Page 36 of Innocent Union
Killian looks between my mom and me. “I take it I’m not winning here. Fine, Mia. We can have the wedding how you want. I’ll just show up.” He leaves the room, and soon after, I hear the front door shut.
A sob escapes me before I can stop it.
“Oh, honey,” Mom says, soothing me as she pulls me into her arms. “It will be all right.”
I don’t believe her.
I’m not sure things will be all right at all.
CHAPTER 9
Killian
The day my brother died, I was in class. I was working on a project about dinosaurs (because what kid doesn’t love dinosaurs), and I didn’t think anything of it when the police showed up in the classroom.
I didn’t even notice them at first because I was too busy working. At ten years old, I was a single-minded kid.
My teacher went over to talk to the police, then came over to my table. “Killian, could you come with me, please?”
It was then I first felt fear.
I followed her down the hall and into the principal’s office, where they told me I needed to wait because my aunt would come to pick me up. I only saw my aunt at Christmas, so I was confused why she would come pick me up and not my mom.
“Am I in trouble?” I asked, glancing at the police.
“There’s been an accident,” my teacher, Miss Evans, said. “Your brother … he …”
“Is Finn ok? He was scared about a presentation he had to give. It was about sea lions.”
Miss Evans shared a look with the principal before turning to me. “He got hurt. He’s at the hospital now, and your mom is with him.”
My heart beat so fast, I couldn’t make sense of anything. “Hurt? How?”
The principal, Mrs. Clark, leaned forward. “He was walking up to give his presentation when he tripped, and …” She swallowed hard. I could see the way her throat moved. For some reason, I would never forget that. “He hit his head on one of the desks. His teacher called 9-1-1.”
“He hit his head?”
Miss Evans grabbed my hand. “I’m so sorry, Killian.”
“But I told him he’d be ok. That he had nothing to worry about today.”
“Sometimes,” Mrs. Clark said, “things happen for no reason. Your aunt will come pick you up and take you to the hospital. Hopefully, Finn will be all right.”
I waited a good hour before my aunt showed up. The entire time, my heart was pounding. I thought for a minute I was the one who was hurt. There was no way Finn could be hurt. I was supposed to protect him.
I even told not to trip and fall on his face. Did I cause it? Somehow?
When my aunt Sharon arrived, she told me she was taking me to my house.
“But I have to see Finn at the hospital,” I said as we walked to her car.
“No. Your mom wants you at home, so that’s where I’m taking you. Get in the car, Killian.”
I stopped at the passenger door, rooting my feet to the ground. “No. I won’t go with you until you take me to see Finn.”
“Just get in the car,” she said, getting in herself. “I’m just doing what your mom wants.”
I wanted to fight it. I wanted to run all the way to the hospital myself, but I had no clue how to get there.
