Page 88 of Black Roses

I listen in horror as she recalls every detail; from the babysitter’s frantic call until I walked into this room. I absorb every piece of information, but my mind can’t help replaying one bit of it over and over again.

The gate was left open.

I have visions of my baby tumbling helplessly down the stairs. I shake my head in anger, wanting to ring Cassidy’s neck for allowing this to happen. “And no word whatsoever from Cassidy?” I ask. “She left my daughter with a brand new sitter and doesn’t even bother to answer the goddamn phone?”

Piper looks at me with compassionate eyes. For Cassidy’s sake, I hope she’s laid up somewhere in this hospital, or I’m liable to kill her with my bare hands.

“We’re ready to proceed now, Mr. Lawrence,” Dr. Warner says. “You’ll need to put her on the bed for this. But you can hold her hand. It looks like she’ll need five stitches.”

The nurse lowers the tall sides of the bed, allowing me full access to her while they work on her head.

“She’s numb,” the nurse assures me as they prepare the instruments. “This won’t hurt her, but it will probably scare her, so anything you can do to distract her would be beneficial.”

Piper steps behind me, holding my phone up for me to see. It has Hailey’s favorite song on the screen. “Your turn,” she whispers in my ear. I can hear the smile in her voice.

With my left hand, I encompass Hailey’s entire forearm. With my right hand, I reach back and lace Piper’s fingers with mine. “Together?” I ask?

Then, as Hailey gets stitched up, we sing. Our voices fit together almost as well as our bodies did earlier.

The second time we play it, the nurse joins in, making Hailey smile. The door remains slightly open, and I wonder what passers-by must think about our impromptu performance of the song made famous by a Disney movie.

They finish the stitches, placing a much smaller bandage than before on her forehead. She looks more like my little girl again.

Piper puts a hand on top of the one of mine still covering Hailey’s. “You did a great job, sweetie. You are very brave, just like the princess in that song.”

Hailey smiles, hearing Piper compare her to a princess. She removes her hand from under ours and her little fingers grab Piper’s. “Pitty finners,” she says.

Piper proudly displays her deep-blue fingernails as if she’s suddenly become a hand model. “Why, thank you, Hailey. Blue is my absolute favoritest color in the whole wide world. Do you want to know why?”

Hailey nods her head in wonder.

“Because it’s the color of your eyes,” Piper says, smiling at my daughter, then looking at me, her emerald irises speaking all the words her lips are forbidden from saying in present company.

I love you, I mouth to her.

“Yeah, I’m really glad I moved here,” she says, with a secret grin only I know the meaning of.

“Oh, you’re new to New York?” the nurse asks her.

Piper blushes. “No, I pretty much grew up here, but I didn’t move here until recently.”

“Okaaaay.” The nurse’s confused look makes us laugh. “We need to get an x-ray of this little girl’s arm. We can bring the equipment in here, but it will take a few minutes and you’ll have to wait outside.” She gives me a sympathetic look and says quietly, “She’ll probably cry and you may not want to see it, so this may be a good time for you to complete the paperwork out front. But don’t worry, I promise to take good care of her.”

The door swings wide open and a technician wheels in a large machine. I lean down and give Hailey a kiss on her head. “We’ll be right outside, sweet pea. They need to take great big pictures of your arm to see your boo-boo.” I take Piper’s hand and lead her away.

Hailey starts to tear up. The nurse with teddy bears on her scrubs tries to calm her, but the further away we get, the cries turn into screams and my hearts starts breaking.

“Go,” Piper says, seeing my face that’s swimming in despair. “You don’t need to watch this. I’ll stay right here. You do what you need to do so we can get her out of here.”

“You sure?” I ask, looking at my whimpering baby girl through the window.

Piper’s hand touches my arm, sending a warm comforting feeling coursing through me. “I’ve never been more sure.”

My broken heart surges with love for this woman as I kiss her cheek and then walk away, being escorted out front to give them my insurance information.

I’m led through the double doors to the full-on commotion of the crowded ER.

“Ma’am, we can’t let you in there like this!” a man yells.

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