Chapter24
Thanks to Cindy, the tension Jace had felt since Seamus called let up a bit. He could handle two boys for a couple of days. But what about when he had to work? Shit, he’d have to figure something out, because he couldn’t afford to miss another night of work.
At the clinic, the automatic double doors opened to admit them.
Seamus paced the waiting area, cell phone pressed to his ear. “Aye, it’s a bad break and will need surgery. They didn’t say how long she’ll be in the hospital. You don’t have to come, Joe. She’s going to be fine. Yes, of course I’ll tell her, and I’ll call you when she’s out of surgery.”
After Seamus ended the call, he turned to Jace. “Thanks for coming, mate.”
“This is Cindy. My girlfriend.”
“I know Cindy,” Seamus said with a small smile. “She cuts our hair. Didn’t know you two were an item.”
Jace put his arm around her. “It’s a new development. Hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not,” Seamus said, running his hands through his hair. He looked completely undone, which was a side of him Jace hadn’t seen before.
“What happened?” Jace asked.
“Craziest thing. She was getting out of the shower and talking to me and then there was this god-awful crash. I went running to her, and her leg was at this angle…” He sighed. “It was horrible. I had to get the boys up to follow the ambulance here. They’re in with her now. I’d better go check on them.”
“We’ll be right here and can take them home whenever they’re ready to go,” Jace said.
“Thanks again for coming.”
“No problem.”
While Jace and Cindy sat to wait, he took her hand again. “I hope it was okay to introduce you as my girlfriend.”
“It was okay, although it’s been so long since I had a boyfriend that I’m not sure what the protocol is these days.”
“How is it possible that you haven’t had all the boyfriends?”
Cindy shrugged. “Didn’t want them.”
“How come?”
“Always more trouble than they’re worth.”
“Are you going to make an exception for me?”
“Seems like I already have.” She gave him a saucy smile. “I let you call me your girlfriend, didn’t I?”
“I’m honored to be an exception.”
“You’re an exception to all my rules.”
“I promise not to be more trouble than I’m worth.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
They waitedfor thirty minutes before Seamus brought the pajama-clad boys out to them in the waiting room. They looked as if they’d been crying.
“Everything all right?” Jace asked as he stood to receive them.
“The poor blokes are terribly worried about Caro. We assured them she’s going to be fine, but after what they’ve been through…” Seamus shrugged.
Jace squatted so he was at eye level with the boys. “Seamus and Carolina are right. She’s going to be fine. The doctors just need to fix her leg at the hospital, and then they’ll send her back home to get better. And when she gets home, you guys will help her with everything, right?”