Karen steps into Xavier’s arms, and I watch him comfort her, shell-shocked. The contrast of how he spoke to Piper’s neglectful mother and how he spoke to me drives the knife home. I know more about Piper’s daily life than her mother does. I spend more time with the girl and am more involved with Piper than her mother is. Yet, I’m the one Xavier yells at? I’m the one he blames?
I know right then and there, it’s over between us.
When I left Bodhi, I swore I’d never let another man degrade my self-worth. Anger, I can accept. Fighting, I can deal with. Miscommunications, I’m all too willing to work on.
But this…no. Not this.
18
Xavier
When I release Karen, I glance over my shoulder for Chloe, but she’s gone.
Everything hits me at once—how worried I am about Piper, how pissed I am that I couldn’t see it coming, and yeah, that Chloe didn’t talk to me about her own suspicions. But that conversation got way out of hand. I wasn’t ready to see her, wasn’t ready to talk about it, and we both ended up fueling the anger.
What a goddamned mess.
I don’t have much time to think about it when someone else comes out of the OR. She’s tall and thin with a birdlike but pleasant face.
“Officer Wilde?” She offers her hand, and we shake. “I’m Doctor Macy.”
She turns to Karen. “Are you Piper’s mother?”
“I am. Please tell me she’s okay.”
“She’s okay.” She’s got a kind smile and a soft manner. “Piper is a very lucky girl. She damaged her vocal chords and her esophagus, but managed to miss her major vessels. She came through the surgery strong.”
Karen makes a sound and sags against me. The same relief flows through me, and I suddenly and fiercely wish Chloe were still here.
“We’d like to keep her a few days. But she’s young and healthy, and I don’t anticipate any issues.”
“Oh my God,” Karen says. “Thank you.”
“When can we see her?” I ask.
“She’s in the PACU until she comes out of the anesthesia, and then we’ll take her to a room. Grab food or coffee and call your loved ones. Someone will come out to tell you where she’s being moved.”
Karen and I thank the doctor, and as soon as she disappears behind the double doors, Karen pulls out her phone. “I have to call Henry. He’s going to be worried.” She wanders away and crosses one arm over her middle. “Hi, honey. Yes, she’s okay.”
Honey? Henry? I have no idea who she’s talking to. Last I heard, she was dating a guy named Glen, which was less than three months ago.
I’m suddenly exhausted. I lean my ass against the windowsill and try to soak in the relief. I need to call Chloe. I’m not sure if she’s going to be angry or hurt, but I shouldn’t have been the person to cause those emotions.
“She’ll have to stay in the hospital a few days,” Karen says, “but I can probably get back to work once she can go home.”
Anger creeps up my spine. Since Keith died, I’ve had countless conversations with Karen, all but begging her to put Piper closer to the top of her priority list. It’s been nothing but an uphill battle.
And I’m so done.
I push off the windowsill and stalk toward Karen, pulling up just short of running into her. Startled, she looks up.
“If you don’t make some significant changes,” I tell her while she’s still on the phone, “I’m going to not only report you to children’s services as a neglectful mother, I’ll sue for custody of Piper.”
Karen sputters. “Wha—what? Xavier—”
“I mean it.” I walk away from her and take the stairs to the bottom floor. In the lobby, I find Sergeant Lucero sitting in the lobby reading a magazine.
I wander that direction and sink into a chair across a table from him.