Page 71 of A New Chapter

Emma followed him out of the room while he pulled his shirt on. “Is she ok? Zack? I want to go with you.”

They were at the front door now, and Zack shoved his feet into his shoes. “No, Em. Just stay here. I’ll call you,” he said and raced out the door.

Emma crossed her arms over her chest from the chill that she felt in the open doorway. She watched Zack tear out of her driveway and hugged herself even tighter. “Please be ok, please be ok,” she chanted.

She closed the door and leaned heavily against it. “I love her too,” she said before she slumped to the floor, put her head in her hands, and cried.

Ten minutes later, Emma was in her car speeding toward the clinic. She didn’t care if Zack was going to be mad; she had to find out about Gracie. Emma parked next to his Range Rover and raced into the clinic. Zack and Alicia sat side by side on the hard plastic chairs with their heads bent together, talking quietly. They both glanced up and noticed Emma at the same time.

“I had to come,” she said unapologetically.

Zack motioned to the chair next to him, and when Emma sat down, he leaned over and gave her a brief kiss on the cheek. Emma caught Alicia’s watchful stare over Zack’s shoulder before she quickly looked away.

“How is she?” Emma asked.

“They’re taking x-rays of her right arm to see if it’s broken,” Zack replied.

“Won’t they let you back there?”

Alicia bent her head down and wrung her hands. “It’s my fault. The x-ray technician asked us to wait out here because I was crying like an idiot. She didn’t want me to scare Gracie.”

Zack laid his hand gently on Alicia’s back, but then he quickly pulled it away. “Don’t beat yourself up about it, Alicia. I’m sure a lot of parents react that way.”

Instead of feeling jealous, Emma felt proud of the way Zack spoke to his ex-wife. He obviously put a lot of effort into keeping their relationship congenial for Gracie. It was just one more thing that she loved about him.

Just then, a female doctor poked her head into the waiting room and said, “Gracie’s parents can come back now.”

Zack and Alicia immediately stood up, while Emma remained seated. They took two steps away before Zack turned back and held out his hand to her.

“But?”

“I’m certain that Gracie would like to see you too,” Zack said firmly.

Alicia raised her eyebrows, but Zack purposely ignored her and pulled Emma along behind them. They followed the doctor into the exam room, where Gracie was contentedly licking a purple sucker. Her right arm was in a sling, but other than that, she looked perfectly fine.

“Miss Emma! You’re here too!” Gracie said enthusiastically.

Emma walked over and gave Gracie a careful hug. “I was worried about you,” she said with a catch in her voice.

“I’m fine! I get to wear this sling, and the doctor said I can’t do any work at school.”

Her pronouncement caused a round of laughter among the adults.

“Gracie should avoid using her right hand for a few days, but she can still go to school,” the doctor clarified.

The doctor went on to explain the results of the x-ray and gave instructions for Gracie’s follow-up care while Emma let her thoughts wander. She was so grateful that Gracie was ok that she found herself tearing up again. So this is what it feels like to love a child. How amazing! If I feel this strongly about Gracie, I can only imagine what it will feel like to have my own child someday.

Zack’s voice broke her train of thought. “Thank you, doctor. We appreciate you taking such good care of her.”

The four of them walked out of the clinic together, but Emma stood back while Alicia said goodbye to Gracie.

“Mommy loves you, baby girl.” She hugged Gracie on her left side and then turned to Zack.

“Call me tomorrow so we can make arrangements for her follow-up appointment.”

“I will,” Zack said, and they all waved as Alicia drove away.

“Can Miss Emma come over and watch a movie with us tonight?” Gracie asked, her eyes wide with hopefulness.