Wrath and Rocky left the room, leaving Jill and me alone.
“What can I answer for you?” I asked.
“What did my son do to you?” she asked.
My stomach roiled. “I’m sorry?”
“Crew. What did he do to you?”
“Why do you think he did anything to me?” I asked.
Lord came trotting into the room, lying at my feet and I slid my hands into his fur.
“I know my son, and I know that you’re someone special to him.”
Tears stung the back of my eyes. “I think you’ve been ill-informed. I’m just a nurse.”
She studied me. “Did he break your heart?”
“What? No. I’m sorry, but it’s late,” I said, standing. “I should really get going.”
She reached for my hand. “Whatever he’s done, please try to find it in your heart to forgive him. He’s a good man, honey.”
“I… I need to go.”
I rushed out of the room so fast, I completely forgot there was a step up to get from the living room into the foyer and tripped as I was leaving. If Rocky hadn’t caught me, I would have fallen flat on my face.
“Whoa, you okay?”
“I need to go,” I rasped. “Jill’s um, she’s good. But I need to go home now.”
“Okay, sweetheart, Wyatt’ll take you.”
“Great.” I nodded, unable to meet his eyes. “Thank you.”
I was on the verge of a massive panic attack, and I couldn’t seem to find my center. Lord was whining as he stuck close to me and I slid my hand into his collar, leading him outside. In the end, he jumped up onto my shoulders and forced me to sit on the ground. I had no time to think about how mortifying it was that I was kneeling in the grass in the front yard, I just had to drop my head to my knees and try to breathe.
Wyatt’s gentle arm came around my shoulders and she gave me a squeeze. “You’ve got this, Rowan. Just breathe. No one is watching. It’s just you and me. All of your stuff is in the car, and we can go as soon as you’re ready. There’s no rush or pressure.”
I sobbed into my knees, my breath shallow as I tried my best not to hyperventilate.
“One deep breath, honey. Just one. Try for me.”
I focused on her touch, then on her voice, and forced air into my lungs.
“Good,” she encouraged. “One more.”
This went on for a few minutes until I was finally breathing normally and felt like I wouldn’t pass out. Lord was also much calmer, sitting up beside me instead of lying with his head in my lap.
“I’m good, Wyatt. Thank you,” I said. “We can go now.”
“Let me see your eyes, honey.”
I blinked back tears and forced myself to look at her.
“Let’s just wait one more second,” she suggested right as her phone buzzed in her purse. She pulled it out and hissed, “Shit!”
“What?”