“We are?” she asked eagerly.
“Mmm…”
“Yay!” she shouted.
“Go on get your swimsuit and I'll go find mine."
Annie bounced off of the bed with excitement.
As I went to grab my trunks, I knew I couldn't force her to come out of her shell, but I had a feeling Hannah would get to her eventually. She had the kind of personality that was hard to resist. If it had worked on me, I was sure it would work on Annie.
Chapter Ten
Hannah
I packed my bag into the car before I went back to retrieve Annie. She was upstairs on the floor with one shoe on and the other still sitting five feet away from her. I already knew she didn't want to go to the doctor, but I didn't expect her to be so outspoken about it.
"Can you put on your other shoe, please? I put the first one on for you."
"No," she said as she tapped at the phone screen.
“Well, it’s not going to go on by itself,” I said and aimed a smile at her.
She ignored me.
My head started to hurt. She was the cutest little girl in the world but when she wanted to be cold, man was it freezing. I shook my head and tried a firmer approach. "Annie, seriously we have to go like right now, so we don't miss your appointment. Do you want me to help you put it on?"
"I don't want to go."
"I know you don't, but the doctor is important and they're going to make sure you're doing great. So, let's get that shoe on and get out of here. It'll be nice to get some air."
Annie looked directly at me and glared. "I don't want to go."
"I’m right here. There is no reason to yell," I said trying not to let my eye twitch.
“I’m not going and you can’t make me. You’re just a nanny. I wish you would go like all the others.”
"Well, I’m not leaving like all the others and you have to go to the doctor, so I'm just going to help you put this on." I grabbed the shoe so I could get her finished up and we could go.
As soon as I tried to slide it onto her foot, she shifted onto her knees and crawled away.
I sighed and went after her. "Annie, come on," I pleaded. "If you do this, we'll stop on the way back and get ice cream. How does that sound?"
"I don't want ice cream. I want to stay home."
"Well, unfortunately, that's not an option today," I said as I walked toward her with the shoe.
"I'm not going. You can go by yourself!"
"That's enough," I said evenly. "You know I usually wouldn't make you do anything you didn't want to do, but your dad wants you to go to the doctor and we're going. Now, sit down and put on these shoes," I said firmly.
"I hate you!" she snapped.
"Annie!" I called as she turned and ran out of the room. "Annie, wait," I shouted, but she was already out of the room.
Before I could chase her, I heard a loud shriek and a thud. I flew out into the hallway and saw her tumble down the last few steps then land at the bottom.
For a minute, we were both silent with shock, then she burst into a loud wail of fear and pain. I ran down the stairs almost tripping and falling myself before I dropped down next to her. My knees banged on the hardwood floors, but I barely felt it as I swiftly examined her body.
I couldn't see any blood or serious injury, so I pulled her into my arms as she sobbed her little heart out.
I buried my head in her hair and cried right along with her. My heart wouldn't stop hammering in my chest. "I'm so sorry," I whispered. "I'm so, so sorry. I shouldn't have pushed you so hard."
I felt horrible. Even if it was an accident, it was always hard to explain to a parent that you were the reason their child was hurt. I knew I had to get her to the doctor, but I felt like if I'd just taken a moment to slow down and take another approach, maybe she wouldn't have fallen.
Her arms wrapped around me and held me tight.
My eyes widened.
I cradled her in my hands and looked her over a second time. No bleeding, no bruises. It was a good thing she hadn't hit her head. I pushed hair out of her face. "Does anything hurt?"
Annie nodded her head lightly and pointed to her knee. "Just right here."
"Let me see it." I pushed up the pant leg of her jeans and examined the mark she had on her knee. It wasn't bad, but it was still there. I picked Annie up and carried her into the kitchen. Once she was comfortable, I grabbed an ice pack and a band aid then walked back over to the table. I quickly wiped my eyes and rubbed Annie's head.