Page 77 of With a Cherry On Top

I pick up the phone, still half listening to Sadie telling Charlotte about her upcoming performance for “Mommy Day” in the other room.

“Hello?”

“Aaron—” My mother’s voice is tight, pained. “I need you to come over.”

A cold chill runs through me. “What happened?”

“I fell in the bathroom,” she says, and I hear her hiss through her teeth. “I can’t stand up. I think I might have twisted my ankle.”

Shit.

I grip the phone tighter, already moving toward the living room. “Is Darren not home?”

“He’s out of town.”

Shit, shit, shit.

“Can you put weight on it?” I ask as I join Sadie’s side.

“I haven’t tried,” she says, voice strained. “But it hurts like hell.”

“Okay, stay put. I’m coming.” I hang up, then turn to Sadie. “Baby, Grandma had a little accident. I have to go help her.”

Her face scrunches in worry. “Is she okay?”

“She will be.” I press a quick kiss to her forehead. “But I need you to be a big girl for me, okay?”

Her bottom lip juts out, her small hands gripping my shirt. “I’ll come with you.”

I lead her toward the front entrance. “No, I’m gonna drop you off at the Millers’ next door and you’ll wait for Daddy to be back.” I hold out my hand, waiting for her to give me my phone. “Come on. Let’s go.”

“But I don’t like the Millers! Their ugly dog always barks at Mollie!” She stomps a foot against the hardwood.

I don’t have time for this. My mother is alone, hurt, and Darren isn’t there to help. Every second I waste is another second she’s sitting there in pain.

“Sadie—” I reach for the phone, but she yanks it close to her chest, her eyes pleading now.

“Please, Daddy! I want to stay with Charlotte.”

There’s a rustle on the other end before I can get a word in, then Charlotte’s voice comes through the speaker. “Is everything okay?”

“My mom fell.” I try to push down the panic pressing against my ribs. “She must have twisted her ankle or something. I need to?—”

“I’ll be right there.”

I blink. Is she...“I’m leaving Sadie with the neighbors. You don’t have to?—”

“No, no! I want to stay with Charlotte.” Sadie tugs at my shirt again. “Please, Daddy! Can I?Please?”

“Leave Sadie with the neighbors,” Charlotte says. “I’ll pick her up in ten minutes.”

I swallow hard, torn between wanting to argue and knowing I don’t have time. “I...Charlotte, you don’t have to do this. I can manage.”

“I know you can.” There’s a quiet beat. “But you don’t have to.”

I squeeze my eyes shut. I should tell her this isn’t her problem. That she doesn’t need to get tangled up in our mess. That Sadie is already attached, and I can’t risk this getting any more complicated.

That I’m experiencing the same issue.

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