Page 106 of The Apple Tree

“Of course,” Anne said, resting her hand on my shoulder.

“Did Fred give you any details? My dad was vague.”

Anne snagged her purse up off the railing and slid the strap over her shoulder before tucking her short blond curls behind her ear. “He just said he broke his arm.” She glanced past me to see if Josh was near the screen door. “The bone was sticking out from the skin. Fred got nauseous looking at it, so he offered to run and call for help while your dad stayed with Kyle.”

I was nauseous, too, but hid it with a clenched jaw and a tiny nod.

She started down the stairs.

“Can he walk?” I asked.

Anne turned, brow tense.

I shrugged. “My friend’s uncle fell from a tree while hunting, and he’s in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. It was a spinal cord injury.”

Worry claimed her brow in tiny lines. “I think so, but I didn’t ask. I’ll call you.”

“Thanks,” I murmured.

I staredat the phone while Josh ate dinner, and after we played with Clifford and took him outside to go potty, we read a bedtime story.

“When’s Daddy coming home?” Josh interrupted in the middle of the book. He was tucked under my arm, so I kissed the top of his head.

“When he’s feeling a little better. The doctors are working to get him better. But it won’t be tonight.”

“Are you staying with me?”

“I’m staying until your aunt and uncle get home.”

“I want you to stay until Daddy comes home. So does Clifford.”

The puppy raised his head at the end of the bed as if he recognized his name.

It didn’t take much to melt my already fragile heart. “Okay,” I whispered before resuming the story.

When he fell asleep, I returned to the kitchen with Clifford and stared at the phone again. I wanted to call Erin but couldn’t be on the line if Anne or my mom tried to call with an update. The waiting gutted me.

Two soft taps brought my attention to the back door. I jumped out of the kitchen chair to open it.

“Hey,” Erin said, wrapping her arms around me while Clifford jumped up on her legs. “I didn’t want to knock at the front door and wake Josh.”

I stepped back. “How did you find out?”

“Gabby called me.” Erin squatted to pet the excited puppy. “She didn’t know if you’d told me, but she thought you could use a friend.”

Gabby came through for me. It made me feel a little guilty for stealing her crush.

I blinked back my tears for two seconds.

“Oh, Eve.” She stood and hugged me again as I fell to pieces.

“No-nobody has c-called. I d-don’t know if he’s okay.”

“My mom’s friend Charity works at the hospital, and the last she heard, he was still in surgery. But he’ll be fine. Charity said his arm took the brunt of the fall.”

I released her and sniffled while nodding. “His sister-in-law said the bone was sticking out of his skin.”

Erin grimaced. “Well, that’s probably why it’s a long surgery.”

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