Page 71 of Remember Me

Lifting Maddie off his shoulders and setting her down next to me, Finn hurries to Kayla’s aid. The two of us follow him.

“Are you okay?” he asks, his voice full of concern.

A dart of jealousy stabs me as Kayla massages her ankle. “Do you really have to ask?”

“Let me help you up.” He grabs Kayla’s hand and lifts her to her feet. She grimaces, her right foot unsteady.

“Can you walk?”

Holding onto Finn, she takes a step and, with a groan, almost crumples to the ground.

“Ugh! I think I’ve broken my ankle. I can’t put any pressure on it. I need to get medical attention immediately!”

Despair washes over Finn. “Guys, I think we need to end this day early. We’ve got to get Kayla to an emergency room.”

Disappointment sweeps over Maddie. Her lips quiver and tears brim in her eyes. “But Daddy, you promised I could pet the animals and ride in the tractor.”

“Sunshine, I’m sorry.” His voice sounds so sincere, so remorseful.

A fat tear rolls down Maddie’s cheek as she starts to cry. Her sobs pain me.

“What are you crying about, you little brat!” barks Kayla. “This is all your fault!”

“No, it’s not!” I bite back, lifting the sniffling, runny-nose little girl into my arms. “It was an accident.”

Kayla sneers at me and then turns to Finn. “You need to carry me to the car. Let’s get the hell out of this dump!”

The vision of Finn gallantly carrying his beautiful wounded princess in his arms sickens me. Before he can lift her into his arms, a cute elderly couple that was picking apples alongside us approaches him. They’re each carrying a bag full of fruit.

“Is everything all right?” asks the concerned, snowy-haired woman.

His face tense, Finn blows out a breath. “My fiancée tripped and hurt her ankle. We have to cut our apple-picking trip short so we can take her to an emergency room.”

The wife’s gaze moves to me, taking in the still wailing Maddie.

“I bet your little girl wants to stay.”

Finn’s voice softens. “She does. And it’s her birthday.”

“Aww!” sighs the lovely woman. “Happy Birthday, sweetie!”

“Thank you,” sniffles my little one, turning her head, her politeness filling me with pride.

With a warm, appreciative smile, the woman shifts her attention again to Finn. “I have an idea. My husband and I are about to leave. We’re driving back to Santa Monica. Is that by any chance close to where you live?”

Still nursing her foot and grimacing, Kayla cuts in before Finn can respond. “Jesus, Phineas, this is not the time to start up a conversation with some lowlife octogenarians you don’t know I’m in pain! Let’s go!”

Finn ignores her. His face brightens as he answers the woman’s question. “Yes! I live in Malibu.”

“Perfect! We can drop your fiancée off at St. John’s,” says the kindly, bespeckled husband.

St. John’s is one of LA’s top hospitals. Located near the beach, it’s not too far from either Kayla’s apartment or Finn’s house.

“Really?” asks a shocked Finn.

“Not a problem.”

“I’ll help my fiancée to your car.”

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