Page 61 of Night By Night
“No.” Hank shook his head. “No, I’m going tomorrow.” He pulled out his phone. “I’ll call my boss and tell him I need the day off.”
Dox reached out and covered Hank’s phone with his hand. “I’m still taking her to the appointment tomorrow,” he gently said, “and I’m still taking care of the bill. If you want to come with us, okay, but understand,thisis how itwillbe tomorrow.I’mhandling everything. Okay?I’min charge. I won’t accept no for an answer, buddy. Either you go to work and let me take her, or you ride with me, but I’m not arguing with you about this.”
He stared into Dox’s brown gaze. Tonight it looked like chocolate and dark coffee depths, intense, resolute.
He knew that look all too well—that was Dox’s take-no-shit, non-negotiable look. He’d been the recipient of it countless times when they were kids, and every time, he’d always given in to Dox and done what he said.
Always to Hank’s benefit. He’d never regretted it after the fact, even if he’d argued with Dox before giving in.
Hank finally nodded. “I’ll ride with you.”
“Okay.” He moved his hand, and Hank could barely believe the words coming out of his mouth as he quickly explained to Ken Listley what was going on.
Once that was done, he started for the kitchen doorway because he wanted to put eyes on JJ and reassure himself she was okay. His pulse had started pounding, his head spinning during the phone call to his boss, panic threatening.
But a hand clamped down on his arm. When he looked he saw Dox standing there, immovable.
“Stop,” Dox softly said. “Take a deep breath. Don’t go in there all panicked and scaring her. She’s okay. The doctor and I talked to her.”
“But—”
“Do.Not. Scare. Her.” His steady gaze bored into Hank. “She handled the blood draw and finger-sticks today like a champ.”
“She always was okay with needles,” he mumbled. “Nurses always said she was the calmest kid ever for her shots.”
“Okay, then. We told her if it is that, then she’ll need medicine that will make her feel better again. She actuallywantsthe tests tomorrow. She knows it’ll be uncomfortable, but shewantsto feel better. She knows something’s wrong. She’s a smart kid.”
* * * *
Maddox knew this was difficult for Hank and had tightly reined in his own emotions. Was he scared?
Fuckyeah, he was. He also knew if he showed the slightest fear that Hank would freak the fuck out, and then JJ would pick up on that.
He had to be Hank and JJ’s rock right now.
He pulled Hank in for a long hug. “Just breathe, buddy. We’ll take care of her. That’s what family does.”
Except an idea had already started to form in his brain. Once they confirmed or ruled out the diagnosis tomorrow, he could take his next step. One he wasn’t sure how Hank would react to.
One he felt like a gigantic fucking asshole for almost being…eagerto implement.
After he released Hank, he followed him down the hall to JJ’s room, where Hank took a deep breath before opening her door and going in.
She opened her eyes. “Hi, Daddy.”
Maddox hung back in the doorway, watching as Hank knelt next to her bed and leaned in to kiss her forehead. “Hey, sweetheart. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you this afternoon.”
“It’s okay. Uncle Dox took care of me. We told them he’s my step-dad.”
Maddox remained quiet and carefully watched Hank for any sign he was going to freak out so he could step in and take over if he did.
“He kinda is, isn’t he?” Hank said as he stroked her forehead. “I’m going to take off from work tomorrow and go with you and Dox to the appointment. I want to talk to the doctor myself.”
“He said it might be die beetles.”
Maddox couldn’t hold back his snort. “Diabetes.”
“I don’t want to miss gymnastics tomorrow,” she groused. “We’re supposed to start learning balance beam.”
