Page 82 of Nanny for the Firefighter

I nearly pass out from the relief, falling back into my chair. For whatever reason, that’s when the tears begin to flow, and I’m too strung out to stop them.

“He’s going to need a ride back home and someone to keep an eye on him. He’s requested that it be you, and he’s also requesting that you bring a Bridget and Mia with you.”

My heart rate skitters all over the place again at the mention of my name. He wants to see me and Mia, and I have no problem going over there right now.

Hudson looks up at me, and I nod vigorously, mouthing, “Yeah. Let’s go.”

“Okay, if you could let him know that we’re on our way?”

“Sure thing, Mr. Monroe. I’ll let him know.”

Hudson nods, too, standing up from the chair as he says goodbye to the nurse. As he does, I turn to my mom, taking her hands for a moment.

“Are you okay to be here with Meredith and Juniper?” I look to Meredith as well. “Is it all right if we?—”

Meredith smiles. “Of course. Go on.”

“Yes, honey. It’s fine. Go see Mason. Meredith and I will be here with Juniper.”

Smiling, which feels like a damn miracle right now, I give my mom a kiss on the cheek and then hug Meredith.

As Hudson gets ready to go, saying his piece to his wife, I go into the living room to fetch Mia. I feel bad for waking her up, but I know that she’ll be glad to see Mason.

And if he’s hurt, Mason will be downright thrilled to see Mia and know that she’s okay.

I can’t seem to find anything I need to get going, though. My head is all jumbled, and it takes help from Hudson to find my keys and a blanket to wrap Mia in so that she can still doze.

Gently, I scoop Mia into my arms. She stirs a bit, but I hush her, rubbing across her back and just whispering that we’re going to see Daddy.

She smiles sleepily and then falls right back to sleep as I buckle her into her little seat in my car. Hudson does me a solid and agrees to drive, and then we’re off to the hospital.

I don’t love the fact that he’s there, but I am so damn glad that he’s not worse off. A concussion and burns I can deal with.

Something worse? Yeah, I don’t want to think about it, and I don’t have to.

“Okay, let’s go see Mason. Our buddy sure knows how to get himself in trouble, huh?”

I smile, but I have to swallow hard. I’m not sure how Hudson would react if he knew that Mason and I were pursuing things.

But that is so future Bridget’s problem.

“Yes, he does.”

TWENTY-FIVE

Mason

Monitors beep in a constant rhythm around me, and I try to track the movements of the nurses and doctors rushing around the hospital.

It gives me something to do as I sit here and wait.

God, today…sucked.

I let out a heavy sigh, trying to relax into the hospital bed. The painkillers are working, and I’m all wrapped up in gauze around my back and leg.

The burns aren’t bad, but they definitely stung, and getting them cleaned out to prevent infection was crucial.

Still, I know it’s the bump to the back of the head that really needed attention.

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