The Military Wife (A Heart of a Hero, #1)(83)

“I’ll drive.”

She pulled back. “Are you sure? I thought you had to work tomorrow?”

“I’ll call Andrew in to open the store. You’re more important.”

She buried her face in his neck so he wouldn’t see how much his declaration meant.

“You ready to tell Libby and Ryan?” he asked while rubbing circles on her back.

“Yep.” At least this was one tragedy she could spare the kids. Maybe Sophie’s recovery would spur the mending of Darren and Allison’s marriage.

When they heard the good news, Ryan whooped and ran circles around Harper and Bennett while Libby only smiled, but she skipped next to Jack London on the way back to the house.

The next hour was a flurry of activity as everyone showered off the salt and sand and gathered up items that had migrated all over the house.

Harper’s mom gave each kid an enveloping hug along with a paper-bag lunch. She pressed a larger bag into Harper’s hands. Harper rolled her eyes toward Bennett, who stooped to give her mom a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks, Gail.”

Her mom patted his arm. “I put in an extra oatmeal cookie for you, Bennett. Don’t let Harper steal it.”

“Hey!” Harper’s protest lacked heat. Seeing her mom and Bennett interact settled a warm fist around her heart.

Ben blocked the door, his bottom lip pouched out. “I wanna come, too.”

Harper dropped to one knee to put them at eye level. “We’re going to the hospital, pumpkin. It won’t be any fun.”

“You’re always leaving me behind with Yaya.”

Harper sent a panicked look toward Bennett and her mom. She couldn’t even argue the point, because since meeting Bennett and working to get the coffee business off the ground she had been leaving Ben more often. Guilt sprouted like a pervasive weed that was impossible to eradicate.

Bennett knelt next to her. “Someone has to take care of Jack London while we’re gone. I was counting on you, big guy.”

“You want me to feed him?” Ben’s voice lost some of its waver.

“Feed him, walk him, and”—Bennett leaned closer and whispered, “pick up his poop.”

Ben made an eww noise, but the hint of a smile snuck back on his face. “I can do that.”

Bennett stood and ruffled Ben’s hair. “I know you can.”

Harper drew Ben in for a hug. He laid his head on her shoulder and she took a deep breath, drawing in his distinctive little-boy smell to take with her. “I’ll miss you every minute I’m gone, but I’ll be home soon. Promise. Take care of Jack and Yaya, okay?”

His arms tightened around her neck to the point of being uncomfortable. Not that she planned to complain. How much longer would he freely give her hugs? While time could heal, it also meant growing up and change.

Disentangling herself from Ben and walking away was like leaving him the first day of preschool. Out of her arms, he retreated to hold her mom’s hand. She gave her mom a quick hug and kiss and followed Bennett to his truck before her sappy tears had a chance to make an appearance.

The kids were already in the backseat with everyone’s bags stored in the bed. Jack’s deep-chested bark from the front window was like a hammer to her already-fragile emotions. Bennett didn’t speak as he steered them down the road, but he took her hand in his and linked their fingers. His steadiness in turn steadied her.

The drive seemed to take forever, yet as they pulled in to the hospital parking lot she searched for the right words to prepare Libby and Ryan.

Turning, she laid her arm over the backs of the seats. “Guys, I’m not sure how tired your mom and dad and Sophie will be or if Sophie will even be up to talking at this point.”

“Are the tubes all gone?” Libby’s gaze was fixed out the window at the hospital, her voice flat and emotionless.

“Probably not. The doctors will still need to monitor her.”

“Do you think her hair has grown back?” Ryan perched on the edge of the seat, ready to go.

“That’s going to take a while, I’m afraid.”

“I wonder if she knows yet,” Libby said.

“Knows what?” Harper tensed.

“That her hair is gone. She wanted to grow it out like Rapunzel. She’s going to be really sad.”

“Then you’ll have to do your best to cheer her up, won’t you?”

Libby gave a brusque nod, and Harper fought not to reach for her. Libby’s stoicism didn’t mean she didn’t care; it meant she cared so much she was overwhelmed.

“Listen, guys, everything might be different for a while, but it will be okay. Not today. Maybe not even next week. But eventually. Can you trust me on that?”

Libby finally met her eyes. “Promise?” she whispered so softly, only the movement of her lips revealed the word.

“I promise.” Harper didn’t let her own roiling emotions waver her voice or her gaze.

Libby’s shoulders fell an inch, a portion of her anxiety appeased. “I’m ready.”

They piled out and made their way to the children’s floor. Harper led them through the halls to Sophie’s room. It didn’t look much different except for one huge exception: Sophie was propped up and her eyes were open.

“L-Libby.” Sophie’s voice was hesitant and stuttered a little, but her arms flew up and she made grabby hands toward her sister.