Page 106 of Secret Love

“What happened? I asked.

“They’re saying it’s most likely an ACL tear and that I may need surgery in a few weeks. After X-rays, we’ll have a better idea. An ambulance is waiting to take me to the hospital, but I wanted to see you first.” He lifts my hand to his lips and kisses it. I brush back his hair and lean down to kiss his forehead.

When I lean back, his eyes are intense.

“I’m so sorry you’re hurting.” I can hardly get the words out.

I’m sorry for more than his pain, although I hate knowing he’s hurting more than anything, but I’m also sorry for what this could mean for his career. That’s the unspoken giant in the room.

Gracie whimpers in my arms and he reaches out to squeeze her arm.

“I’m okay, peanut,” he says to Gracie.

He reaches out and motions for Audrey and Cassidy to come closer. They lean down to hug him again.

“Look at me. I'll be fine,” he tells them.

They all cry and he puts his hand on Audrey's face. “Don’t worry,” he says. “My knee hurts a lot, but it's not the end of the world. Okay?”

”Are you going to be able to play football again?” Cassidy asks, through her tears.

He winces. “I don't know. I really don't know.”

He meets my eyes and I see the fear and pain there. It kills me.

“We need to head out,” Dr. Grinstead says. “You can meet us over at the hospital if you want.”

“I’ll be there,” I say.

“You don’t have to come,” Henley says. “Dr. Grinstead says they’ll most likely keep me overnight to run all the tests. I can have someone take me home tomorrow.”

“I don’t know who you think you’re talking to, but I’ll be there.”

He swallows hard. “I love you, tiny dancer. I love all my girls.”

He forces out a smile to the girls. I can tell by his breathing that he’s in so much pain.

“We love you. I'll be there soon,” I promise.

The girls want to go with me to the hospital, but after I call Bree again to let her know what's going on, we arrange a place to meet so she can get the girls. She says she'll take them over to the house to see Henley once he’s home. They're not happy about this, but I do as Bree asks and then head over to the hospital.It’s one of the things I’m learning is challenging about being the significant other of a parent…I don’t have the final word.

I’m mostly okay with that, but in this situation, knowing how worried the girls are, I wish they were given the choice to decide whether they’re at the hospital or not. But I’m going to trust that Bree knows what’s best there.

I rush to the hospital and since Dr. Grinstead knew I was coming, I’m immediately taken to Henley’s room. I recognize Jimmy Scott, but not the other handful of people in the room. No sign of Henley. They stop talking for a moment to look at me, their expressions grave.

“Hi, Tru,” Jimmy says. “Henley’s still getting an MRI and another couple of tests. He should be back soon.”

I nod. “I’ll be in the waiting room just outside.”

I back out before they can say anything else, the need to bolt from the room too strong. I can tell by how devastated the men in this room look that what’s happening with Henley is not good.

I want to ask them what this means for his career. What the chances are for a player who’s had this injury. In my hurry to get the girls to Bree and to come here, I haven’t had time to look anything up. It’s just as well, I didn’t need to be any more fearful than I already was. But now that I have time, I open my phone and what I read on there has me tearing up. When I hear people coming, I put my phone away and wipe my face.

Sadie and Weston are walking toward me and when I stand up to hug Sadie, I see my mom coming too. It makes me start crying all over again.

Sadie gives me a sympathetic smile when I pull away.

“Elle called on our way over. She’s sending her love and wants you to call her if you need company—or anything at all—when you go back home. She was on her way here, but I told her she better not risk being seen with the players. Calista will be here soon.”

---