Page 83 of Forsaken Trail (Runaway 4)

She ripped it free.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“I’m okay.”

“The baby?”

“Fine.” She sighed and focused on her sister as Clara sat on the opposite side.

“What happened?”

“I was at the shop and I bent to pick up a pot.”

“You should have let Marty—”

She shot me a glare so pointed that it shut me up. “It wasn’t heavy. I lifted it three days ago.”

I would still be having a word with Marty about what Aria lifted at work.

“I got these sharp pains.” She ran a hand over her stomach, indicating the spot. “It freaked me out, so I had Marty bring me here. The doctor said it was round ligament pain.”

“Is it serious?” I asked.

Aria shook her head. “No, it’s normal. The round ligament just got stretched too far and too fast when I moved.”

“Good.” Clara sighed. “When Marty called . . . God, you had us worried.”

When Marty had called, I’d nearly come out of my skin. I’d never driven so fast in my life. Clara had barely hopped into the passenger seat before I’d sped away from the house.

I’d gone home after Aria had kicked me out of the shop. Work had been pointless, and what I should have done was stay there and watch over her.

“How long do you need to stay?” I asked.

“The doctor said I could go home soon. The nurse was here a few minutes ago. She said they’re getting my discharge papers ready.”

“Okay. Then what?”

“Rest.” She lifted a shoulder. “It will go away. If it doesn’t, then I need to come back.”

Clara leaned in and pulled Aria into a hug. “Are you okay?”

“I’m okay.” Aria closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around Clara. “It scared me.”

Scared was too mild a word. Terrified. Panicked. Those weren’t right either.

Never in my life had I felt such a deep, endless fear. If Aria had been hurt. If the baby . . .

They were my life. Both of them.

Aria was my heart.

“Can we have a minute?” I asked as Clara let Aria go.

“Sure.” She gave me a sad smile, then kissed her sister’s forehead. “I love you.”

“Love you too. Later we’re going to talk about you keeping secrets from me. You know, like how much the flower shop actually cost.”

Clara cringed. “You found out.”