He bent, pressing his lips to my temple. “You’re going to have to take it easy for a while, but you’ll be just fine.”
I breathed out a sigh of relief and glanced at Emerson. “Do Mom and Dad know?”
A look of fury took root on his face, and I steeled myself for whatever was coming. “I called them on my way here.” His jaw worked back and forth as if he struggled to get the words out. “They said it was your choice to put yourself at risk by living here. Said these were the ramifications of your actions.”
Tears stung the backs of my eyes. “They aren’t coming.”
“No,” Emerson said through gritted teeth.
Lawson pressed his forehead to my temple. “I’m so sorry.”
“I’m not,” I admitted.
He pulled back, confusion on his face.
“I’m finally free of them. Maybe I just needed them to cut the cord.”
Lawson squeezed my hand. He opened his mouth to say something but was cut off.
“Dad, I brought you a milkshake,” Charlie called from the hallway. As he entered the room, he skidded to a stop. “Hallie?” Tears filled his eyes. “Hallie!”
He took off at a dead run, launching himself at me.
Emerson caught him around the waist as Adrian caught the milkshake.
“Whoa,” Emerson said, amusement lacing his tone.
“Hallie has stitches, remember?” Lawson asked. “We have to be really careful.”
Charlie bobbed his head up and down as Emerson set him down. He moved toward the head of the bed, and I instantly reached for his hand.
“I missed you so much,” I whispered.
Tears tracked down his cheeks. “I missed you more. Dad said you were gonna be okay, but you weren’t waking up. I was so scared.”
I pulled Charlie closer. “I’m so sorry, buddy. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.”
Drew and Luke crowded closer to the bed. There were dark circles under Drew’s eyes. “You’re okay? Really?”
I nodded. “Gonna be sore for a while, but I’ll be just fine.”
Tears shone in Luke’s eyes. “Love you, Hallie.”
My throat clogged. “I love you, too.”
Lawson cleared his throat, glancing at Charlie, who had laid his head on my shoulder. “You know how we talked about me and Hallie? How we were dating and would let you know when things changed?”
Drew and Luke shared a look while Charlie sat up straight.
Lawson grinned. “I have some good news and some bad news…”
“Spill, Pops,” Drew demanded.
“Well, Hallie quit as your nanny.”
Their gazes all jerked in my direction, and I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing.
“But she said yes to being my wife,” Lawson hurried to add.
