Page 70 of Broken
Jacqueline placed her hand on his arm, and her soft touch comforted him. “I am so, so sorry.” She slid her attention to Ethan. “Does he know?”
“No. He’s been asking to go to the hospital to see her. I don’t have a clue how to tell a toddler that his mom has died.”
“Why doesn’t his dad tell him?” She removed her hand leaving him aching for her tender touch.
“He died when Ethan was a baby,” Prescott explained. “I just met them a few months ago.”
“You gotta fill in the blanks for me.”
“My biological father also died when I was a baby. My mom remarried a year later, my second dad adopted me, but he’s the only dad I know.”
“Got it,” she replied.
“My sister, Sally, reached out to me a few months ago, after her mom died. She was going through old boxes and found out who her dad was. That’s when she contacted me. We did a DNA test and we were a match. She moved up here and I got her a job at Armstrong. She was supposed to start on Monday.”
“Ohgod, that’s so sad.”
“I’m all the family that little boy has.”
She placed her hand over her heart. “When are you going to tell him?”
“My close friend, Jericho, is married to a psychologist.”
“I met them. They hosted the wedding shower.”
“Right. I’m going to see if Liv can help me navigate this.”
Her gaze hadn’t wavered from his. For the first time since she’d learned who he really was, compassion sprang from her eyes.
“That’s a lot for you to deal with.” A little smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “I’m glad I agreed to help you.” She held up a hand. “Not for you, but for him.”
Ethan started crying. He was balling his little eyes out and trying to get out of the chair, but the seatbelt restrained him.
Prescott was by his side in a flash. He knelt down, unbuckled him, and pulled him into his arms.
“Hey, Ethan, it’s Uncle Prescott. You okay?”
“I want my mommy,” he said, between sobs.
Prescott’s heart broke. He would never be able to give this child what he wanted…what he truly needed.
“Ethan,” Jacqueline said. “I brought the water that you like.” She searched the tote bag, pulled out an empty sippy cup, and filled it with water. Then, she offered him the cup.
He wiped his eyes and shook his head. “No, go away. I want my mommy.” His eyes filled with more tears that spilled down his little cheeks.
Prescott sat in the chair and put the tot on his lap. “I know you do.” He regarded him. “Did you have a bad dream?”
“Uh-huh,” Ethan replied.
“Sometimes when we talk about them, it helps make them go away,” Prescott urged. “Do you remember your dream?”
“I don’t like Mommy’s friend.”
“Well, how ‘bout I protect you from her friend. How’s that?”
“Okay. Are we there yet?”
“Not yet,” Prescott replied. “How ‘bout some water before you go back to sleep?”
