Page 60 of Mind Pucked

My heart pounds as I wonder what’s going on. My mind flashes as I recall the day the officer came in at halftime to let me know Lyla had been in an accident. I don’t know why, but the feeling I’m getting right now is not a good one.

“What’s wrong, Amelia? Are you alright? Is Hayden okay?” I ramble, turning to the side a little to shield my conversation from the guys who are still spilling off the ice.

“Now, don’t freak out, but I am at the hospital with Hayden,” she says. There’s a softness to her voice, as if she’s trying not to make a big deal out of the situation.

“What?” I stand up, panic filling me. “What’s wrong?” I demand, a little louder than I mean to.

“Jackson, calm down, baby,” she says, but it does little to calm me. “We were in the back yard playing like usual, just about to go in for lunch when it started to rain. We were running and Hayden slipped on the wet grass going onto the concrete leading up to the back door.”

“Oh my God…is she conscious?” I ask, fighting to get the rest of my gear off so I can go to her, drawing the attention of Coach and the guys. “How hard did she hit?”

“Yes, she’s fine,” Amelia says with a small laugh. “She didn’t hit her head or anything. We’re waiting for the X-ray results to come back, but she hurt her arm.”

Something snaps in me, and I’m suddenly mad that this has happened. I know accidents happen, but sometimes those accidents claim lives.

“I’m leaving, Coach,” I say as I pass by, dragging my equipment with me. “Amelia has Hayden at the hospital, and I need to go.”

“Okay, Jackson, be careful,” Coach says, worry laced in his voice. “Drive the speed limit and get back to us in one piece.”

I nod, because that’s all I can manage.

“Oh my God, man, is everything okay?” I hear Felix ask as I pass, but I don’t say anything, I simply nod. “Jackson…you okay?” I hear, but I ignore him completely as I go.

“Jackson—” Amelia’s voice catches my attention from the other end of the phone. “Jackson, baby,” she calls again, but my heart is beating too hard for me to register what she’s saying.

“I’m on my way,” I say with a tense tone to my voice. “According to my phone, I’ll be there in less than ten minutes.”

“Jackson,” she says again calmly, “I have things handled from this end. You don’t have to leave practice if you don’t want to. There’s nothing to worry about until the X-rays come back, and that might be an hour yet…you know how long these things take. They have her comfortable, and we’re really just sitting here watchingMy Little Pony.”

“Amelia, this seems a little more serious thanMy Little Pony,” I find myself saying as I head into the locker room and start distributing my stuff as fast as I can.

I pull on a T-shirt and sweats, followed by my tennis shoes, then grab my keys and head to the door. My mind is in a million dark places.

“I really do have this handled,” she says softly.

I’m not hearing her, though. Parts of me want to believe what she’s saying, but I’m finding it near impossible.

I see red—I can’t understand why she’s trying to tell me not to come be with my daughter. A part of me knows she’s just being nice…she knows how important practice is right now with the playoffs to consider, but still, I’m irritated.

“You are not her mother,” I find myself spouting. “I am her parent, and I need to be the one there with her, so I’m coming,” I growl. “See you soon.”

“Understood, see you soon,” she says, and I can tell she’s hurt.

She hangs up before I can make things right with her.

I head out to my vehicle. That was not at all what I meant to say to her. No, she’s not Lyla, but in a way, she’s just as important to Hayden. When Amelia came on as nanny, I filled out the paperwork to allow Amelia to seek treatment for Hayden if and when it might be needed…exactly for this type of situation.

On the way to the hospital, my worry for my daughter fades a little. She might have a hurt arm, which will mend, but she’s okay. I’ve made an ass out of myself over something so small, something that stirred up memories of something bigger in me that Amelia was not involved in.

I know I sounded so callous, and she must hate me now because of it. I hope I can make things right with her. I would never want her to feel like she isn’t important enough to take care of a child who means so much to both of us.

As soon as I walk into the hospital, I ask the lady at the desk where Amelia and Hayden are. She points me in the right direction, and I’m rounding the corner to the room in moments.

Sure enough, Hayden is sitting up in the bed, legs crisscrossed, watchingMy Little Pony. Amelia is sitting behind her in the bed, her legs thrown on either side of her. Hayden’s back is resting against Amelia’s chest.

They look so relaxed as they watch TV together. Hayden’s arm is covered in cloth and ice as it rests on a pillow over her legs.

“Daddy!” she squeals as she sees me standing at the door.

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