“I’m not going to work the rest of the week. I’ve already spoken to Juliet. She said if you needed representation for the assault charge that she’d represent you.”
“Firstly, you don’t need to take time off work. Secondly, I really appreciate that, but I’m not pressing charges.”
“You’re…not?” Hannah lifted a brow. “Can I ask why?”
“Kirsty needs help, not a criminal record. And while I don’t condone what she did, nor will I likely forgive her for it, that’s all I wanted…help for her. I’m not sure she’s very well, Hannah.”
“Oh, I know.”
“And now she’s in the best place to be treated.This…I’ll get over. Maybe with the right help, Kirsty can overcome what she’s dealing with, too.”
“You’re a special person, Caroline Baker. And I can’t believe that I get to call you mine.”
“Will you stay with me tonight?”
Hannah leaned in, kissing Caroline for the first time since this morning. “I’d love to stay with you.”
Chapter30
“Hello?”Hannah whispered into her phone, mindful not to wake Caroline. She hadn’t slept very well last night, unable to get comfortable, but she’d finally settled around 3 a.m.
“Mum, did you find Caz?”
Hannah smiled. “I did, love. I’m with her now.”
“Kay.” Edie fell silent. Hannah knew her daughter was worried she’d done something wrong, maybe caused Caroline’s injury, but everything was going to be okay. Kirsty was getting the help she needed, and everyone was going to get on with their lives.
“Is Nanna going to drop you at school this morning?”
“I…don’t want to go. She said I had to call you and ask if I could stay off today.”
Hannah sighed. She really didn’t want Edie missing school unless she absolutely had to. And she’d only recently gone back since being ill. “I’d rather you went in. Why do you need to stay off?”
“I wanted to come and see Caz. To say sorry.”
“Edie, you have nothing to be sorry for.” Edie sniffled down the line, Hannah’s heart aching for her daughter. Kirsty really had left a mess behind. “Caz isn’t feeling very good, but when she’s awake, I’ll see if she is feeling well enough to maybe come over and see you, okay?”
“She doesn’t like me anymore,” Edie sobbed, sending Hannah’s concern for her daughter through the roof. “Can you tell her I didn’t mean for her to get hurt, Mum? Please tell her I’m sorry.”
Hannah slid from Caroline’s bed, creeping out into the hallway. “Edie, Caz doesn’t think you did anything wrong. She’s okay, and she does still want us all to keep doing the things we’ve been doing together. Going out for dinner, girls’ nights, you know.”
“I’ve never been to Caz’s house.”
“I know. It’s easier to be at our house because all your things are there. Your schoolwork and stuff.” Hannah frowned. She had no idea where Edie was going with this conversation. “But I’m sure you’ll come over one day.”
“Nanna said I could borrow some money from her this morning. We went to the flower shop and got Caz some flowers. I…I wondered if I could bring them over with the get well soon card I got too.”
Oh, Edie was the sweetest child. Hannah couldn’t be any prouder.
“Do you think she would mind?”
“No, love. She wouldn’t mind at all.” Hannah peered through the crack in the door, smiling when Caroline’s tired eyes stared back at her. “I’ll call you in a little while, okay? Tell Nanna you can take the day off, but you’re going back in tomorrow.”
“Okay, Mum. I love you.”
“I love you too, kiddo.”
Hannah locked her phone and slipped back into the bedroom, carefully making herself comfortable beneath the covers again. “Morning, gorgeous.”