But she wasn’t seventeen anymore. She was a widow, a nurse, and a mother of two kids who needed her.
She ducked into the bathroom at the hospital, locked the door, and pressed her fists into the hollow under her ribs, as if she could somehow push away the emptiness that lurked there. She’d thought ... she’d hoped ... that with Colby she’d found a way to fill the emptiness, but then she’d blown it again by hurting Anoria.
It had been two weeks since the incident in the studio. After many long talks, Jackson had decided to stay in Snow Valley. Cynthia suspected his desire to move back to Washington was mainly influenced by Anoria—as a way to punish Cynthia—and now that the pressure was off, Jackson seemed content.
Anoria had slipped into a routine of extreme politeness and spent her days preparing for her return to school. She had not mentioned Colby Schroder again and Cynthia was afraid to bring him up. If they were in contact, she had no way of knowing.
Cynthia herself had not heard from Colby either. Lily hadn’t been to the last two Saturday dance classes, and she could not bring herself to call and ask why. Was this the coward’s way out, or the hero’s? Was she selflessly sacrificing her happiness for her children, or was she running away from a problem she couldn’t solve?
Cynthia sighed and ripped a towel from the dispenser. She ran it under the faucet and scrubbed her face with the rough paper. She would do better if she could stay busy and not think about it.
Suddenly, from outside the door, she heard a commotion. Someone was yelling. Cynthia dropped the paper towel in the trash and yanked the door open—she knew that voice.
Colby stood near the entry doors, Lily clutched to his chest, wrapped tightly in a blanket. Her eyes were full of tears. Cynthia’s gaze shot from Lily to Colby. He was chalk-white as he pleaded with Staci Monteray, the ER admittance nurse who had intercepted him.
“Hurry, please. You have to do something.”
Cynthia rushed forward. “What happened?”
Colby’s eyes snapped to hers. “She fell,” he said, his voice tight with emotion. “She was dancing in the kitchen and she tripped. I ... I heard something crack.”
“It hurts, Miss Cynthia,” Lily whimpered.
“I know, sweetie,” Cynthia said, fighting to keep her voice steady. “Let’s get you into a room and we’ll have the doctor fix you up, okay?”
Thank goodness traffic was light today. She motioned for Colby to follow her to an exam room. “Staci will get your admitting information in a moment.”
Once in the room, Colby laid Lily down gently on the bed and Cynthia started unwrapping the blanket. “Where does it hurt?”
“My arm.” Tears ran down Lily’s temples into her hair. Colby reached out and brushed them away with shaking hands.
Carefully, Cynthia peeled back the blanket. Lily wore a pair of purple pajamas printed with tiny butterflies. “I’m going to have to cut your sleeve, okay?” she said. “But don’t worry, we can get you some new pajamas.”
Lily bit her lip and nodded. She watched as Cynthia cut the fabric away from her left arm, revealing a telltale bump in her wrist. It was definitely broken.
Lily shivered and Cynthia replaced the blanket, tucking it gently around her narrow chest—careful not to jostle her arm. “The doctor will be here in a minute,” she promised. “Then we’ll take a picture of your arm and get you all fixed up.”
They were interrupted by the arrival of Staci. She took Colby’s insurance information and Lily’s health history. Colby provided the answers mechanically and seemed not to notice when Staci patted his shoulder as she left.
“Can I have some apple juice?” Lily asked.
Cynthia shook her head. “The doctor might want to give you some medicine first. Can you wait until after you see him?”
“Okay,” Lily said, her voice heavy with pain.
“I know something that might help, want to try it?” Cynthia asked. When Lily nodded, she reached under the blanket and freed one of Lily’s bare feet, then began massaging it, pushing her thumbs lightly up and down the tiny sole.
After a moment, Lily’s tears stopped and she seemed to relax. She held Colby’s hand while Cynthia kept massaging her feet, moving from one to the other, always using the same rhythmic pattern.
“Is that reflexology?” Colby asked in amazement as he watched Cynthia’s fingers.
She shook her head. “Just a mom trick I learned when mine were young. Rubbing their feet always helped when they didn’t feel good.”
“That’s amazing.” He gave her a shallow smile.
A few minutes later, Doctor Taggart bounced into the room, bringing a heaping dose of his infectious energy. “Miss Lily Schroder, correct?” he asked, consulting his chart. “It looks like you’ve got an owie. What happened? Were you trying to break those steers again?” His eyes twinkled as he moved to the side of the bed.
Lily managed a small smile. “I was dancing,” she said.
“She tripped and fell on the tile,” Colby put in.
“Did you put your arm down to catch yourself?” Doctor Taggart asked as he examined Lily’s wrist.
“I tried,” Lily said. “It didn’t work very well, though.”
“Well, let’s get an x-ray and see what’s going on, shall we?” the doctor suggested.
“Will it hurt?” Lily asked anxiously.
“Does it hurt when your daddy takes a picture of you with his camera?” Doctor Taggart asked. When Lily shook her head, he continued, “This is just the same, only we’ll take a picture of your bones.”
Denise, the x-ray technician, came a few minutes later. “We’ll be right back, Colby,” she said quickly as Colby made a move to follow. “Why don’t you get some coffee from the lobby while you’re waiting?” She said something reassuring to Lily as she whisked the little girl through the swinging doors and deeper into the hospital.
Cynthia turned to Colby. He had dropped into a chair and was staring down the hall in the direction Denise had taken Lily.
“She’s going to be okay,” Cynthia said reassuringly.
“But it’s broken?”
Cynthia nodded. “Looks like it.”
He sighed and dropped his head, shoulders slumping in a way she’d never seen before.
“Do you need anything?” she said. “I can get you a drink ... coffee, juice, water ..?”
He shook his head.
“I need to check on my other patients,” she said, hating to leave him. “I’ll be back as soon as I can, okay?”
He just nodded and wouldn’t raise his head to meet her eyes.
She went through the rest of her rounds, trying her best to keep her mind off Colby. She ached to go to him, to wrap her arms around him and promise him everything would be okay. Had she given up that chance?
She was updating patient records on the computer at the nurse’s station when the door to the ER slammed open and a woman strode in. She was tall, made even taller by her four-inch heels. Her dark hair was pulled tightly back in a high ponytail that accentuated her sharp cheekbones and widow’s peak. Her large eyes held no warmth, only malice.
“Where’s Lily?” she demanded. “I want to see my daughter.”
“I’m sorry ... you are?” Staci said.
The woman slammed her palms down on the reception desk. “Nicole Schroder, Lily’s mother,” she snapped.
Staci blushed. “I apologize, Mrs. Schroder. They’re in room five.”
“It’s Ms. Schroder,” Nicole threw over her shoulder as she hurried down the hall, her heels ringing on the linoleum like tiny hammers. She reached Lily’s room and rounded the corner. From her position in the hallway, Cynthia couldn’t help overhearing.
“Where’s Lily?”
“In x-ray.” Colby’s voice was subdued. “They’re pretty sure it’s broken.”
“What did you do?” Nicole demanded.
“It was an accident,” Colby said quietly.
“Sure it was.” Nicole’s voice dripped with ac
cusation. “You let her get away with anything so you can play the cool dad, and leave me to clean up your messes.”
“She was dancing and she tripped,” Colby said. “I wasn’t letting her ‘get away’ with anything.”
“Is that what you told her to say?” Nicole said icily.
Colby didn’t answer and Cynthia’s blood boiled. She clenched her fists.
Dr. Taggart came through the swinging doors and headed for Lily’s room, motioning for Cynthia to joint him.
“I’m taking her home after this, and we’ll have to see—” Nicole was saying. She cut off abruptly when the doctor entered the room.
“Where’s Lily? I want my daughter,” Nicole demanded.
“The x-ray shows a distal radius fracture in her wrist,” Dr. Taggart said. “She’s fine,” he added quickly when both Colby and Nicole gasped. “But she’s going to need surgery.”
“Surgery?” Nicole turned to glare at Colby. He didn’t seem to notice; he just stared miserably at the floor.
Doctor Taggart nodded. “Dr. Kilbourne is an orthopedic specialist in Billings. I’ve called him and he’s already on his way. Once he arrives, it will be a fairly quick procedure. Lily will be sedated and then Dr. Kilbourne will make a small incision near the break and secure the bones with screws. We’ll probably keep her overnight for observation, but I expect she’ll be able to go home in the morning.”
“And the screws in her wrist are permanent?” Nicole asked.
“I’m afraid so,” Doctor Taggart confirmed. “It’ll take a few weeks to get used to them, but then they shouldn’t bother her.”
If he thought to make Nicole feel better, he was wrong. She glared furiously at Colby.
“Where is she now?” Colby lifted his head, his eyes searching Dr. Taggart’s for answers.
“She’s in surgery prep,” Doctor Taggart said. “I’ve already installed an IV and given her pain medication, but she’s still awake. If you’ll come with me, I’ll take you to her.”
Colby rose from his chair and made a move to follow the doctor, but Nicole stepped in front of him, practically flipping her long hair in his face. He stopped abruptly and let her go first ... as if he had any choice.
“Colby?” Cynthia reached out and grabbed his elbow as he passed. “Are you okay?”
He wouldn’t meet her eyes as he shrugged and followed after the doctor and his ex-wife, through the swinging doors and out of the ER.
***
Colby kissed Lily one more time and swallowed hard against the lump in his throat as the nurse wheeled her down the hall toward the operating room. She looked so small in the big bed, her hair pulled back in a surgical cap. A stuffed bear, a gift from the nurses and also wearing a surgical cap, was tucked under her uninjured arm and her broken wrist was propped carefully on a pillow. He could hardly bear to look at the IV.
He followed Nicole to the surgery waiting room and threw himself down on a hard chair. Leaning forward, he scrubbed at his eyes with the heels of his hands.
How had this happened? One minute she was showing him a pirouette, her happy cry of “Daddy, watch this!” still echoing in his mind. Then her feet shot out from under her. He’d lunged for her, but was too late, and her shriek of dismay turned to a cry of pain as she landed on her outstretched arm. Colby heard the crack and it felt like his heart had broken right along with Lily’s wrist.
Guilt thundered through him. Was Nicole right? Was it his fault? He shied away from her hard, accusing stare.
“I can’t believe this,” she muttered. “My five-year-old is in surgery. How could you let this happen?”
Colby spread his hands helplessly.
“And now she’s going to have screws in her wrist, for life. And what will that do to her growth?” Nicole drove the point home. She swung her sandaled foot brusquely, her gold-painted toenails flashing in and out of his line of vision. “We’ll be lucky if her wrist isn’t deformed.”
He knew she wasn’t being fair, but he had no reply. All his defenses had crumbled at the sight of Lily’s ashen face when he’d picked her up off the kitchen floor.
They waited in tense silence and both looked up quickly when the door to the waiting room swung open.
Cynthia stepped inside, her beautiful face full of concern. “Is there anything I can do?” she asked softly.
Nicole gave Cynthia a dismissive glance. “How much longer will it be?”
“There’s no update yet,” Cynthia replied.
Nicole heaved a dramatic sigh and rolled her eyes. “Then why are you even here?” she snapped. “Come back when you have actual news.”
“Nicole.” Colby’s voice held a warning note. “She’s just trying to help.”
“I don’t need help; I need my daughter to be okay,” Nicole huffed.
Cynthia ignored her. “Can I bring you something to eat?” she asked Colby. He ached to reach for her and pull her down to settle on his lap. Having her in his arms would help stem his fear. But it would only provide Nicole with more ammo and Colby didn’t think he could take much more.
He shook his head. “Thanks, though.”
“Okay. I’ll be around if you need anything,” Cynthia said softly. She gave him a warm smile and turned to collect several discarded coffee cups from the end tables scattered around the room.
“I’m talking to my lawyer first thing Monday morning,” Nicole said, twisting the knife in even further. “If you can’t be trusted to keep Lily safe, maybe you shouldn’t be alone with her anymore.”
Colby hung his head. He was exhausted with worry and arguing with Nicole seemed like too much effort.
“I’m serious, Colby,” she said, her voice rising. “This is pure negligence!”
“What?” Cynthia dropped the coffee cups in the trash and came toward them, incredulity written on her face. “Negligence? You’re kidding, right?”
“I don’t recall asking you,” Nicole said, barely glancing in Cynthia’s direction.
“No one did anything wrong here,” Cynthia said firmly. “Kids are kids. Sometimes they get hurt—that’s why we call them accidents.”
Colby’s shoulders tightened; no one ever talked to Nicole that way. His mind spun, trying to think of something to say to deflect his ex-wife’s anger.
But before he could do anything, Nicole leaped to her feet. “Get out!” she screamed at Cynthia. “I want a new nurse!”
“Ms. Schroder, if you can’t control yourself, I will have security remove you from the building,” Cynthia replied. Her tone was professional, but it held note of steel Colby hadn’t heard before.
Nicole opened her mouth to reply, seemed to think better of it, and snapped it shut again.
“We will let you know as soon as Lily is out of surgery,” Cynthia said. “In the meantime, feel free to use the call button on the wall if there’s anything you need.” She paused in the doorway and turned back to Nicole. “Also, it might be good to remember that the hospital is under video surveillance. I doubt any custody judge would side with you after seeing your behavior.”
Colby had been on the receiving end of the kind of glare Nicole was giving Cynthia many times and he always had to fight to keep calm. But Cynthia just returned her look with a look of calm bemusement, which Colby knew would only make Nicole angrier.
The two women locked eyes for a moment longer; then Nicole huffed and looked away, turning her best glare on the floor.
Cynthia winked at Colby and quietly left the room.
Chapter 13
The chairs in the hospital break room were made from rigid, formed plastic and it was a testament to how tired she’d been that Cynthia had been able to fall asleep stretched across a row of three. She stirred, wondering what time it was and what had awoken her.
Both questions were answered the moment she opened her eyes. The clock on the wall above Colby’s head pointed at just after three in the morning and he was brushing his fingertips gently over her cheek. “Hey,” he said softly.
“Hi.” Cynthia sat up slowly, wincing at the stiffness in her neck. “How is she?” she asked, her gaze darting to the door of the break room, as if she could somehow see beyond it to Lily’s room.
“Good,” Colby said, sitting down beside her. “Surgery went well and she’s been moved to her own room. She was sleeping when I left.”
“I’m so glad.” Cynthia worked her fingers through her hair—she had no idea where the clip she normally wore at work had gone. She didn’t even remember taking it out last night.
“You didn’t have to stay,” Colby said.
“Yes, I did,” she insisted. “I was so worried.”
“Anoria’s been pretty worried about you,” Colby said.
Cynthia reached for the pocket of her scrubs and found it empty. “I left my phone in my locker.” She groaned. “I forgot to text her.”
“She sent me a text about half an hour ago looking for you. Said you were supposed to have been home by ten. That’s when I realized you must have stayed and came looking for you,” Colby said.
“Thanks. I’ll text her in a minute.”
“I told her you were here, a little before I woke you,” Colby said. He tapped the screen on his phone and pulled up a text thread. “Anoria and I have been talking .. well, texting,” he clarified. “She’s a good kid. And she understands things a little differently now.” He handed her the phone and Cynthia read quickly through the string of texts.
They began with Anoria asking if Colby had seen her mother and somehow ended with her realizing she was too young for Colby and that Cynthia had a right to her own life. The last text said: “I’m really sorry about your daughter but if my mom’s there, she’s in good hands. My mom’s the best.”
Tears welled in Cynthia’s eyes. “Thank you for showing me this,” she whispered.
“She’s right,” Colby said. “We are in good hands. Thank you for all your help.” He chuckled. “I’ve never seen anyone stand up to Nicole like that before. It was epic; wish I’d thought to film it.”
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