Page 72 of State of Grace

“I know.” She swallowed hard and nodded. “I know, Sophia. I’m scared too. But this wasn’t Blake’s fault. It could have happened to you or me or Emily or Maddie or anyone. It was an accident.”

“I don’t trust her.”

“I’m standing right here.” Blake threw up her arms in frustration.

“Only because I haven’t honed my mind powers yet,” Sophia snarled back at her.

“Look, I get that you don’t like me, but surely you can’t believe this is my fault.”

“Don’t tell me what I believe.”

“Sophia, Blake, please.” Alexis ran her hands through her hair in frustration. She hated confrontation. She hated it more when it was between two of the most important people in her life. For a moment, Alexis contemplated locking herself and Harper in the exam room and leaving Blake and Sophia outside to duke it out however they saw fit.

Unfortunately that wouldn’t solve anything, but neither would yelling in the hospital hallway.

“I understand that right now, emotions are super high for all of us, and I think we all should calm down before we carry on any conversation.” She looked back and forth between Sophia and Blake, neither of which looked her in the eye. They both looked as scared as Alexis felt. Blake nodded once before turning around and heading back into Harper’s room.

“I knew something was going to happen. I felt it in my bones.” Alone in the hallway, Alexis studied Sophia. Mascara was running down her face, and her brown eyes were bloodshot. Letting out a deflated sigh, Sophia covered her face with her hands.

“You have to stop blaming Blake. You know this wasn’t her fault.” Alexis tried hard to hold her ground with Sophia. She was used to Sophia overstepping, but this time, it wasn’t justifiable. “Blake loves Harper and would never hurt her. You and I have both driven that road with Harper in the backseat countless times. It could have happened to any of us, and I won’t have you saying that it’s Blake's fault, especially not in front of Harper.”

Sophia opened her mouth to say something, but Alexis held up a hand to stop her.

“Harper is my kid, and it’s my call who watches her.” She could tell Sophia didn’t like what she was saying, but she kept quiet. “I trust Blake as much as I trust you with Harper. You have to start accepting my judgment with what’s best for Harper. She’s my daughter, and you know I’d never do anything that would hurt her.”

“I know.” Sophia’s voice was quieter than Alexis ever remembered hearing it. She quickly brushed a tear off her cheek, curling her lower lip inward before taking a deep breath. “I’m sorry. When I heard there had been an accident and that Harper was in the hospital, I panicked.” Her voice cracked as Alexis’s heart broke. Sophia loved Harper as if she were her own, and she knew Sophia was scared. Alexis had already experienced the cycle of crazy emotions, and it was Sophia’s turn to process everything.

“Yeah, me too.” Alexis playfully flipped Sophia on the arm, which made her smile. “But she’s ok. It’s just a small cut.” Alexis reached out and took hold of Sophia’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Dr. Mills said it shouldn’t scar, but you know Harper. She’ll think it’s cool if she has a scar.”

“You’re right.” Sadly smiling, Sophia held out her arms and Alexis went to her. They needed each other for comfort. Harper was the sun that their worlds revolved around. Neither of them could ever imagine their lives without her. The mere thought of losing Harper was enough to make Alexis’s empty stomach want to revolt.

Alexis and Sophia stayed locked in each other’s embrace until Isla arrived back at the room with three coffees. She handed one to each of them as they headed back into Harper’s room, where Isla gave Blake the other coffee. Alexis noticed how Sophia and Blake stayed on opposite ends of the room the whole time they waited for someone to patch up Harper’s cut. They were like the opposite sides of magnets that were physically incapable of being near each other.

By the time Harper was discharged, it was past ten, and they were all exhausted.

Alexis buckled a sleeping Harper into the booster seat in Sophia’s Tesla before closing the door. Standing a few feet away from her, Blake reached out totake her hand. She let herself be enveloped in Blake’s hug while shethanked whatever god was listening that both she and Harper were ok. Blake rubbed her hands up and down Alexis’s back, an exceedingly comforting gesture.

“Do you want me to come home with you?”

“No,” Alexis shook her head and she pulled away. “Sophia needs some time to chill out, and Harper’s tired, and I am mentally and physically exhausted, and I have to overcome all of that to perform in the play tomorrow, and I’m just overwhelmed right now.”

“Oh, my god, I forgot about the play.” Blake dramatically dropped her head back before rolling it back and forth a few times. “I could talk to Bryce and postpone the show if you want.”

“I’ll be ok, Blake.”

“Promise?”

“I promise. The play will give us all a chance to focus on something other than the last few hours.” Looking over her shoulder, Alexis saw Sophia tapping her fingers on the side of the car as she waited impatiently for them to finish talking. “We all clearly need a distraction.”

“She needs a chill pill.”

“She’s upset.”

“Everything’s fine.” Blake scratched her arm as she looked past Alexis to Sophia. She looked angry still, and Alexis wished the two of them would drop whatever beef was between them. Blake took hold of Alexis’s hands and held them tightly as she looked into her eyes. “I would never ever put Harper in danger. I need you to know that.”

“I do know that.”

“And I’m going to take care of the car.”

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