“Whipping sissy ass, talking off a cliff of madness, visiting a sick child, hero obsession, an uncomfortable boss, and facing an overwrought gaggle of women… Seems like your schedule is full.”
“You have no idea.” She sighs dramatically, propping her hand on her hip. “It’s a full-time job being awesome.”
Just as I suspected; spark, sass, and humor, proving she’s unshaken at this point.
Nobody can hold back anymore, and the hall booms with the uproar. Roy bustles through, yanking Claire from my hold, lifting her like a ragdoll, and burying his face into her neck. I open my mouth to object when Mitch steps in, and I’m forced to watch her being transferred from man to man.
Flores steps around the scene and offers me his hand. “I’ll touch base in a few hours to see if she’s up to talking. Right now, I’m going to handle the press.”
It’s not an apology, but it’s all the more satisfying, shaking his hand as my acknowledgment then watching him leave.
Kelly surprises me by wrapping her arms around my middle, cheek-planting to my shoulder, and speaking loud enough for me to hear over the men taking turns with Claire. “You will never understand what a mother goes through, even when you have a child. But I’m woman enough to admit you knew what she needed. My instincts were to smother her, but she needed normalcy. Thank you for guiding me.”
I glance down at her, draping my arm around her shoulders, and give her the most honest answer I can. “I was blinded by rage and concern until I had her in my arms again. She’s the one who guided me, and I can only guess she inherited that skill from you. Thank you for giving me Claire, who knows when to pull out the stops.”
She smiles proudly, and both our faces spin when there’s a hysterical shriek, my heart stopping. Claire’s sandwiched between Shaw and Bizzy and his mouth is moving at Claire’s ear. Bizzy is smiling, her cheeks wet, and squeezing tight to keep them connected.
“Help me, Mathis! These two have lost their minds! The sappiness won’t stop! They think I need to join the Bennett Babe baby revolution cult! You have to get me away from these crazies.”
My eyes drift to Nick who’s holding Grace’s stomach, then to Mom and Dad who are smiling widely, to Mitch who looks agreeable, then down to Kelly who’s nodding her approval.
Finally, I find peace and burst into a loud howl, bending over as I send a message to Claire with my reaction… I’m on board with that plan.
“Will you get your ass in bed?” Claire slaps her hand on the empty space beside her.
“Be right there.” I stare at my phone waiting for a response from the security officer assigned to us tonight.
All is well, Dr. Bennett. Things are covered.
It’s not much, but it’ll do for now. I climb into the bed, hauling Claire partially on top of me. She drapes an arm across my chest, her thigh across my hip, and nestles her head into my neck. Even with no space between us, she’s not close enough.
“Leave the man alone. This is the third time you’ve messaged him.”
“It’s his job.” I can’t hide the irritation in my voice.
“Maybe coming home wasn’t a good idea,” she whispers.
“I’ll be better when the alarm is installed tomorrow.”
“Will you?” Her fingers glide lazily over my ribcage in a random pattern. “You’ve been tense since we left the hospital.”
“It comes and goes, but more than anything, I’m worried about you.”
“And vice versa. Do you want to talk about it?”
“I should be asking you the same thing.”
“You’ve heard all I have to say. Everyone has heard all I have to say. My story is out in the open. It’s your turn.”
She doesn’t push when I don’t speak right away, giving me a chance to think. Finally, I decide to let loose. “There’s no simple explanation. For days, I was in a deep, dark, twisted place barely holding it together. The unknowns were unthinkable, and time stood still. Shaw, Nick, and Dad were the only people who knew my exact state of mind; I think that’s why they took shifts staying here around the clock. When Carlos called, it was my natural instinct to offer myself. I didn’t think of the impact it would have on my family if he took me up on my offer and I ended up at the mercy of a madman. I’d do anything to get to you. Logic and rationale vanished. When Jay called to say he’d found you but the situation was bad, my first thought was my worst fear. For a split-second, I thought I was dying; the panic was so severe. The next half hour is a blur until you stood up in the back of that transport van, and I saw you for myself. Even with you here in my arms, I can’t shake that feeling.”
She shifts on top, her thighs closing around my waist, her elbows on my chest, and her hands moving to frame my face. Her eyes are full of sadness and pain. “How do I make it better?”
“Cut me some slack.”
“He told you himself I’m safe.”
“He’s a crazed lunatic who can’t be trusted,” I ground out harshly.