Page 53 of Single Mom's Secret Diary
I vaguely track how he struggles with another big kid opposite him, but he ducks and drags and makes a shot. It doesn’t go in, but it’s a big improvement. Avery shoots to her feet and cheers. Charlie pumps his fist, and someone knocks into him, slamming him to the ice.
Then, he doesn’t get up. He hugs his arm, and Avery is pressing against the team box, shouting for them to let her see her son.
I’m behind her without thinking about it, grabbing her by the waist and speaking in her ear. “Let them look at him. They’ve got people here for exactly this. We’ll meet them in the locker room. Come on.”
Avery stiffens, but she lets me lead her back.
25
Avery
I’m panicking. Absolutely, heart-wrenching, I’m gasping for breath, panicking. Ezra’s arm guiding me is the only reason my feet are still under me.
Charlie’s been hit before. Knocked down. Bled. But he’s always gotten up after.
“Hey. He’ll be fine.”
Ezra’s voice breaks through, and I nod, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. He cups my face as I open them again.
“You ready?”
He’s so steady, calm. I place my hands over his and nod.
“Okay.” Ezra looks behind me, and I realize Dad has gathered up our things and followed. He’s as calm as Ezra, so I must be overreacting. I am. I know I am, but it’s so hard to stop.
I stuck in two deep breaths, and then we walk into the locker room. Charlie is sitting on a bench with the medic. A brace and ice are on Charlie’s arm, and they’re fitting him into a sling.
Covering my mouth, I pause to keep myself from crying. Charlie spots me and rolls his eyes.
“It’s just a broken arm, Mom. I’m okay.”
I give him a watery laugh.
“Did you see? I did the trick, and it worked.” His enthusiasm and bright spirit are keeping me together if only for the moment because we still have to take him to the hospital to get checked out. X-rays, a full cast, and pain. It’s going to come when the shock and adrenaline wear off.
Ezra is talking with the medic as I sit beside Charlie.
“You did an amazing job.”
“Mom. Why are you crying like I’m dying? I’m fine.” He looks absolutely aggravated with me.
“You broke your arm. It’s going to start hurting pretty soon. And we need to take you to the hospital.”
He sighs. “I know. But most of it got better after they set it.”
Ezra is shaking the medic’s hand and returning to me. “We’ll take my car. Come on.”
“What? Why?” I stand and meet Dad’s eyes. He shakes his head.
“It’s a smooth ride, less bumps to jar him.”
I don’t have it in me to fight with him about it, so I just nod and let him and my dad usher us out. I buckle Charlie in and hold him against me to keep him from sliding into the door on turns. Ezra’s gaze catches mine in the rearview mirror every time we stop.
It takes us twenty minutes to get to the ER, and it’s a longer wait inside. I’m pacing, trying to keep my temper in check as Ezra sweet talks to the nurses and Dad distracts Charlie. But we get a room in a few hours, and the nurses take Charlie off to get X-rays.
Ezra pauses next to the doorway, where we’re all hovering. “I’m going to go grab some coffee. I think we could use it.”
“Thanks.” My voice is far quieter than I’m used to because even though we’re in the middle of something big here—for me,for Charlie, for my dad—Ezra and I have something big going on, too. He’s been watching more closely since Charlie asked who he is to me.
