A Humble Heart (Hollywood Hearts #1)(103)

“No!” he heard Dana scream. “No!”

“Dana!” he yelled. He stumbled to his feet and pushed past the doctor and the curtain.

Dana was in the middle of the emergency room, on her hands and knees sobbing hysterically. A doctor was bent over her trying to soothe her. Someone was dead. He stumbled over to her and pushed the doctor’s arm away from her. He took her into his arms. She latched onto him tightly.

He looked at the doctor. “Which of my children is dead?” his hoarse voice broke several times.

The doctor looked like he aged a hundred years in the last few minutes. “Neither. Brett McCain has passed away.”

Dana squeezed her arms around him tighter. She sobbed into his neck. A huge part of him sighed inwardly with relief. Then the sense of loss hit him. Brett was dead. He was a good friend and part of the family. He'd protected his wife and children on a daily basis.

“Your children are going to be fine, Mr. Pierce. A concussion, broken bones, cuts and minor internal bleeding, but I believe they will make a full recovery. I’m sorry about your loss,” he said softly and walked away.

“Oh god, Brett,” Edward mumbled. He began sobbing against her shoulder. They held each other for several minutes, ignoring the world around them.

“Mommy! Daddy!” Elizabeth screamed. Cole joined in.

They wiped their faces and held onto each other to stand up. Dana took his hand and led him to their children. She pulled back a curtain to see Elizabeth sitting up. Her arm was being set in a cast. She had a nasty looking cut above her eye and she was crying.

Dana pulled the curtain on her right open, revealing Cole lying with his arm and leg being placed in a cast. “Thank God,” Edward murmured. He leaned down and kissed his daughter.

“How are you, baby girl?”

“It hurts, Daddy!” Elizabeth cried.

“I know, baby. I’m just so glad you kids are okay.”

“Daddy, you’re crying!” Elizabeth gasped.

Dana moved over to Cole and kissed him as he looked at his father with quiet desperation. He was waiting for his father there was no question about that. Edward stepped over to his bedside and kissed him repeatedly. Dana moved to Elizabeth’s bed and held her good hand while the cast dried.

The kids were both asleep within a half hour. The doctor promised it was a side effect of the pain killers and not an indicator for something serious. They both sighed with relief when they heard that.

Edward closed the curtains in front, but left the middle one open so the kids could be together. He took Dana’s hand and led her outside the curtain. He pulled her into a hug. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I would never put the kids in jeopardy.”

“I know,” she said against his chest.

“They attacked me in the donut shop. I left and got in the car. I pulled out and they peeled out and chased us. We got through the light and they decided to speed through the red light and the crossing traffic. They lost control and slammed into us. I tried to grab the kids, but I couldn’t in time. There wasn’t even any space in front to get away from the cars. I am so sorry!”

“Stop that!” she said fiercely. “You didn’t do this! It’s not your fault!”

“Dana-”

She took his face firmly in her hands and looked him in the eyes. “You did not do this! You didn’t ask for this! They had no right touching you or plowing through that intersection. They killed Brett, not you! And it’s because of them that two of our children are here, not you!”

He nodded weakly. “You’re going to leave me now….. I’m so afraid of losing you and the kids. How can you stay with me when I put us all in danger?”

She kissed him gently. “I am never going to leave you, Edward. I love you. There is nothing in the world that would make me want to leave you. You aren’t putting anyone in danger. It’s not your fault if people think they own you, do you understand me?”

“Yes. I just…..I feel like you and the kids would have been better off if you had never met me,” Edward said.

She laughed softly against him. “That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Edward, you are our family. You’re what makes us happy and whole. You need to realize we had nothing before you, you are everything to us.”

He kissed the top of her head. “You really don’t regret marrying me?”

“No, and I never will. I love you, Edward, and the kids love you.” Dana pulled back to look in his eyes. He kissed her softly.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Pierce, but I really need to get you stitched up,” a young doctor said. Edward reluctantly nodded.

“Do you want me to go with you?” Dana asked.

He chuckled softly. “No, sweetheart, you’ll only pass out.”

“Okay, I’m going to check on the kids one more time then I’m going out to the waiting room. I’m sure Amy and your parents are beside themselves right now.”

“Good idea,” Edward agreed and walked back to his bed with the doctor beside him.

Dana looked over her sleeping children for a few minutes, noting all the cuts and bruises that were now visible on their little bodies. Even asleep they looked very uncomfortable. Elizabeth had bruises up the left side of her body as well as several long cuts that were now stitched up. The left side of her face was swollen and bruised as well. Dana guessed this was where the car was impacted. She was beyond lucky that her children and husband survived.