“I’m glad you’re feeling okay, sweetheart.” Her dad kissed Isla again. Then he turned to look at Meghan. “Can I have a word with you outside?”
She nodded, her mouth dry, following him out of the room and into the corridor. He stopped next to an unused monitor on wheels and sighed, his lips pursing together as he looked at her.
“How could you let that happen?” His voice was low.
“It was an accident. She was skipping and not looking where she was going.” Meghan ran her tongue along her dry lip, remembering Isla’s scream. “She was picking up shells. That was all.”
“And where were you?”
“Sitting about six feet away from her.”
“And not watching her.” He shook his head, his face reddening. “I told you something like this would happen. Maybe we should be thankful Isla didn’t go near the water and drown.”
“I was keeping an eye on her.” Meghan shook her head. Why was it he could rile her as easily now as he did when she was a teenager? “It was a horrible thing that could have happened to anybody. And she’s fine. The doctor said so.”
“It wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t moved here. I knew you should have stayed in White City. Isla never got hurt there.” Her dad frowned. “I wish my mom had never left you that money.”
Meghan exhaled heavily. She was so thankful Grandma Louise had put the money into trust for her and Isla’s futures. For the first time in a long time, she felt free of her parents’ protectiveness and expectations. And yes, they loved Isla like nothing else, but she couldn’t live like this anymore.
Always knowing they were shadowing her a few feet behind.
“Isla’s fine,” Meghan said again. “Don’t make me regret calling you.”
“Are you going to start lying to us as well?” Her dad’s voice rose up. “We brought you up better than that.”
“Is everything okay?” Rich came to a halt beside them, his arms folded firmly in front of his scrub-covered chest. His bicep muscles bulged as he looked at her father with a frown. “Is there something you need to talk about, Mr. Hart?”
He was so close that she could feel the warmth radiating from his arms, making her own skin heat up.
“I was just discussing my granddaughter’s safety.” Her dad’s eyes were like flint. “I don’t like the sound of this beach. What kind of people leave broken glass laying around?”
“The beach is perfectly safe.” Rich’s voice was firm. “It was an unfortunate accident.” He glanced at Meghan, his eyes soft. “Nobody was to blame. And Isla is perfectly fine. She’ll heal in no time. The nurse is just finishing up and getting her set with crutches. If you’d like, you can go in and help your granddaughter get ready to leave.”
Meghan’s dad nodded. “Yes. I’d like to make sure she’s okay.”
He went back inside the consult room, leaving Meghan next to Rich.
“Are you all right?” he asked, his head tipping to the side. The sympathy on his face made her want to melt into the floor.
“I’m fine. My parents are just a little…” She inhaled sharply. “Over protective.”
“I got that impression.” He shifted his feet, a half-smile playing on his lips. His eyes were clear, observant as he looked at her, taking everything in. For a moment there was silence, but it felt loaded.
“And now you probably know why I moved to Angel Sands.” She lifted her brows. This was so damn embarrassing, but he was making it easier for her.
He shrugged. “It’s none of my business why you moved here. As long as you and my patient are okay, then I’m happy.”
“We’re fine.” She said it firmly, but with a smile. Did he have to be so sweet?
His lips twitched, as though he could hear her internal thoughts. “Good. Now go home and get some rest. You look shattered.”
“It’s been a long day.” She blew out a mouthful of air.
“I know.” He inclined his head at the door her father had walked through. “You want me to get rid of him for you? I can call security.”
She could imagine the fuss. “It’s fine. He won’t stay long. They have dinner at six on Sundays, and he’d never miss that. I’ll let him fuss over Isla for a while and then he’ll leave. He’s not dangerous or anything. Just…”
“Annoying.”