Page 63 of Silver Sinner

"Bleh." Maddie grumbles through a large yawn on the other side of the room, balanced and comfortable on Pierce's lap. He chuckles softly and taps his fingers against the underside of her jaw.

"Tired?" he asks in a soft, low voice.

"Yeah." Maddie sighs dramatically. "Can I have more ice cream?"

"Not if you're tired," Pierce says.

"I'm not really… really…" She tries to fight the next yawn, but it pulls her mouth open wide, silencing her words while Pierce chuckles.

"How about we worry about the ice cream tomorrow? If you're lucky, Moses might show you how he makes his own ice cream. Any flavor you like."

"Any flavor?" Maddie's eyes light up. "Even chocolate chips?"

"Yes, even something as adventurous as chocolate chips," Pierce replies. The teasing flies right over my daughter's head, but her wide smile makes the bruising on her cheek and jaw seem less scary.

I've never seen her hurt, not like this. She’s had her fair share of scrapes and bumps as she grew up, but the dark splotch on her cheek stands out like an ink stain on her face, seeping down into her jaw and it breaks my heart. I'm her mother and I couldn't protect her.

"What about here?" Both the doctor's hands lift under my jaw and press gently into my chin, then her fingertips walk down the side of my neck. "Any pain or discomfort?"

"No." The sensation isn't entirely painful. It's more like a pressure that merely flares under her fingers. My answers seem to satisfy her, though, as she steps away a moment later and scribbles something down on the pad resting on the nearby table.

"Alright. Nothing seems broken and most of your injuries appear to be tissue. I'm a little concerned about the blow you took to the head." She glances up with warm green eyes and nods to my hairline. "It's small but deep, so if you start to feel dizzy or nauseous, or have trouble keeping your eyes open even if you feel awake, you must let someone know immediately. Understand?"

I nod. "Yes."

"The painkillers I've prescribed are strong, so you can't drive or operate any kind of machinery. I'd also advise against any strenuous activity at least for a couple of days. Before I go, is there anything else you need to tell me?" Her brows twitch together, almost as if she's prepared for me to tell her that my arm is out of its socket or something.

"No."

"Alrighty." Her face breaks into a warm smile that deepens the wrinkles around the corner of her eyes. "I'll be back tomorrow for a check-up, but you should get some rest."

I only nod this time and remain seated, staring at the same spot out the window as the doctor steps away from me. That same cloud-like numbness settles back around my shoulder and I only catch snippets of the conversation behind me. The doctor says her goodbyes after praising Maddie for being an excellent patient, then she leaves and Pierce steps into my line of sight with Maddie in his arms.

"Mommy?"

Her voice hits like the first bite of cold on a winter's morning. My eyes snap to her, and the numbness fades in favor of forcing a bright smile for her. "Yes, sweetie?"

"Are you okay?"

"Of course I am. Just a little bumped around like you are." I reach for her and Pierce gently guides her into my arms, barely hiding how his attention lingers on the bandages around my wrists. "I'm sorry Amy was so terrible to you, sweetie. It's really complicated, but I promise I will explain it to you tomorrow."

Maddie nods, lightly nursing on her own fingers. "Is she coming back?"

The stark image of Amy dead on the kitchen floor spears back into my mind and I wince, but my smile remains. "No, sweetie. She's not coming back. She's gone."

"Because she's dead?"

Her calm innocence is somehow even more painful to witness and I nod. "Yes. Because she died."

"Okay." Maddie settles against me and rests her head against my shoulder, happy with my responses, although I'm not confident she fully understands them.

We remain like that for a long time, simply holding one another while Pierce stands nearby like an unyielding knight. Then tiredness comes for Maddie and her head droops. Before long, she falls fast asleep in my arms. Pierce helps me tuck her into bed, then we retreat deeper into his penthouse where he pours himself a whiskey and me a sparkling lemonade.

"Can't let you drink on medication," he says as he hands me the drink.

I take the glass and bring it to my lips, happy to let the bubbles fizz against my lips. "You have a penthouse and a doctor who comes as soon as you call. How can you afford all of this?"

Pierce takes a slow drink, watching me over the rim of the glass. "I save."