thought she wanted to speak to Rachel and made the call. Rachel hadn’t answered, and it gave Angie a chance to ask the judge how Hardy was doing.
That was when she’d learned that he was engaged and planning a Christmas wedding. The man had been thrilled that Hardy had met the perfect woman for him. She would be an asset to his burgeoning political career.
Angie had been devastated, and Dennis had been there to console her. When he’d offered to marry her, she’d accepted. It had been a way out. She wouldn’t have to face her mother or the gossip. How weak she’d been. Goose bumps popped up on her arms and a chill ran through her. She’d made so many mistakes. The burden of them would always be with her.
Lost within herself, she hadn’t even noticed a nurse was talking to Hardy. That was typical. Women were drawn to him.
She cleared her throat. “Do you have papers for me to sign?”
“Oh.” The nurse thrust the clipboard at her. “Read and sign at all of the marked x’s.”
Angie sat in one of the chairs, read and signed the papers, very aware that Hardy was watching her.
Handing the clipboard back, she asked, “Do you know if they’ve started the surgery?”
The nurse shook her head. “I just deal with the paperwork.”
“Thank you.”
The nurse looked at Hardy, then walked out.
It wasn’t the time to shatter his world, and Angie didn’t know if she had the strength to tell him now. Or in the future. She had to keep her focus on Erin. But later, when Erin was better, she would pull the Band-Aid off her heart and open it up to whatever came next.
Just like years ago, it would take all the courage she had, even take a part of her stubborn pride, but it had to be done. Hardy had missed ten years of Erin’s life, and he would never forgive her for that. Somewhere in that maze of emotions, though, they had to find a way to get along—for their child.
Hardy eased into the chair next to her. A light, musky scent reached her, and she resisted the urge to move away. In jeans, boots and a pristine white shirt, he was as handsome as ever. In the old days, looking at his long legs and broad shoulders would send her heart soaring to the heavens faster than the speed of light. Now her heart was numb. Maybe because she was looking at him through the eyes of her conscience.
“I was talking to the nurse about Dr. Robbins. She said he’s a very good pediatric orthopedic surgeon, so you don’t have anything to worry about. Your daughter’s going to be fine. Maybe a little bruised, but fine.”
She looked into the dark blue eyes of the man she had loved deeply, or thought she had. Oddly, today she only saw a man she’d hurt. She swallowed. “Her name is Erin.”
“What? Oh. That’s pretty.”
God, she couldn’t believe he didn’t know Erin’s name. Suddenly ten years of keeping a secret felt like a boulder on her chest. How did she make this right? Could she make it right? There had to be an answer somewhere.
“I’ll pay for anything she needs,” he offered.
“I have good insurance.” She started to say it wasn’t any of his concern, and she began to think that maybe she was the one who’d received the bump on the head. Unexpectedly, she saw herself as a woman she didn’t like. A woman who kept secrets. A woman who’d lied.
Bile rose up in her throat.
“Are you okay?” He reached out to touch her and she jerked back.
“Don’t touch me.” If his skin touched hers, she would lose what little self-respect she still maintained. The memory of his skin against hers was still vivid after all these years. The warmth, the passion, would always be part of her because they’d created Erin. She could not remain strong when he was gentle and understanding.
Footfalls pounded against the tiled floor and the door flew open. The Wiznowski family charged in. The whole group grabbed her in a hug. Her legs buckled. The support of her family held her upright.
Over her sister’s shoulder she saw Hardy moving toward the door. Her mother noticed it, too.
“How could you hit our precious Erin? Were you drinking or on your phone?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Why weren’t you paying attention, then?”
“I was. She just came out of nowhere,” Hardy replied stiffly.
“She’s just a little girl.” Tears filled Doris’s eyes, and Angie hugged her mother.
“It was an accident, Mama. The doctor said Erin’s going to be okay. She just needs surgery on her leg and time to heal.”
“Thank God.”
“Is she in surgery?” Patsy asked.
“Yes.”
“So we wait.” Patsy sank into a chair, as did Peggy, AnaMarie, her other sister, and their dad, Willard. Doris kept staring at Hardy. Angie just wanted some peace and quiet and not to have to referee family squabbles.
Her brother Bubba entered the room, and, before anyone could stop him, he swung his right fist at Hardy, who staggered backward from the blow to his jaw. He didn’t go down, which was a feat, because Bubba was six foot two and weighed about three hundred pounds.
“Stop it,” she said, getting between the two men.
“He hurt Cupcake.” Bubba raised his fist again. “I’m gonna kill him.”
“Cupcake ran out in front of his truck,” Angie pointed out. “There is a difference.” Bubba had always called Erin Cupcake because he said she was so sweet.
“I don’t care. I’m still gonna hurt him.” Bubba made a move toward Hardy and Angie tried to hold him back.
“I’ll give you the first one, Bubba, but that’s it.” Hardy rubbed his jaw with murder in his eye.
The door opened again, and Wyatt and Peyton came in. Wyatt took the situation in at a glance. “What’s going on?”
Bubba looked at Wyatt. “Hardy hurt Cupcake.”
“It was an accident. A terrible accident, and Angie doesn’t need to deal with this on top of everything else.”
Her father got to his feet. “Son, the sheriff is right. This is not the time or the place for your anger. If you can’t control yourself, then you need to go home.”
Angie took a deep breath. “I would appreciate it if everyone went home. I need to focus on Erin, and I can’t handle this bickering right now.”
“We’re not leaving you alone,” Doris said. “This is a time when you need your family.”
Angie remembered her mother saying the same words when Angie had been pregnant and Dennis had left her. But Angie had refused to be browbeaten and treated like a child. She wouldn’t
