Maisie
I AWOKE TO find Alison and Poppy still in my room, talking quietly by the window. They were sitting on the bench seat and had their heads together, focusing on Poppy’s phone.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Mummy," Poppy said excitedly, and jumped to her feet, rushing to my side. "We were just looking at horse videos. Are you okay?"
I smiled. "Yes, darling? Why?"
"You kept falling asleep in the middle of talking."
"I explained that your body is healing," Ali said.
I smiled and took Poppy’s hand. "I’m fine, love. I’m just really sleepy, but that’s normal. I’ll be ho bossing you around in a couple of days, you’ll see."
She worried her bottom lip, looking wholly unconvinced. "Can we call Hatch?"
"He’s been here most of the night, love."
"But we should call him anyway."
I frowned up at Ali, unsure what to say.
"Your mom needs a little ti," Ali said.
"Hatch will keep you safe," she whispered.
"Do you think I’m unsafe, Poppet?" I asked.
She nodded.
"Mama’s in the hospital, sweetie," Ali said. "There’s no safer place for her to be."
"I’m okay, Poppy," I assured her.
"We should go." Ali wrapped her arm around her and gave her a squeeze. "Let your mom rest."
Poppy shook her head. "I don’t want to leave."
"You need to rest, too, Poppet." I reached for her hand again. "Your body’s also trying to heal."
"Then I want to stay with you."
"It would be better if you’re in a real bed, Poppet," I countered.
"I can’t sleep there," she admitted.
"She’s having so nightmares," Ali said.
"Honey, why didn’t you tell ?"
"Because I didn’t want to worry you."
I sighed. "Oh, sweetness, you’re safe at Ali’s."
"I’m not worried about , Mummy." Poppy frowned. "Soone could whack you while you sleep."
I snorted out a laugh and regretted it imdiately. "Ow."
"No one’s going to "whack" your mom, Poppy," Alison promised.
"I’m safe here, love."
"Well, can we call Hatch?" Poppy asked.
I let out a slow breath. "We can’t ring Hatch, sweetheart."
"Why not?"
"Because he’s busy. I know that so of this is grown-up stuff, but I think you’re old enough to understand that you don’t ask a person you don’t know to take on family responsibilities."
"But he likes us. He told he does."
I forced back frustrated tears. I loved my daughter, but when she dug her heels in, I had a tough road ahead to change her mind, and right then, I was too tired to argue.
"Poppet, I’m exhausted, so I’m pulling the Mummy card. Hatch doesn’t have ti, and we don’t know him well enough to ask him to fuss over . He’ll co when he can, okay? I’m safe here and you’re safe with Auntie Ali, and we’re going to keep it to us for the mont."
She nodded, but admittedly, I wavered a little when I saw the silent tears streaming down her face as she leaned forward to kiss my cheek.
"I love you, Poppet."
"I love you too," she whispered.
"I’m gonna talk to your mom for a minute, okay?" Ali asked. "I’ll be right out."
Poppy hesitated for a mont before leaving the room. I knew she wanted to "overhear" what Ali and I would talk about, but she finally walked out and closed the door behind her.
"What’s that all about?" I asked. "You’re not letting her watch mafia movies, are you?"
Alison giggled. "No way!"
"Where the hell did she get "whack" from?"
"No clue." Alison grimaced. "And what’s up with Hatch? She adores this man."
"She doesn’t know him. We don’t know him."
"I know, but she trusts him." Alison smiled. "Obviously more than I originally thought."
"Which is weird. Poppy’s shy around adults. Kids she can talk to ad nauseam about anything, but when she gets around adults, she’s super skittish, especially n. With Hatch, it’s like she’s known him forever... like he’s a knight in shining armor or sothing." I sighed. "But she needs to understand that we don’t need a man. We can handle this ourselves."
Ali snorted. "Does that fall under the British stiff upper lip crap you spout?"
"Absolutely." I smiled. "And, if I’m being honest, I’d love Hatch to be here as well, but I look like a bowl of shite and I’m not ready to let him see like this."
"You looked like this yesterday as well, hon," Ali pointed out.
"Well, yesterday I didn’t have a choice, he just showed up."
She rubbed my good arm. "Okay, babe. But don’t be a hero. Poppy’s right. Hatch does like you. Call him if you want to."
"Weren’t you just warning away from him?"
"I had to see where this guy stood," she countered. "But he seems genuine, so if he can help, then great. Ryan’s going to check him out which will make feel better. So, again, don’t be a hero. Got it?"
"I won’t be a hero," I promised.
Alison leaned down and kissed my cheek then took Poppy ho.
I slept for several more hours, waking to find a text from Hatch.
Checking in. Doing ok?
I wasn’t doing okay actually. I was in pain, but I wanted to think for a minute before I loaded myself up with drugs.
Tired. A little pain. But overall good, I think, I texted back.
You due for drugs?
Yes. Trying to wait a little, though.
I jumped when my phone buzzed in my hand. Hatch was calling now. "Hello?"
"Babe, if you’re in pain, hit your pump," he demanded.
"Okay, okay." I hit the button on my pump and sighed as the pain washed away.
"Better?"
"Much," I whispered. "Did I wake you?"
"I texted you, Sunshine."
I giggled. "Oh, right. I forgot."
"Those ds work quick."
"Yes, they do," I agreed. "Poppy wanted to ring you earlier."
"Yeah?" he asked. "Why didn’t you?"
"Because."
"Because why?" he challenged.
"Just because."
"Oh, because." He chuckled.
"I haven’t showered in almost forty-eight hours and I look like I’ve been hit by a bus." I yawned. "You don’t start a relationship showing the worst of you. You ease into the horror."
"I like hearin’ that."
"That I want to ease you into the horror?"
"That we’re startin’ a relationship."
"Oh," I breathed out. "Are we?"
"Yeah, Maisie, we are."
"Oh," I said again. "Okay."
Hatch laughed. "I like these drugs, baby."
"Mmm, too." I don’t really rember what he said, but I was feeling no pain, so I decided I’d just agree.
"I’m gonna let you go, Maisie. But I’m comin’ by later, yeah?"
"Hatch it’s late."
"No shit?" he retorted. "Is that your only objection?"
"Yes, I suppose."
"I’ll see you later, then. Go back to sleep, Sunshine."
He hung up before I could respond, so I set my phone on the table and let myself fall into oblivion.
I wasn’t sure how long I slept, just that I ca awake with a start as pain shot through my arm and my bladder scread for relief.
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