Page 100 of Coming Up Roses

“You did the right thing, Abi,” Dallas says. He pauses. “Are you okay?”

I take a breath “I had a panic attack,” I whisper. “I needed Flynn to snap me out of it. I’m so sorry.” I fight the emotion welling in my chest.

“You’re okay, Abi. You’re okay and Sadie is okay. Is Flynn still with you?”

“Yes,” I choke out.

“Okay, good. He’ll take care of you. Let him help you, okay?” His voice is so calm, so soothing. He doesn’t sound ruffled by my breakdown at all.

“Yep, I will. Thank you, Dallas.”

“We’ll see you tomorrow.” He ends the call without waiting for my response, which is probably for the best, because if I had to form any more words all that would have come out was sobbing.

He handled it so well, just took it in his stride, like he always does.

Though maybe things will be different tomorrow when he gets home. Maybe it just needs a little time to sink in that I’m still not a competent caregiver for a child.

I sigh, then retrace my steps to the room Sadie’s in.

My breath catches in my throat at the sight. Flynn has climbed onto the bed in my absence and Sadie is curled intohim, her tiny fist clutching his t-shirt, his lips resting against hair, like he was giving her a kiss goodnight but fell asleep in the process.

“He’s a good one, that one,” Clarissa says beside me and I startle. “Sorry love, didn’t mean to scare you.” She gazes fondly at Flynn. “But yeah, he’s got a heart of gold.”

“I know. He’s the best person I’ve ever known.”

She squeezes my arm. “Sadie’s all good to go. Here’s the paperwork.” She hands me a bundle of paper and points out where I need to sign. “Look after your little girl,” she says, handing me my copy of the discharge papers. “And that boy for me, okay?”

“I will,” I say, hoping I have the chance to do just that.

Hoping he gives me that chance.

49

FLYNN

Abi wakesme from where I’m curled on the hospital bed beside Sadie, telling me it’s time to go.

It’s getting late now and I don’t know how Abi is so awake, especially considering how exhausting a panic attack must be.

I carry Sadie to the car and Abi insists on driving us home, where I carry Sadie inside and tuck her into Abi’s bed.

Abi watches me and follows me to the kitchen once I’m done.

I turn to her. “You okay here?”

“Yeah, but you can’t drive now, Flynn.”

I glance around the room, looking anywhere but at her. I could handle being around her when Sadie was the focus, when the worry about her was overwhelming anything else.

But now that I know Sadie is going to be fine and just needs some sleep, I can’t handle being around Abi anymore.

“Stay, Flynn. You’ve been falling asleep half the night. Youwouldn’t let me drive when I was less tired than you are right now.”

I sigh. “Fine. Sadie’s room? Or the couch?”

“Sadie’s room is fine.” Abi’s face drops as some kind of realisation hits. “You’re going to sleep in there before she is.”

Oof. Sadie was supposed to be in there tonight, in the room Abi has carefully been putting together since she moved here. What a milestone.

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