Page 35 of Free to Fall

“Just one set?” Just like I used to trap criminals into admitting fraud, I lead my daughter to admit the truth.

“Well, then my legs got tired. So, I stopped.”

“That matters?” I inject a note of curiosity in my voice. Like I don’t know the answer.

“Daddy, you know Dr. Rosenthal said not to ...” Her hand flies up and slaps her lips.

“Uh-huh. And you know Dr. Rosenthal said to do your exercises every day—three times—if you want to be strong enough to walk without crutches anymore,” I remind her.

“You’re being sneaky,” she accuses.

“And you didn’t give Dr. Laura much of a chance,” I rebuke her gently.

Her face drops. Her little body seems to heave and fall as she lets out an enormous sigh. “I don’t like change. Something bad always happens.”

Considering since the time she was five, that’s all she’s known, I can’t blame her association. Still, “So, you want to keep using crutches long after you go back to school?”

“No!” Then a tiny, “Will you help me with my stupid exercises?”

“Whenever I can,” I promise without hesitation. “But Dr. Laura will be here when I can’t be.”

Her expression turns morose. “Fine.” She picks up her fork, fiddles with her pasta, and then drops it back down without taking a bite.

Deciding that unless I want to offer Laura hazard pay, I may need to bribe my daughter into polite behavior—good may be stretching it at first. “Listen, why don’t we make a deal.”

Her interest piques. “What kind of deal?”

“I was thinking a trip to Amaryllis Bakery for every week you behave for Dr. Laura.” She side-eyes me, as she should. I’m outright bribing my daughter to behave for her new nanny. “Come on, Buttercup. I’m trying to do the best I can.”

Reluctantly, she caves. “Okay, Daddy.”

With those words, I shove back from the table. “Then what do you say? Why don’t we seal the deal right now?”

“What about dinner?”

I hear Laura Lockwood in my ear saying it’s okay to be tired. Before I know it, I’m pulling her wheelchair back and heading for the garage. “Every once in a while, eating dessert before dinner is okay.”

Bailey giggles, and it’s the sweetest sound in the world. “I love you, Daddy.”

“I love you too, Buttercup.” And there isn’t a damn thing I wouldn’t do for you.

Chapter

Sixteen

“How are things working out with Bailey?” Alice asks me as she’s about to sit in her chair the next day.

I shrug nonchalantly, “I don’t know if I got the job.”

In all the years I’ve known her, I’ve never seen anything shock her—and with the enormity of her patient load, the drama of my family, and the hospital staff, I’d expect she would have heard it all. Yet, my informing her I don’t know if Liam Payne has hired me has her missing her chair and landing on her rear.

Fortunately, she lands on the pile of throw pillows she has stacked for her patients to hurl around the office at whim. Getting to my feet, I hold out a hand. “I take it you’re surprised by the news.”

“Surprised? Stunned. What is that foolhardy man waiting for?” she snaps.

“Aww, Alice. You care.”

“Very much.”

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