along with you, okay?”
The words were silly, inane, but they seemed to comfort her, and he tightened his arms around her protectively.
She seemed smaller, fragile. This was a Kenna devoid of her natural defenses. He’d caught glimpses of this vulnerability often since her arrival, but this was her stripped bare, naked and exposed.
The only other time he’d seen her cry like this was the night they’d lost their baby. But this? It was different.
Her tears back then had been of grief and fear. The woman weeping in his arms right now was crying like she’d losteverythingshe’d ever held dear. And Smith felt powerless to help her.
All he could do was hold her and comfort her and remind her that she wasn’t alone.
He was aware of movement to his left, and looked over to see Tina standing at the corner. She must have come looking for Kenna.
His sister looked concerned and alarmed. Her eyes were huge and questioning.
Smith shook his head, not relinquishing his hold on his weeping wife.
“I’m taking her home,” he whispered quietly. Kenna was so distraught she didn’t look up at the words. He wasn’t sure she even heard them.
“You sure?” Tina mouthed.
Smith nodded soberly. “I’ll take care of her.”
Tina looked conflicted, gaze liquid with sympathy. She was clearly reluctant to leave them there.
She lifted her phone and pointed at it meaningfully. Smith nodded, understanding that his sister would want a call and explanation later.
Tina left them and Smith refocused his attention on Kenna, whose weeping had subsided to quiet sobs and hiccups. His shirtfront was damp from her tears.
He continued to hold her, running his hands up and down her narrow back in long, soothing strokes. They were both silent now and he felt the tension start to creep into her body as she gradually stiffened in his arms.
Her arms, which had been wrapped around his waist, moved until she had her hands between them and on his chest.
She exerted gentle pressure and he moved back immediately, not releasing his hold, but putting some distance between their bodies.
“Better?”
“I’m sorry.” The quiet apology sounded embarrassed. “I don’t know what came over me.”
“Whatever it was, it felt like it was simmering beneath the surface for a good long while,” he pointed out.
Her chin wobbled and she shut her swollen, red eyes for a few seconds before nodding.
“I think so, yes.”
“C’mon, sweetheart, I have an Uber coming. Let’s get you home, okay?”
“I can’t. Tina?—”
“I told her I’d take you home.”
“What? When?”
“She came looking for you.”
