“Mr. Cruz, the results from the CT scan show there is a slight swelling in Lily’s brain.” I hear Xavier’s sharp intake of breath as my heart starts rapidly beating. “That being said, it’s a minor cerebral edema, and we’re treating it with painkillers and corticosteroids. It doesn’t appear to be severe enough to require surgery. She has a concussion, but she is awake and appears to have full function of her motor skills. She’s been asking for you,” he tells Xavier.

“So, she’s going to be okay?” Xavier asks for clarification.

“Well, brain injuries can be tricky, but it appears that Lily’s going to be just fine. She’s going to be sore for a while, and like I said, we want to monitor the swelling, but all in all, she’s a lucky little girl. It could’ve been much worse. Now, if you’ll follow me, I’ll take you back to her.”

“You comin’?” Xavier asks, and I shake my head, not sure I’m ready to see her. To see what I did to her.

“You go ahead. I’m going to call Lucy and tell her what’s going on. Whenever Lily’s ready for more company, I’ll be out here waiting.”

He gives me a perceptive nod then follows the doctor, and I watch as they disappear down the corridor. I head outside, not wanting anyone to hear me freaking the fuck out as I call Lucy to tell her the news. That Lily’s in the hospital and it’s all my fault.

Lucy

I’M SURPRISED when I come home to find the house dark after an exhausting, albeit fun day of wedding shopping with Charlie. I knew Kale was watching Lily today, and I was hopeful she’d still be around when I got home. Glancing at the clock, I realize it’s dinnertime and wonder if they went out to grab something.

As I make my way back to the bedroom, more than ready to change into my stretchy yoga pants, I check my phone and see that I don’t have any messages from him. I shrug it off and enter the bedroom, stopping in my tracks. Next to my side of the bed is the most beautiful white bassinet. As I move closer, I smile when I see a bright green fleece blanket folded up inside. A small stuffed animal rests where the baby will go, and I pick it up to study the Winnie the Pooh, which clearly isn’t new. I guess it’s from Lily, and I grin as I remember her excitement when she found out she was getting a ‘cousin’, even if she did try to play it off like she wanted it to be a girl.

Taking advantage of the quiet, I quickly change my clothes and then prop myself up on the bed to get some grading done. I’m nearly seven months along now and I can rest my papers on my belly for easy access. Even though it’s getting harder to shave my legs, the shelf it creates is actually quite useful. I’m knee-deep in spelling tests when my phone goes off, the special ringtone for Kale playing.

“Hey, baby. Are you out with your other girlfriend?” I tease playfully, but my mood drops when I hear him inhale sharply on the other end of the phone. “Kale? Everything okay?”

“No,” is all I get, and I let the stack of paper slide off my belly as I quickly rise from the bed.

“What? What’s going on? Where are you?” I ask as I start pacing the room.

“The hospital.”

My heart starts racing as every horrible thought runs through my head, but then I try to calm down, knowing that if he’s talking to me, then he’s okay.

“Kale, tell me what’s going on. Please.”

“It’s my fault. I wasn’t paying enough attention, and I didn’t get there in time. Once again, I failed in protecting what’s mine because I was too far away.”

His cryptic answers aren’t making any sense. I slide into my flats and grab my purse and keys, ready to head to the hospital even if he isn’t telling me what happened.

“Kale. Tell me exactly where you are.”

He rattles off the name of the nearest hospital, and I pull out of the drive, desperate to get to him. He’s silent on the other end of the line, and all I can hear is his breathing.

“Baby, are you hurt?”

I hear him sigh deeply, and I wish he’d just answer me.

“No, Lucy. Not me. Lily.”

RACING THROUGH the doors of the emergency room, I scan the room until my eyes rest on Kale. He’s hunched over, his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands. I cross the room and crouch down in front of him, something that’s not an easy task with my basketball-sized belly. My fingers graze his chin, and I lift slightly so he’ll look at me. His eyes are red-rimmed and fully of worry, but I see the relief in them when it registers that I’m here. He grabs my hands and pulls me up, settling me in his lap sideways as he wraps an arm around my waist, his hands resting on my stomach. I stroke his hair, hoping I can be some sort of comfort for him.

“Kale, can you tell me what happened?” I ask quietly, and he lifts his head up to look at me.

“I threw the ball too far and she ran after it. Right out into the road without even looking. God, Lucy, she flew so high in the air, and I couldn’t move as I watched it all happen right in front of me.” He closes his eyes, shaking his head as if he’s trying to rid himself of the memory.

“I’m sure it was just an accident. How is she? Have you seen her?”

He shakes his head, his shoulders slumping. “Xavier’s back there with her. The doctor says she’s going to be okay, but until I see her, I just don’t know if I can believe it. I can’t get the image of her lying there on the ground, unconscious, and bleeding out of my mind. Hell, her fucking blood’s on my shirt!”

I pull back to look at him and see the red flecks staining his shirt. It makes my insides roil, and I wrap my arms around him.

“If they say she’s going to be fine, then trust in that, okay? We’ll see her soon enough.”

As if on cue, I see Xavier approach, and I’m quick to get out of Kale’s lap. Kale stands and looks at him as he waits for the news.

Xavier gives us a small smile. “She’s all right, man. Says her head hurts and it hurts to laugh, but other than that, she’s gonna be fine.”

Kale lets out a slow, deep breath as he lets Xavier’s words sink in. “Can I see her?” he asks, and Xavier nods, motioning for us to follow him. I take Kale’s hand in my mine, squeezing gently for reassurance.

We follow him down a long hallway and into a small room. I try not to let out a gasp when I catch the sight of Lily. She’s propped up in a hospital bed with her head wrapped in several inches of white bandage. Her left wrist is in a brace, and I watch as she grimaces when she tries to readjust. Xavier’s by her side in a flash.

“Your ribs are going to hurt when you twist, sweetheart,” he tells her, and she frowns. “Look. You have a couple of visitors.”

She turns her head slowly, and she smiles when she sees us. Kale’s frozen in the door, staring at her. I give him a slight push and he moves deeper into the room.

“Hey, Lil,” he croaks out. “How ya feeling?”

Xavier pulls up a chair for Kale, and he sits next to her and grabs her hand. Leaning back against the wall, I watch them but hang back, knowing that Kale needs to be reassured that Lily is truly okay.

“My head hurts. So do my sides when I laugh or cough.” She wrinkles her nose and gives Kale a serious look. “But do you wanna know the worst part?”

He swallows hard, but he nods, allowing her to continue.

“The doctor said I had to get stitches for a big cut on my head, and to get to it they had to shave my hair! I’m going to have a bald spot!”

Xavier chuckles and shakes his head. “Lily, baby, the doctor said the rest of your hair will cover that spot. No one will even be able to tell.”

She glares at him then turns back to Kale. “Still. Can you believe it?”

“At least it was just a small part. I remember when your dad and I were in boot camp. I had scruffy hair all the way down to my chin. In the first week, they took a razor to my head and shaved it down to the skin. I was bald all over.”