Page 35 of Stone Heart

“I thought…” Dan stammers. “I didn’t know.” He looks around, dragging a hand through his hair as he holds Grace tightly to his chest.

Cam runs over. “Dan, it’s okay.”

“What do you mean, ‘Dan, it’s okay.’ It is not!” I shout. “He pushed her over!” I lower Beau and give Emily a hug, who’s crying.

“I was just taking her back to them.” She stumbles over the words, shaking.

“You did nothing wrong,” I say and glare at both men watching close by. “What the hell is wrong with you? She was bringing Grace to you!”

“I'm sorry. I didn’t know it was you.” Dan clears his throat. Grace and Beau are tearful, and I can’t even rationalise what happened. Jeremy appears and Cam snorts in distaste.

“Oh, shut up!” I snap at him, and his eyes widen. “You two have fucking anger problems!” I growl.

“Swear jar,” Grace whispers softly.

“Sorry,” I mutter and scoop Beau back up.

“My car is just up the road. Go get your things and we can get her to the hospital,” Jeremy suggests.

“I don’t think it is that bad.” Cameron tries to placate us all. Nadine steps up, curling her hand around his arm.

“You probably just twisted it,” she offers and pecks Cam’s cheek.

“I didn’t twist anything. I was pushed!” Emily snaps. “Jeremy, hospital would be good.”

“Emily, I'm sorry I thought… I didn’t mean to hurt you,” Dan admits, rubbing Grace's back protectively.

“Well, you did,” I huff. “Em, I’m going to get our things. Are you okay?” She nods, but tears are running down her cheeks.

“Drama queen,” Nadine mutters, and we all snap to her. Her cheeks redden and Dan tells her to be quiet. I'm ready to slap this woman.

“We’ve got it, thanks,” I grind out as Dan leans to help, and I glare hotly at Cam. I wait for them all to step away and sag when they begin to make their way back to their own seats.

“I won’t be a sec. Beau, sit here with Emily. Give her a big hug for me.” I smile at my friend and rush back to our seats, shoving everything into any bag. Jeremy is already helping her up when I get back. “Beau, carry this, please.” I hand her a blanket and quickly make my way over to Jeremy’s car.

“It’s open,” he calls from behind me. I flip the boot and shove everything in before I help Beau, then Emily in.

Once we are all seated, Emily looks over her shoulder at me. “What the hell just happened?” she whispers tearfully.

Chapter Twelve

Cameron

“I'm going to the hospital,” Dan announces, grabbing Grace’s belongings up off of the grass. His daughter is gripping around his neck for dear life. She’s as spooked by his meltdown as half of Richmond. Hell, I'm shaking. If Mel got her hands on Grace, we’d never see her again, and god knows what kind of life she would be subjected to. Mel had been a one-night stand and Dan had tried to do the right thing. Their relationship progressed due to the pregnancy, but over the course, Dan had become concerned about Mel and her drinking. She would disappear for days on end and show up still drunk. He’d tracked her parents down and discovered that Mel had a history of substance abuse and mental health problems. When he tried to break things off after she had left Grace unattended all day, she tried to drive her car in the lake, with Grace inside.

So whilst everyone is eyeballing Dan, he and I are suffering with the same rush of fear at losing Grace to her psycho mother. He mentioned that Emily was similar in build and stature to Mel, and it was weird for him. It was for me too when he brought it to my attention, and I can imagine in the dark it would be hard to differentiate both women.

“She will be fine.” Nadine rolls her eyes and Dan gives me a pointed look. Great. Tension is running thick, and by the look of my best mate's veins, he’s ready to burst a vessel.

“Nadine, cut it out,” I murmur and rub her back to soften the blow.

“What?” she snaps round, affronted. “She will be fine, though,” she affirms, looking at us both. “Even if she has broken it, it will heal, and shewillbe fine.”

“Broken? You think I broke it?” Dan swings to her. “Cam, I thought…” He goes ashen. He drops a couple of bits, then stumbles to pick them back up.

“I know, it’s okay. Here, let me take Grace.” I pull her, but she clings to her dad and screams. “Or not.” I hold my hands up.

“Can you help me?” Dan asks, trying to shove a blanket in a bag. “I can’t even think straight.” He chokes, gripping onto Grace tightly.

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