look was putting more dents in my armor. Mentally punching them out, I crossed the room and set her bags on the table in the corner. With a flick of my eyes, I saw she was still looking at me. She was weary, worried. I felt compelled to reassure her. “It’s okay, Elle, she’ll be safe in there. I promise.”
Elle was exhausted, I could tell. The circles under her eyes weren’t the only sign. I could see it not only in the way she looked but the way she moved. Possibly realizing I was assessing her state of duress, she dropped her gaze and attempted to push the stroller across the plush carpet. When she couldn’t, she gingerly bent down to pick up Clementine, but just as she was about to scoop her up she stiffened and winced, her hand reaching for her back.
She was hurt.
Fuck me.
Not being able to stand the thought of her in pain, my feet moved like lightning to where she was standing. “Here, let me,” I said, and without really thinking it through, I picked up the sleeping baby girl. But once she was in my arms, I started to panic. I’d never held a baby before. I wasn’t sure what to do. She was lighter than I would have thought. And so much more fragile than anyone should be.
My uncertainty was rising.
And like an idiot, I just stood here.
“Is that the bedroom?” Elle pointed.
“Yeah,” I breathed, trying to keep my shit together.
What had happened to her?
Elle walked into the room and turned the lamp on.
My feet moving on their own, I followed her.
Standing stiffly, she pulled back the covers and placed pillows on each side, leaving an opening in the middle.
“Here?” I bobbed with my head toward the gap.
“Yes, this way she won’t roll off.”
Roll off!
Fuck.
I carefully set the sleeping baby where I was instructed. I sighed in relief once she was safely out of my arms, but I couldn’t stop staring at her. She was a beautiful little thing.
Elle pulled the covers over her and made sure the pillows were secure. “Let me just get her blanket and see if I can find Rosie.”
I followed her out of the bedroom and watched her rummage through one of the bags. “Rosie?”
She glanced up. “It’s a large silver rattle shaped like an elephant’s face that dangles from a red ribbon. For some reason she’s attached to it.”
With that, I turned back to what had been eating at me. “What happened to your back?” I asked, unable to wait one minute longer to find out.
I had all kinds of things running through my mind.
She pulled a few items out of her bag. “I tripped on a step. I’m fine, really.”
Irritated at her cavalier attitude, I snapped, “When did this happen?” I wasn’t sure she was telling me the truth.
“Just before I came here,” she told me.
My eyes scanned the length of her body, looking for further injuries. I was forced to stop when she found what she needed, because she turned and headed back into the bedroom and out of my sight.
Not knowing what to do, I picked up the phone and dialed room service.
“How can I help you tonight?” the voice answered.
“Can I get a bucket of ice, some bottles of water, and a burger and fries?”
Elle came out of the room and pulled the door partially closed.
“How would you like the burger cooked, sir?” the operator asked.
“Medium.”
I wasn’t sure if she’d eaten, but I knew she needed ice.
“We’ll send it up,” the operator said.
“Oh, and can you send a few cartons of milk?” Babies drink milk, or most do, I thought. I hung up, then looked over at Elle, who was searching her bag. “Does Clementine drink milk?”
She gave me a small smile. “Yes, she does. But she should be out for the night.”
“I’ll put it in the refrigerator then, just in case.”
She nodded and went back in the bedroom. I felt like she was gone for hours before she emerged and carefully took a seat on the sofa.
I wasted no time. “How about you tell me what’s going on?” I tried to keep my voice down.
“It’s probably nothing,” she answered.
I sat on the sofa—not too close, but not that far away. “Tell me what happened. Where is O’Shea?”
She took a pillow and placed it behind her back. “Michael called me late this afternoon. He got called to New York City. Something last minute. It’s not unusual.”
“The fucker left you alone with the baby?”