Godspeed and had promised to see to the dog who had saved their daughter’s life.
Erin stood in front of him and placed her hands on his chest. “Parker, stop torturing yourself.”
He stared over her head. “She started playing on the rocks. I should have stopped her. I should have been watching her instead of trying to get the kite flying.”
“It was an accident.” She touched his chin, forcing him to meet her steady gaze. “When she was two, she fell down the porch steps. She cut the back of her head and bled the whole way to the emergency room. I kept telling myself I should have been holding her hand or paying closer attention. She’d gone down those steps a hundred times before and been fine.”
She blinked as if she were trying to hold back tears. “She’s been on that beach before. Neither of us realized she could climb the boulders. Okay, we both should have told her to stay off them, but we didn’t think about it. I’m as much at fault. Please don’t blame yourself. It doesn’t accomplish anything.”
Her words gave him something to think about. He’d had his share of scrapes and injuries as a child. Most children do. “I’ll watch her more carefully next time.”
She nodded. A single tear leaked from the corner of her eye. She sniffed. “Are you feeling better?” she asked.
“Yes, thanks. Although when she gets out of here, we’re going to have a long talk about the boulders and not leaving the beach.”
“Good.” She gave him a shaky smile. Her lips quivered, then twisted. Tears filled her eyes. “I’m trying to be strong, but I’m not doing a good job. Oh, Parker.”
He held open his arms and she threw herself at him. She was shaking. “She’s going to be okay. It’s just a break, a clean one from the X ray.”
“I kn-know that’s what they said, but what if there’s something else? I couldn’t bear it.”
He led her over to the chairs and sat. He settled her on his lap, then rocked her.
“You held yourself together long enough to make sure I didn’t feel guilty, then you fell apart?”
She pressed her face against his neck and nodded. “Dumb, huh?”
“No, very brave. You’re a hell of a woman, Erin Ridgeway.”
“A real p-pillar of strength.” A sob shook her.
“Hush.” He smoothed her hair and continued to rock her. “She’s going to be fine. They’ll probably keep her overnight to observe her.”
“I’m not leaving her side.”
“No one has asked you to. This isn’t a busy hospital. I’m sure you can stay.”
As long as he lived, he would never forget those few minutes he’d spent looking for Christie. The gut-level fear had permanently scarred him. While intellectually he could say it had been an accident, in his heart he accepted the blame.
“Thank you for being here,” she said and straightened.
Tears dampened her face. Her mouth was swollen, her eyes and nose red. He brushed the moisture from her cheeks, then slid his fingers through her hair.
“There’s nowhere else I would rather be,” he said, and kissed her.
Her lips yielded immediately. The contact was comforting rather than arousing. She clung to him, then buried her face back in his shoulder.
“Tell me again she’ll be fine.”
“She’s a strong little girl. She has a real zest for life. Of course she’s going to be fine. She’ll have a cast. Just think of how she’ll use that to get her own way.”
Erin’s laugh was muffled against his chest. “She’s going to wrap you and Kiki around her little finger.”
“I know. You wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“No, I wouldn’t.”
They held each other until the doctor joined them. Erin wiped her face, then stood up and held out her hand to the older man. Parker rose and did the same.
“Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, your little girl is going to be just fine.”
Parker was so relieved he couldn’t speak to correct the doctor’s mistaken assumption that they were married. Erin sagged against him. He put his arm around her shoulders and squeezed. “I told you so.”
She smiled up at him. “Those are the nicest words you’ve ever said to me.”
The doctor chuckled. “As I told you before, it was a clean break. She’s already in a cast. Because she was unconscious for a few minutes, we’re going to keep her overnight to observe her. If everything is fine, and we expect it to be, then she can go home with you in the morning.”
“I want to stay with her,” Erin said.
“Me, too,” Parker told the doctor.
“That’s not a problem. Most parents stay with their children. If you come with me, I’ll take you to her room.”
The next morning Erin hovered anxiously as Parker carried Christie up three flights of stairs to her room. He held the girl easily, as if she weighed nothing. Kiki had hurried ahead and pulled down the bedspread.
“But I’m not tired,” Christie said as she was set on her bed. “I don’t want to sleep.”
“You don’t have to sleep,” Erin said. “Just rest. The doctor said you should take it easy today. You can get up and play tomorrow.”
“Can’t I rest downstairs and watch television?”
Erin smiled, relieved to have her child home. “This afternoon. For now, you’re going to stay in bed.”
Parker sat next to her and smoothed her bangs off her forehead. “It’s not so bad, kid. We’ll all keep you company.”
Christie stared at him. Her lower lip trembled. “I’m sorry, Daddy. I didn’t mean to go on the rocks. I won’t do it again.”
Erin saw the guilt on Parker’s face. He still blamed himself for Christie’s injuries. She wished she could make him believe it was just an accident. She didn’t think it was his fault, but he wouldn’t believe that, either. Maybe with time he could see the truth.
“Are you hungry?” Kiki asked.
Christie wrinkled her nose. “I just had breakfast. They gave me pancakes, but they weren’t as good as yours. The nurse was nice, but I’m glad to be home.”
“We’re glad to have you back.”
Erin touched her daughter’s wrapped arm. “How does it feel?”
“It hurts a little.”
Erin glanced at her watch. The doctor had said Christie could have children’s pain reliever every four hours. It was nearly time.
“I’ll get you some medicine,” she said.
“I’ll come with you.” Parker started to follow her from the room.
Kiki moved to the bed and asked if Christie would like some stickers for her cast. They were out of earshot before the girl answered.
Erin headed for her room. Parker stopped her just inside the door.
“Are you doing all right?” he asked. “I know you didn’t sleep last night.”
She glanced at him. There were shadows under his eyes and lines of weariness by his mouth. “You didn’t, either.”
“I guess we were both worried.”
“It’s going to be fine, now,” she said. “Christie is a healthy child. She’ll heal quickly.” There was a faint scratching from the end of the hall. She looked in that direction, then shook her head. “I can’t believe she’s finally won that battle with me.”
Parker grinned. “You can still change your mind.”
“No, we owe her for saving Christie’s life.”
“Now?” he asked.
“Sure. You get the surprise, I’ll get the pain medication.”
Erin measured out two chewable pills, then secured the top of the container. Parker met her in the hall. He held a leash. The skinny little dog that had saved Christie’s life walked beside him.
