Page 75 of Hearts on the Mend

That makes two of us.

“Hey,” I say, kneeling down to get her attention.

Ruby pulls her face away, but I nudge the underside of her chin with my hand. When she finally meets my stare, her eyes are rimmed red. “I’m okay.”

My throat swells. “It’s okay to cry, baby. That never means you’re not tough.”

“Nollie says crying makes you feel better.”

I glance up at the ceiling, fighting back my own tears. Shit, I’ve really fucked things up. “Well, he’s right. Now,” I say, reaching around her for the furry rainbow cat winter hat on the radiator and pulling it down over her head, “we had a bump in the road this morning, but it’s not going to ruin the whole day.”

“I get to come to the hospital with you? I can be a good nurse.”

“Sorry, no visitors allowed for me. I have another idea.”

I shoo her toward the door and lock up, hating that there’s not a light on when I leave. Usually, Nolan is up working by now. He’s a morning bird, unlike me, who needs the promise of a vat of caffeine to cosplay as a functioning adult. It feels weird, empty even, with him not there as I look behind us.

Ruby jumps into the Jeep and buckles herself in as I press my phone to my ear and climb in, taking another steadying breath. I don’t have time to wait, so here’s hoping this works.

“Cassie, so good to hear from you. What’s going on this morning?”

I can almost hear the similarity in his voice to his son.

“Plans fell through, and I could use some help watching Ruby today, Mr. Murphy.”

We meet Richie on the way to the hospital.

Ruby bails on me the second Richie climbs out of his truck with a box of Munchkins—all blueberry cake—her favorite. Jack hops out of the passenger side and opens the rear door, revealing a car seat, installed correctly, of course.

“Not willing to piss off my brother today,” he says with a grin.

I don’t have time to ask more, and honestly, the guilt swimming in my gut is enough as it is.

“Mom’s back at the house with Izzy, and they brought out the craft supplies. She’s going to be fine.”

Ruby’s caught Richie’s ear, telling him the same dream as she climbs in. I barely get a wave as I pull off. It’s a cold, gray morning. Uneventful for… shit, tomorrow’s Valentine’s Day. I don’t have time now, but I’ll need to make a card for Ruby and buy her a small box of chocolates.

I slow down as I spot it. It legitimately feels like my soul leaves my body when Matt climbs out of his SUV in front of the coffee shop and walks around to open the door for a blonde in big black sunglasses and a North Face jacket.

Busy?

That motherfucker.

I pull into an open space and hit record on my phone as I jump out and confront them on the sidewalk.

“Something came up?” I ask.

Matt rolls his eyes. “Oh, this is fucking perfect, Cass. You’ve lost your mind.”

“You’re not the one always explaining to our daughter that her dad can’t keep a promise. You never show up for her.”

“Thought you were going to be late for work” is all he says before he whispers to the blonde, who slips by and escapes into the coffee shop.

“I am late for work because you canceled five minutes after you were supposed to be at my house picking up Ruby. I can’t rely on you, and you’re teaching her the same thing. It’s not fair. To either of us.”

“Turn off the camera, Cassie, and we can talk.”

I shake my head, my heart drumming in my ears. “No, we can have this conversation like this.”