Still, she managed to keep it together. “Daisy, it’s Ms. Mabel. Are you okay, sweetheart? Whew, that was some fall you took there. Scared the dickens out of us all.”
“I ruins my shoes,” the child wailed again. “Now I won’t be able to be in the weddin’.”
My mom chuckled low. “Well, they are a mighty fine pair of shoes, aren’t they? But I think we can figure something out for the weddin’. Don’t you worry about that.”
“Are you sure?” Daisy asked her, sniffling and rubbing her hands over her tear-stained face, smearing the dirt into mud.
Mel, Em, and Maggie hovered over them. Unsure of what to do.
“Is she okay?” Emily shook out her hands like she could shake off the tremors. “God. That was…” she trailed off.
Royce was behind her, two feet away. I cut him a glance. He sent one back.
It was close. Too damn close.
“How about you let me take a look at those shoes?” my mother prodded, shifting her on Violet’s lap so she could get a look.
Gentle in the way that only she could be.
While Violet struggled to maintain composure. But I knew the girl well enough to know when she was getting ready to crumble.
“My, these are fancy,” Ma said in her soothing way. “I bet you could dance all night long in these beauties, couldn’t you?”
Daisy sniffled but smiled this earth-shattering smile.
My chest tightened.
“Yups! My mommy said I’m the bestest dancer she’s ever seen. I got lessons, you know.”
“Wow, that is somethin’. You are a special girl, aren’t you? A very special girl.” My mother’s voice hitched.
Daisy’s shoulders lifted to her ears, a smile splitting her face that was smeared with dirt and tracks of tears.
So fuckin’ cute.
So fuckin’ dangerous.
My mom felt around her legs. “Any pain when I touch your legs?”
“Nope.”
“Okay. Good. How about I take a look at that arm now?”
Daisy had it tucked to her chest, protecting it. Reluctantly, she let it go so my mom could take a look.
Daisy winced when she touched her right wrist. “Ouch!”
“Is that tender, right there?”
Clearly, the kid was trying to play it brave because her chin trembled, and her eyes filled with more tears, but she was acting like it was nothing. “Nope. I’m all okay now. I bet I can even fly. Watch this!”
She hopped up before Violet could stop her and flapped her arms. Second she did, she crumbled back to the ground.
Knocked down by an intense bolt of pain.
“I lied. I told a lie! It hurts real bad,” she cried.
“I…I think I need to take her to the emergency room,” Violet rambled. “I’m sorry, I think we’re going to have to cut this meeting short.”
Her entire being was shaking.
Shock and worry of what might have been rippling across her flesh.
Patent.
Palpable.
So real it was marching toward me like tiny soldiers on the invade.
An attack I couldn’t stop or fight.
Standing, she picked Daisy up. Awkwardly, considering the child was almost half her size.
I was on my feet before I could talk any sense into myself. Before I thought over the consequences. Before I knew what this would mean.
“Let me take her.”
Pain lashed through her expression. She held the child closer, trying to hoist her up. “I thank you for what you just did. But that’s not necessary. She’s fine. I’ve got her.”
“Just let me help you, Violet. Your truck is all the way up by the house. You can’t safely carry her that far.” I leaned in, my mouth at her ear. “Let me help you.”
Grieved disbelief gusted from her, that sweet, sweet mouth trembling all over the place. “You think I need you now? Six years late?”
“No, Violet. You’ve always been better off without me. Think we both know that.”
“Then leave us alone.” It was a plea. Girl as weak as me.
“I can’t. Won’t.” My voice turned to stone.
Torment blistered between us, and there was no missing the tension that radiated from my mom and Emily. The vile choices I’d made. Their disappointment I’d carried around on my shoulders every bit as heavy as the burden of my debt.
Violet tried to drop her gaze, but it kept flicking up to meet my stare.
“Be careful with her.” Violet’s voice twisted around me. An agonized prayer. Trusting me when she knew full well she shouldn’t.
I gathered the child in my arms.
Carefully.
Cradling her to my chest, her legs were draped over one of my arms, the other secured around her back and shoulders.
My heart panged. Fucking bled. “I’ve got you, flower girl,” I murmured like a goddamn fool.
She grinned up at me. Cheeks covered in dirt and those dark eyes full of hope. “I want to be a flower girl, but the welcomes girl sounds second best, right?”
“No. Not second best. Not even close,” I murmured at her forehead. Breathing her in.
Fuck.
I was getting too close. Touching on things I couldn’t. But I couldn’t find the willpower to walk.