Page 63 of The Perfect Secret
“Tess, I’m fine,” he ground out as Tess entered the kitchen.
Hannah led Tess out of earshot. “Bring him a pillow for his head and maybe another for his leg. Give him pain killers—”
“He won’t take those.”
Seriously?“Okay, how about ibuprofen?”
Tess shook her head. “He won’t take anything at all.”
“But he needs it!”
Now Tess raised her hands.
“Okay, give him an ice pack and a heating pad. Alternate between the two in twenty-minute intervals.”
“I can do that.” Tess bit her lip, before backing out of the room.
When she was gone, Hannah turned her attention to Dan, trying to assess his injuries. There didn’t seem to be any obviousones, which only made her feel a little better. She stroked his wrist.
“I said go.” He took short breaths through his teeth, which were bared in a grimace. He pulled his hand away. “She’s a teenager. The last time I checked, adults didn’t have to listen to them.”
“Smart ones do, though.”
He blew a breath through clenched teeth. “Why are you being so stubborn?”
“Because Tess is scared and I’m trying to do what’s best for her.”Which means helping a man who doesn’t want it.
Dan pushed himself forward, one arm braced against the counter. His face was pale. Beads of sweat popped on his forehead. “And you think I’m not?”
Hannah’s eyes widened at the tone of his voice. “Dan, this isn’t a me-versus-you thing. She’s worried about you.”
“For the last time, I’m telling you I don’t want your help.”
She rolled back on her heels and dropped his wrist. She searched his face, looking for some hidden desire for her to stay, a trace of his affection for her. There was nothing except anger. She tried to squelch her own anger and hurt simmering below the surface. No matter how horribly he was behaving, he was in pain. Now was not the time to discuss her feelings.
“Are you sure you don’t need to go to the hospital?”
“This has happened before, I’m fine.”
That damned word again. “Fine.” She strode out of the kitchen. “Tess,” she called, as she returned to the living room, “your dad…” What the heck was she supposed to say? Did she even know they’d broken up?
“What? Is he okay?” She held an ice pack and heating pad in her hand.
Hannah shrugged. “I don’t think it’s anything other than his normal leg pain, albeit more severe. I think he’d be more comfortable without me here.”
“He kicked you out?”
“No, but I don’t want to make things worse.” Hannah gave her a hug. “I’m sorry you have to deal with this yourself. I wish there was something I could do. He’ll be fine.” She hoped she spoke the truth. She was trying to comfort a teenager. Short of arranging for a boy band to serenade her, she didn’t know what to do. But her words seemed to do the trick. Tess nodded and seemed to relax.
“I’m going to go. If you get scared, you can call me. I’ll check in again with you later.” She turned to look at the math and science books strewn across the sofa and glass coffee table. “What do you need to do today? Anything I can help with?”
“No, I just have homework. I might go over to the JCC later to tutor, depending on how Dad is feeling.”
“Do you have enough food in the house? Did you eat breakfast? What about lunch?” Tess looked at her askance and Hannah laughed. “I sound like my grandmother, don’t I? Well, you know Jewish grandmothers—not having enough food is a sin.”
Tess shook her head.
“You don’t know that? Okay, well, trust me. My grandmother would forgive me for murdering someone. However, if I didn’t have enough food, I’d be banished from the family.”