Flawed Heart: House Of Obsidian - Bella Jewel Page 0,49
of her dad. The thought of this being their first official meeting scares me, but I have no choice. I just hope Max says yes.
Before I manage to make the call, the ambulance arrives. I quickly tell them what’s happening, trying to fight back my tears as they work on Mom, who is struggling to breathe. I choke back a sob and take my daughter away, because she’s become frantic again. I sit her on the bed, away from the horrible scene before her.
“I’m going to call my special friend Max, okay?”
She nods, swiping her tears.
I find Max’s number and dial. I don’t expect him to answer, but when he does, I sigh with relief.
“Anabelle.”
I try to find my words and make them clear, but they come out muffled and choked. “Max, I need your help.”
“What’s going on?” he asks, his voice holding a concerned edge.
“It’s Mom; she’s so sick. The ambulance is here to take her, but . . .”
“Fuck, is she okay?”
“No, Max,” I whisper. “My sister is out of town and Pippa is away with Tyke . . . Immy . . . she’s really upset.”
He goes silent.
“I wouldn’t call if I wasn’t desperate, Max. You know I wouldn’t . . . This isn’t how I wanted this to go. I know I promised you that you could make the choice, but she’s hysterical. She can’t witness this. I have no one else I trust.”
“You trust me?” he says, his voice thick.
“You and I might have our issues, but I know you’d never let anyone hurt her, even if you don’t know her.”
“That’s just the problem, Anabelle.” Him calling me that is like a cold slap to the face. “She doesn’t know me.”
“I’ve explained that you are going to look after her, and she’s okay with that.”
“Fuck, I don’t know about this . . .”
“Max, please,” I sob. “You’re the only person I can turn to.”
“Miss?”
I spin around to see an ambulance officer at the door. “We’ve got your mom stable, but we need to get her to the hospital urgently. Are you riding with her?”
“I . . . I have a daughter,” I croak. “I’ll have to follow.”
He nods and tells me which hospital they’re going to.
“Jesus,” Max says. “Fuck, okay, I’m on my way.”
“Thank you.”
I hang up and turn to Immy, who is watching the space where the officer was standing. “Is Nanna going to die, Mommy?”
“Oh baby.”
I walk over and scoop her into my arms. She doesn’t really understand death, but she knows something is wrong. I stroke her soft locks, soothing her. I sit on the bed and rock her, talking gently to her. I don’t notice that Max has entered the house, or that he’s standing in the doorway watching us until Immy says, “Mommy, there’s a man there. Is that your special friend?”
I jerk my head up and see him standing, staring down at Imogen. His eyes are intense and he looks hurt.
“Yes,” I whisper, standing and placing her down. I lead her over until we stop in front of him. “Imogen, this is my friend Max.”
Immy looks up at him, and so much emotion explodes in my chest as he watches her, his face softening with every passing second. Finally, he kneels and stares at her, and when he speaks his voice is thick with emotion. “Hey there, kiddo, how you doin’?”
She smiles shyly. “I’m okay. My nanna is sick.”
He nods. “That’s not good, is it?”
She shakes her head. “Mommy said you will let me watch Despicable Me if I stay with you while she helps Nanny.”
“I think we can work something out.”
Max looks up at me, and his eyes are glassy with emotion. I’m crying hard, so I turn and press my hand over my nose to stop the sting. I try to gather myself enough to face this, but it’s the worst time. I wanted them to meet on different terms, but I have been left with no choice.
“I’ll take care of her,” Max says, his voice close.
I turn and he’s come up so close I can see his chest. I take a step back and look up at him. “I believe that.”
He leans down close, bringing his lips close to my ear. “She’s fucking perfect. That’s all on you.”
My tears come harder again and I turn away, not able to cope right now. I squat in front of Immy. “I want you to be a good girl for Max, okay? I’ll bring you your favorite cupcake on