Nicole sat at the table, sipping a cup of coffee. “We watched every princess movie I own.”
“Princesses are pretty.” Ginger said this, her smile shy.
“I guess. Not as cool as dinosaurs, though.” Nova hopped up and down. “And, guess what, Charlie, my eyes didn’t rot out.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” He risked another look Halley’s way. She was angry with him. First things, first. “I appreciate last night, Nicole.” He took a deep breath. “Girls, I want to start by saying that everything will be okay. That’s the important part.”
Nova stopped hopping.
Halley sank into a chair at the kitchen table.
“Aunt Camellia is in the hospital.” He went to sit between them at the table.
“What happened?” Nova’s chin crumpled and she clutched Scorpio to her chest. “Did she fall? Did she get hurt?”
“But she’s okay?” Halley asked, staring at him. “You’re not just saying that?”
“She’s not going to die?” Nova had big, fat tears rolling down her cheeks.
It was a logical conclusion. The only time the girls had gone to the hospital was after Yasmina’s accident. They’d come home without their mother.
“She’s not going to die.” He wiped at Nova’s tears.
“Then why is she still in the hospital?” Halley was watching him closely.
“They need to keep an eye on her for a few days. When they think she’s ready, she’ll come home.” He took a deep breath. “Everyone will get to pitch in and take care of her for a while. Until she’s better.”
“Will we still be here, Charlie?” Nova sniffed. “I want to take care of her, too.”
Charlie didn’t have an answer for that.
“You’re lying.” Halley glared at him.
“I’m not.” He shook his head. “Why would you—”
“Because you’re a liar.” She slid her phone onto the table. “Benji fixed it. My phone wasn’t broken, you blocked everyone—turned everything off.” She stood and stomped out of the room.
He glanced up to see Shelby and Nicole wide-eyed. “I’ll be back.”
“You’re not lying, are you?” Nova grabbed his hand. “Aunt Camellilla isn’t dying?”
“I’m not lying.” He’d brought this on himself. “Can you stay here while I go talk to Halley?”
“How about you help me feed Bea?” Shelby asked.
“I love babies.” Ginger hurried to Bea’s high chair.
“Okay.” Nova sniffed, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. “I guess.”
“I’ll be back.” He nodded his thanks at Shelby and headed outside.
Halley was across the yard. She sat on the ground with her knees drawn up and her head down. He couldn’t tell if she was crying and he didn’t know what to say, but he sat on the ground beside her.
“I’m mad at you.” Halley’s voice shook. “I don’t want to talk to you.”
“You can be mad at me.” He plucked at the grass beside him, way outside his comfort zone. “I messed up. You should be mad at me.”
Halley didn’t move.
