Page 10 of Finding English

Taking a second to compose himself, he looked around the crowded garden and saw Calder and Hope, the bump of her pregnant belly giving her a radiance that even he could see.

Making his way over, he stopped to greet the rest of his friends, all the while knowing exactly where Cassie was. It was as if some internal radar kept scanning for her so he always knew where she was.

“Calder, Hope.”

Hope smiled but stayed within her husband’s arms, her body leaning into his as if held there by an invisible magnet. Henry guessed it was because she was where she wanted to be. The path Hope had taken to get to Calder had been long and arduous, but she looked happy now, and his friend had never been so content. Love looked good on him, and Henry knew he wanted that for himself.

His eyes moved around the space, looking for the woman he thought might be that for him. At that moment, she glanced up from talking to Mackenzie and their eyes caught. It was as if a silent conversation took place. She wanted him; he could see by the covert looks she gave him that she liked him even, but she was afraid. He had the distinct feeling it was more than mere abandonment issues.

As the late afternoon moved into evening, he noticed Cassie avoided being alone with him, but stayed close within the group as they ate and chatted.

“Henry brought banana pudding lasagna.”

Milena placed the food he’d brought alongside the other desserts on a table in the shelter of the garden. Henry watched as Cassie smiled slowly before her eyes moved to his and she mouthed thank you. Contentment filled him at those two words, knowing he’d pleased her and done something to make her happy. He winked back at her, and she dropped her eyes shyly.

As everyone made their way to the table to get dessert, a scream rent the air, and everyone froze for a split second. His eyes moved quickly around the space looking for the source of the noise, but Cassie was already moving, spotting her daughter on the grass near the swing. Henry and Calder ran to them as Cassie bent over her crying child.

“Micky, baby, what happened?”

The child was holding her arm to her side as she cried big, wracking pain-filled sobs that broke his heart. “My arm hurts.”

Cassie went to lift her but Calder stopped her. “Let me check her head and neck first.”

“Micky, can you be really brave and tell us what happened?” Henry asked as he bent to look at the child as Calder touched his hand to her neck.

Big brown eyes full of tears looked up at him as she hiccupped a sob before speaking. “I was swinging weally high, and I took my hands off so I could fly, and I fell back, and my wings didn’t work.”

Henry looked at Calder as Cassie leaned down to kiss her daughter’s tears away and reassure her.

“Neck and head are fine.”

Henry turned to Cassie. “You can lift her onto your lap now.”

Cassie gathered her child into her arms and held her close, her arms tight as she stroked her hair and back, whispering soothing words in her ear.

Calder frowned. “She needs an x-ray, that arm looks broken.”

Henry turned to Cassie. “I can take you.”

“Thank you.”

The fact she didn’t fight him showed how worried she was for her child. Henry stood and helped Cassie up, taking the weight of Michaela as she did.

“Let me carry her for you.” Cassie resisted for a second, but he gently took Micky into his arms who cuddled against him immediately. “Keys are in my jacket over there. Grab them and we can get going.”

Cassie moved quickly as he headed for the door.

“Here, take this.” Milena placed a cuddly giraffe in his arms and Micky grabbed it and snuggled it in.

“Thanks.”

They reached his car, and Cassie opened the door for him.

“You get in, and I can pass her to you, so her arm stays steady.”

“She needs her booster, it’s in my car.”

Henry watched as Cassie rushed to her car, grabbing the booster covered in pink fairies and jogging back.

“Jump in and secure it and I’ll set her down.”

Cassie quickly did as he said, and he settled Micky before clipping the safety belt.

“You guys good?”

Cassie gave him a tremulous smile, and he saw her hand shaking as she brushed it over Micky’s hair.

“She’s going to be fine, Cass.” Her gaze didn’t meet his eyes. He wanted to get them to the hospital, so didn’t want to hang around, but he needed to reassure her. “Cassie, look at me.”

She raised her head to his, and he saw stark fear in her beautiful eyes.

“She’s going to be okay.”

Cassie offered him a small tilt of her lips and dipped her head. It wasn’t exactly a vote of confidence, but it would have to do for now.

He moved to the front, jumped in, and with a last look at a frightened Cassie in the rearview mirror, he was on his way. Something was going on with her. He couldn’t shake the feeling that this was more than fear for her child