HH01 - A Humble Heart (18 page)

She nodded.

“Mommy!” Elizabeth cried.

“It’s okay, baby,” Dana said as she dragged on her shoes.

“Ma’am, we’ll meet you at the hospital to take a statement,” one of the officers said.

She nodded and pulled Elizabeth into her arms and rushed outside in time to see Edward climb into the back of the

ambulance. She made her way to her Jeep and buckled Elizabeth in. She waited for the ambulance to leave before driving to

the hospital.

On the way to the hospital she called Deana and told her what happened. Then she called up Amy and asked her to bring a

change of clothes for Edward. She explained quickly what happened before she hung up.

She walked into the hospital with Elizabeth sobbing in her arms and made her way to the triage nurse. “I’m looking for my

son Cole Mathews. He was just brought in by ambulance.”

The nurse looked over her reports. “Have a seat. They’ve just started to treat him. As soon as I can I’ll bring you back

there.”

“Thank you. Can you just let him know his mommy is here?” she asked.

“I think he’s still unconscious.”

She nodded automatically, placing Elizabeth down on the floor and walked her to the chairs. Dana sat down and Elizabeth

immediately climbed onto her lap. She ran her fingers absently through Elizabeth’s hair as she watched the ER door and

waited.

“Dana!” Amy said, running through the waiting room. She had a large group of people in tow, but Dana didn’t take her

eyes from the door. She couldn’t.

“Where’s Edward?” Eleanor asked.

Dana pointed to the door. Eleanor sat down and put an arm around Dana. “It’s okay, it will be okay.”

Dana nodded as she began to cry. How could it be alright? Her baby was badly burned in the hospital. “Hey, cutie pie,

what’s your name?” a man who was clearly Edward’s father asked Elizabeth.

“Elizabeth,” she sobbed.

“Well, my name’s James and I think I’ll call you Beth. Come sit with me so Mommy can wait for the doctor, okay?”

Dana released her hold on Elizabeth and watched as she climbed onto James’ waiting lap. He was an older version of

Edward, she absently noted. She looked back towards the door and waited. She heard, rather than saw, Deana run into the ER

screaming her name.

She looked back in time to see Deana throw her arms around her. “How’s our baby?”

“I don’t know,” Dana mumbled.

“Do we know what happened?” Deana asked.

“Cole was hungry. The mean woman didn’t feed us. I was trying to stop him when I heard Mommy come in,” Elizabeth

said. All eyes focused on her.

“She didn’t feed you?” Dana asked as softly as she could, but she could see the fear in her daughter’s eyes. She shook her

head no.

“Oh my god,” Deana said, sounding on the verge of tears.

“I had a background check done on the woman. I don’t understand this,” Dana said more to herself than anyone else.

“Sometimes people slip through the cracks that shouldn’t,” James said reassuringly.

“This wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t taken the day off. This is my fault,” Deana said, wiping frantically at the tears

that poured down her cheeks.

“No, it’s not,” Dana said weakly. She was starting to become light headed.

A doctor stepped out of the ER. He looked very upset. Dana's stomach twisted painfully.

“Ms. Mathews?” he asked. “I’m Dr. Newton. I’m treating your son Cole.”

“Please tell me he’s alright,” Dana whispered, fighting not to pass out.

He smiled. “Thanks to the fast thinking of your husband he’s going to be more than fine.”

She didn’t bother correcting him about Edward. “Can I see him? Please.”

“Yes, I’m afraid one at a time. Your husband can stay. Cole is clinging to him and refusing to let him leave,” he explained.

Dana left Elizabeth in very capable hands and made her way into the ER. She wiped her tears away and took a deep

calming breath before walking into her son’s room.

She found Edward sitting in a chair, cradling Cole in his arms. Cole was wrapped up in gauze and wore a large diaper.

An IV was pumping fluids into his small body. He looked a little out of it and she figured they gave him something for the pain.

“Hey sweetie, how are you?” she asked Cole, dropping to her knees in front of him.

“Mommy?” he said thickly.

“I’m right here, baby. You gave us a heck of a scare.” She kissed his face.

“I’m hungry,” he complained.

She wiped away a fresh tear. “I know, baby. I’m so sorry you know I would never leave you with someone like that on

purpose. She’s in big trouble, honey. Don’t worry about it, you’ll never see her again.”

“Good. She was mean,” Cole said, burying his face against Edward’s bare chest.

“How are you holding up, sweetheart?” Edward asked.

“Okay. Thank you for taking care of him.”

He reached over with his free hand and wiped away her tears. “Always.” He pulled her forward and kissed her gently on

the lips. She kissed his cheek and then Cole’s.

“We’re going to keep Cole overnight and monitor his burns and watch for infection,” the Doctor said an hour later. Dana

nodded and thanked him. She waited with Cole. Edward left a half hour ago to change into clean clothes and talk to his family.

Thankfully Cole was now asleep. His little tummy was now happily full and he dreamed in his mother’s arms. “We need

to move him upstairs now,” a nurse said quietly.

Dana stood up. “I’ll carry him if you can manage the IV,” she said, not giving the nurse a chance to argue. There was no

way she was putting him down. He needed to be held now more than ever.

“I’ll take him,” Edward said, walking around the nurse to take Cole. He took Cole from her as if he was the most precious

thing on earth.

“Mom and Dad are taking Elizabeth for the night. They’re getting some food into her stomach as we speak. The police

came by and we talked to them. You’re all set for now,” he told her.

“Thank you for everything,” she said, wiping away a stray tear.

He smiled at her and kissed Cole’s sleepy cheek as he carried him towards the patient elevators.

********

home a week and a half ago and she’d been babying him ever since. He was still in pain and needed constant care.

Edward’s family immediately fell in love with the kids and was around every day to help. Edward stayed over every

night snuggling up with Cole on the couch. Tonight for the first time since he came home Cole was asleep in his own bed.

For the past two weeks they passed the time by studying their scripts. When she wasn’t doing that she was running,

cooking, or cleaning. She had to keep busy or she would go crazy. The studio pushed shooting the movie off for another week

for Cole. They were amazingly sympathetic.

She was due to start shooting tomorrow. Edward was going to start shooting his own movie tomorrow as well. He would

be away most nights for a few weeks then he was off to England for ten weeks.

He needed a break and she felt horrible for all the stress and sleepless nights he'd suffered recently for them. She was also

afraid there was no question about it any longer. She was madly in love with him.

There was no doubt in her mind that she had never really been in love before. That had been infatuation. Edward made her

feel beautiful, loved, and adored and he was great with the kids. He showed them nothing but love and patience. More than

their father ever had.

She tiptoed out of Cole’s room and into the living room to find Edward passed out on the couch. He wore his usual outfit

when he was at her house, pants and nothing else. His perfect chest rose gently with his relaxed breathing. She took a moment

to admire him before she made her way to her bedroom.

For the last week she had to rush her showers for one reason or another. Tonight she planned on taking a very long

shower. She turned the shower on and started shaving. After that was done she washed up and stood under the showerhead

enjoying the hot water.

“Are you planning on saving me some water?” a soft voice whispered in her ear.

She drew in a deep breath as Edward’s arms snaked around her waist. “You’re awake,” she noted.

He chuckled. “Yes.”

Since Cole’s injury they hadn’t had time to do anything more than kiss quickly between taking care of children, working

on the book, and memorizing their lines.

“Shall I wash your back?” he asked, picking up the bar of soap.

She turned around slowly and faced him. “I would rather wash you,” she whispered softly. Their eyes moved down each

other’s bodies.

“Beautiful,” he mumbled as his gaze ran down large breasts tipped with beautiful rose nipples. His eyes went further

down to a flat sculpted stomach with a tiny thin scar running across her lower belly. He reached out and ran a finger across the

scar from her c-sections. He bit back a groan as his eyes dropped to the trimmed golden hairs between her legs, heaven.

*******

front the man she'd fallen in love with. Although she knew he was nothing like Jeff she couldn't help but wait for the look of

disgust or the cutting remark that always followed. When he lovingly caressed her scar and called her beautiful she couldn't

help but love him more. He didn't care that she wasn't perfect or that her body was flawed. This man who could have his pick

of millions of women thought she was beautiful. In that moment for the first time she truly felt beautiful.

While he continued to caress her scar she ran her eyes over his body and good lord what a body. She couldn't help but

devour him with her eyes. The man truly was a work of art from his chest to his sculptured abs to.....

She swallowed hard as her eyes ran down the trail of dark hair running from his navel down and she felt an overwhelming

desire to follow it with her tongue. Her eyes dipped even lower and she may have whimpered, a little. At that moment she

wasn't sure it would fit, but she was damn sure willing to try. As if it felt her gaze it jerked hard against Edward's stomach.

"Come here, Dana," Edward said as he cupped her hips with his hands and pulled her to him. She wrapped her arms

around his neck and raised herself up to kiss him. One touch of his lips and she was on fire.

He made hungry sounds as he kissed her deeply. His hands ran down her body and cupped her bottom, pulling her against

him. She moaned loudly as his erection rubbed against her.

Dana moved her mouth down to his neck and sucked him gently. “Oh,” he moaned. She moved her mouth down his chest,

licking as she kissed her way down his stomach until she was on her knees before him. She traced that little trail of hair with

her tongue, brushing against his erection as she went. Edward dropped his head back, enjoying the feel of her mouth on his

skin.

When she wrapped her hand around him and stroked him from base to tip he bucked forward and moaned. A second later

her mouth joined the party, making him groan loudly. She moved her mouth down, sucking gently the same time she moved her

hand up and down his shaft. Edward put a hand on the side of the shower to steady himself.

It was amazing. Dana’s hand and mouth were working him to the point of climax quickly. He’d never felt anything so good

in his life. He couldn’t stop her even if he wanted to, and he did. He wanted to be inside of her, but he was helpless in her

hands. He watched as his cock disappeared into her mouth over and over again.

“No, baby, stop I’m gonna…oh shit! Dana!” he groaned her name and pushed deeper into her mouth, coming harder than

he'd ever come before in his life. She cleaned him gently with her mouth before she stood up. Still panting he pulled her into

his arms and kissed her.

“Baby, I wanted to make love to you. Why did you do that?”

“I wanted to thank you.”

He chuckled. “It had to be the best thank you I’ve ever received.”

“I’m glad,” she said, smiling shyly.

“Are you nervous about tomorrow?” he asked as he ran his hands over her back and arms.

“Yes.”

“I wish I could be there for you. Hell, I wish I was playing the part. The script looked damn good,” Edward said.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“If it wasn’t for my book you would have.”

“Then I wouldn’t have met you and fallen in love. I’m not regretting it,” he said. Dana froze. Did she hear him right? As if

he could hear her thoughts he answered her. “I love you, Dana.”

“I love you, too, Edward,” she said, her voice breaking with emotion.

Edward leaned in and skimmed his mouth down her neck.

“My turn.” She felt him smiling against her skin as he moved down her body. He paid special attention to her breasts,

making her moan sweetly. His fingers played between her legs, teasing her while his mouth made its way down. His mouth

moved over her mound as he grabbed her firm bottom and pulled her against his mouth. “Open up for me,” he commanded. She

obeyed, spreading her legs for him.

He leaned forward and closed his eyes, breathing in her scent. Then he pressed a chaste kiss to the plump pink lips,

making her squirm. His tongue came out to run teasingly down her slit, earning a loud gasp. He pushed his tongue in further