Page 22 of When Love And Destiny Collide

I motion for him to ease up, but he’s too excited to notice. "You were supposed to take me to Ava's, remember?"

"Give me the phone," I say, gently reaching for it.

Davey reluctantly hands it over, and I immediately start apologizing to Lily. "I’m so sorry, Lily—"

"Hi, Noah," she interrupts. "I'm sorry, but I won't be able to make it."

"Is everything okay?" I ask. The tone in her voice immediately has me on edge. Something is wrong.

"I fell," she begins, her voice trembling slightly. "Zoe drove me to the emergency room."

My heart races, panic surging through me. "What do you mean, you fell? Where? How? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she reassures me, her tone calm but strained. "I took a misstep climbing down the ladder and fell on my butt."

"I'm coming to get you," I say without hesitation. "Where are you?"

"There's no need, really."

"Lily, I'm not debating this, Sweetheart. Where are you?"

***

As I walk through the hospital hallways, searching for her room, a sense of panic grips me—one I’ve only ever felt for my son. The thought of her hurt and alone twists my heart.

When I finally see her, I rush to her side. "Are you okay?" I ask, my voice filled with concern. Her ankle is strapped and elevated on a pillow.

"Where's Davey?" she asks, her eyes full of worry.

"I dropped him off at Patrick's. All their grandkids are there today, so he's having fun. Don’t worry about him."

"I'm so sorry, Noah. I'm such a klutz. Ugh!" she exclaims, frustration evident in her voice.

Before I can second-guess my actions, I’ve lifted her hand to my lips. “You scared me,” I whisper, my voice laced with profound relief. Thank God you’re okay.”

She gently pulls her hand away, resting it softly on her lap, leaving my heart aching for the warmth of her skin.

"Have you been discharged?" I ask, hearing her unspoken message loud and clear: "Don't touch me."

"Yes," she replies with an awkward smile. "I'm ready to go."

Twenty minutes later, a nurse follows me as I gently guide Lily in a wheelchair to the hospital exit, where my car waits. The nurse watches as I help Lily into the front seat, our fingers brushing for a fleeting moment.

“Lily,” I begin softly as we pull into our driveway, “I know this might not be what you want to hear, but I think you should move in with us until you fully recover.”

“No way!” she protests, her eyes flashing with defiance.

“You can hardly stand,” I counter gently.

“It doesn’t matter!” she retorts, glaring at me from her seat.

With a heavy sigh, I park the car and pop the trunk. My heart aches with the need to protect her as I walk to the passengerside. I open her door and offer her my hand, but she ignores it, determined to extract herself from the car without my help.

She stands on one foot, wincing in pain as she puts weight on her injured leg. “Oww!” she exclaims, her face contorted with discomfort.

“Here,” I say gently, “go ahead and lean on me.”

She reluctantly takes my arm, but she pulls away when I wrap my other arm around her waist.

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