SEVERAL HOURS LATER, Dan and Ben debated the merits of zucchini as noodles at the farmers market. Brooke shook her head and added several plump zucchini to her basket. “You’re going to love them. I promise.”
“I don’t know.” Ben’s face scrunched up, then relaxed into a grin. “But I do love real pasta noodles with extra cheese.”
Brooke ruffled his hair. “Then we’ll add extra cheese to the list.”
“Cool.” Ben squinted at an heirloom tomato and pointed out its pumpkin shape. “Brooke, are you going to be looking at the vegetables much longer?”
Brooke glanced up and took in Dan’s and Ben’s miserable expressions. “There are two more rows of vegetables and fruits waiting for us.”
Ben slapped his hand on his forehead. Dan rolled his shoulders as if preparing to take on the task. Brooke burst out laughing. “You don’t have to stay with me. There’s homemade fudge and cookies over there.”
“Really?” Ben spun around and scanned the large market covering more than two blocks.
Dan touched Brooke’s cheek and lifted her gaze to his. “Do you mind if we head over there?”
“Only if you don’t mind sampling every vegetable I buy,” she said.
He leaned down, pressed his lips against hers. “Deal.”
Ben made a gagging noise that tempted Dan to kiss Brooke again. Brooke grinned at Dan. “This isn’t going to distract me from buying brussels sprouts.”
“Are you sure?” he asked. “Maybe we should try again.”
Brooke pushed him away. “Take Ben and pick out the cookies with the most chocolate chips.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He traced his finger along her cheek and his gaze over her face as if memorizing the moment. Then he disappeared down the aisle, hurrying to keep pace with his eager son.
Brooke tracked their progress, thankful for Dan’s height. She touched her lips, held on to the kiss and hummed along the next aisle.
Fifteen minutes later, Ben’s excited voice reached her. He lifted a bag of cookies and waved.
She never heard what he said.
The screams and shouts stripped his words from the very air.
A car had overshot the curb and sent people scrambling. The next thing she knew Ben was falling forward. Dan blocked a wooden crate with his arm, stumbled.
Brooke, too, staggered, dumping her produce on the ground.
She was too late. Ben hit the pavement. Dan beside him.
And Brooke’s world flatlined.
Sirens splintered in the air.
Dan pushed himself up, crawled to Ben. Brooke skidded on her knees beside the boy.
Dan touched her cheek. “Are you okay?”
Brooke nodded. That was the correct response, wasn’t it?
“Can you stay with him?” Dan asked. “I need to find help. I need to help.”
Brooke nodded again. Her head heavy on her neck. Her body rocking. Ben groaned, drawing her focus. Ben needed her. She pressed her shirt against the gash on his forehead, held him close and held back her panic.
Police officers moved around her. Paramedics swooped in. Secured Ben to a gurney. Escorted her to the ambulance. Confused, she searched the crowd. “Dan? Where’s Dan?”
The paramedic guided her into the ambulance. “He’s fine. He’s okay. He’s following in another rig.”
Again, Brooke nodded. Her head pounded. Ben called her name. That centered her. She scooted closer to the gurney, grabbed his hand and held on as her world tipped over itself.
Nurses and a doctor met the gurney, wheeled Ben inside. Spoke to her about running tests and stitches and contusions. Then they were gone. Taking Ben away and her focus.
Brooke clutched her head and wandered into the waiting area.
The past and present stumbled over each other. The street corner on Bayview. The shop windows. Ben falling. Brooke too far away. Squeals. Shouts. Screams. The shattering of glass. The crunch of metal. Of her heart.
She ached. Everywhere.
Gentle hands gripped hers. A strong voice. A familiar face. Her heart knew him. “Dan.”
“I need you to focus on me, Brooke,” he ordered.
No. There was no place safe to look. Especially not at the man she loved. The man she almost lost... Brooke squeezed her eyes closed.
Her chest hurt as if the world had collapsed on it. Her voice raw and stabbing. “I can’t do this. I can’t be here.”
Dan eased her into a chair and knelt in front of her. “Brooke. Please, listen to me. You need to breathe. Inhale. Exhale.”
Didn’t he understand? It hurt to breathe. It hurt so much more to love.
Dan falling. Ben crashing beside him. Helpless. She’d been helpless. Like before. Like now.
A doctor in navy scrubs joined Dan and touched his shoulder. Wyatt. The groom. Did he know how much love hurt?
Wyatt told Dan that Ben wanted him. Brooke latched onto Dan’s arm. “You need to go.”
She needed to go.
“Brooke. Stay here. Don’t move. I’ll be right back.” Dan clasped her hands. “Wyatt is getting someone to help you.”
No one could help. She had to move. She had to run from so much pain. That was the only way.
Dan released her to go to Ben. As it should be. That was his life. A shudder swept through her, leaving a deep chill in its wake. She was not Dan’s life. She couldn’t be.
The ache returned and squeezed her heart. She’d known better than to love again.
Brooke shoved herself out of the chair. Stumbled past Rick and Valerie. Ignored Jason calling her name.
She lunged for the door. Escaped outside. And ran.