“Call dispatch,” the paramedic said.
“Tell them who we have here.
And request police.”
Luke’s face changed so quickly that I almost missed it.
The annoyance vanished first.
Then the confidence.
The cold little smile he’d worn while our daughter fought for every breath disappeared as if someone had wiped it away.
“That’s unnecessary,” he said.
The paramedic didn’t look at him.
He kept his body angled between Luke and me while his partner continued working on Addie.
“Ma’am,” he said quietly, “your husband was involved in another emergency call I responded to last year.
Different address.
Another child.”
The room seemed to tilt beneath me.
“What?”
Luke stepped forward.
“He’s confused.”
The paramedic’s eyes never left mine.
“I’m not confused.”
Luke’s voice hardened.
“You need to focus on my daughter instead of making accusations.”
“My partner is treating your daughter,” the paramedic replied evenly.
“And I’m making sure everybody in this room stays safe.”
Safe.
The word hit me harder than accusation would have.
I looked at Luke.
This was the man I’d trusted enough to leave Addie with while I traveled.
The man who had kissed my forehead before I left and told me not to worry.
The man who had sent me two cheerful messages during my trip saying everything was fine.
Everything had not been fine.
Behind us, Addie coughed again.
I turned immediately.
The second paramedic had placed oxygen on her and was speaking in the soft, calm voice people use when every second matters but frightening the patient would make things worse.
“You’re doing great, Addie.
Stay with me.”
I moved toward her.
Luke moved too.
The first paramedic blocked him with one arm.
“Give them space.”
Luke stared at him.
“That’s my daughter.”
“Then let us help her.”
For the first time since I’d arrived home, Luke looked angry rather than amused.
Not frightened for Addie.
Angry that someone had challenged him.
I knelt by the couch and held my daughter’s hand.
“Mommy’s right here.”
Her eyes fluttered toward Luke and then away again.
That tiny movement broke something inside me.
She was afraid to look at her own father.
The paramedic treating her asked gently, “Addie, did something happen before Mommy came home?”
Luke answered from across the room.
“She had a tantrum.”
The paramedic didn’t acknowledge him.
“Addie?”
My daughter swallowed.
