Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 37508 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 188(@200wpm)___ 150(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37508 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 188(@200wpm)___ 150(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
“That’s alright. Trees fall. It’s nothing we can’t fix.” I gave her a reassuring smile as I added, “I’m gonna get you the biggest, brightest star you’ve ever seen to go on top of that tree. You just wait and see.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, baby,” I answered softly. “And we’re going to put the star you made on it, too. The tree wouldn’t be the same without it.”
“He’s right. It was a very pretty star. It was just what the tree needed,” Laken interjected. “But no more climbing in the dark. You scared Momma half to death.”
“Okay, Momma.” Baylor’s chin dipped, eyes going glossy. “I sorry.”
“I know you are, sweetie. And I am, too. I should’ve helped you get the star on the tree before we went to bed.”
Baylor sniffed, then looked back at me, like she was checking to see if I was mad at her, too. I gave her a little wink and said, “It’s all good. Accidents happen, and I’m real proud of you. You’ve been handling all this like a champ. You just have to hang in there a little longer, and then, we’ll be back home, eatin’ popcorn and watching Christmas movies by the tree.”
She gave me another tiny smile, and damn if it didn’t hit straight to the heart. Little by little, she was letting me in. A moment like that does something to a man. It certainly did to me. I swore right then and there that I’d do whatever it took to protect them and keep them safe.
A few hours later, the nurses came for Baylor, and after that, everything was a blur of bad coffee and endless pacing. Laken was a mess. She kept staring at the waiting room phone, waiting for the call from the doctor. I did my best to be there for her, but there was nothing I could say or do that would ease her mind. She wasn’t going to be okay until Baylor was back in her arms.
She didn’t say much. She just kept twisting the sleeve of her hoodie and whispering little quiet prayers. I knew she was thinking the worst, but at least she wasn’t thinking it alone. I was right there at her side. It didn’t matter if she needed a shoulder, a distraction, or someone to refill her coffee. She had me, and if I had anything to say about it, she always would.
After what felt like hours, the call finally came, and shortly after answering, Laken turned to me with a tired smile. “She did great. Everything went as planned.”
“That’s great. I knew she’d do fine.”
“She’ll be in recovery for a bit, and then, the nurse said she’d come get me so I can be with her.”
“That’s good.”
“I need to call into work and let them know I won’t be able to come in.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“I need to see about my insurance, too. I’m not sure if it’s active yet.”
“I’ll talk to Sergei and see what I can find out.”
“Okay. Thanks.” She rested her palm on my chest. “Thanks for everything. Seems like you just keep saving the day.”
“Glad to do whatever I can.”
The nurse came out and told Laken it was time for her to go back. I stayed in the waiting room and made some calls. I started with Dad. I let him know that Baylor had made it out of surgery fine, and then, I moved on to Sergei.
It only rang once when he answered, “This better be good.”
“Nothing good about it.”
“What’s going on?”
“Laken’s daughter took a hard fall and ended up in the ER last night.”
“Ah, hell. Is she okay?”
“Got a few bumps and bruises, and a broken wrist. She just got out of surgery.”
“Okay, what do you need from me?”
“Laken’s gonna need a couple of days off.”
“Consider it done.”
“And I need to know about her insurance. Is the kid gonna be covered for all this?”
“Yeah, coverage starts on the first day, but there’s a deductible. And you know how those damn things can go.”
“You know money’s tight for her right now.”
“I do, and I’ll help out anyway I can.”
“I appreciate that, man. I really do.”
“I told you I owed you, and I meant it. You need anything else, just give me a call.”
“Will do.”
I ended the call and took a sigh of relief. I’d always thought of Sergei as a hard ass with no real heart. Still thought he was a hard ass. That hadn’t changed, but deep down, he was a good guy. He just needed Lina to help bring it out in him. Regardless, he was now aware of the situation with Laken, and I knew he’d do everything in his power to help.
I also called Prez to let him and the brothers know what was going on. While I was at it, I called Smitty, too. Gave him a list of things that I might need him to do. Told him to be waiting for my text. I’d just about wrapped things up when Laken came out to the waiting room to get me.