“He has too many that I like. I think my favorite is “To Make You Feel My Love”, but it’s a little too low key. I think “Friends in Low Places” would be a fun one. I was wondering though, what about playing one of your original songs? You said you have a country album, right?”
Chase rubbed his jaw and clenched his teeth. “I do.”
“You should play some of those songs.”
“I don’t know.” Maggie heard Chase’s phone ring. He looked down at it briefly and quickly silenced it.
“Why don’t you want to play your own stuff?” Maggie asked.
“Well, I wrote most of them after Amber, my ex-fiancée, and I broke up. I don’t really want to be reminded of that time.”
Maggie nodded slowly.Chase was engaged? That was new information. Clearly it was in the past, but he must have really loved her.Maggie felt a twinge of jealousy.Chase’s phone rang again. This time he studied the caller ID.
“Maybe I should take this.” He stood and headed toward a room in the back corner of the bar.
Chapter 23
Chase
“Hello?Mom?”
“Chase,” his mother, Norah, breathed. “I’m so glad you… answered. Your brother’s been… in an accident.” His mom sniffled erratically. “The ambulance just came…. Jade’s following it to the hospital… I’m gonna drop the kids off with Mrs. Johnson. Then I’ll head there.”
“Mom, slow down. Tell me what happened.”
“I don’t know yet… Jade went out to find Cam… when he didn’t come in for dinner. He was… lying unconscious in front… of the big red barn.” Sobs spilled out.
“I’m coming home, okay?”
“No, you don’t have to... I just wanted to let you know.” Norah sucked in a deep breath, “Pray for him, okay? I gotta go. I’ll call when I know more.”
“Okay, I love you mom.”
“Love you too.”
Chase raked his hand through his hair. He stumbled back into the office chair. Flipping open the laptop, he searched for flights. Finding one that left in three hours, Chase clicked ‘confirm.’” Then, he texted Grant.
Taking a deep breath, Chase walked out to find Maggie.
“Hey, I’m sorry I gotta go.”
“What? Where?” Maggie asked.
“Alabama. My brother’s hurt. I don’t know much more.”
“Oh no,” Maggie’s shoulders slumped and her face fell. “I’m so sorry.” She reached out to give him a hug.
“The only time I’ve ever heard my mom this upset was when my dad died.” He whispered into her ear, still holding her tightly. “My flight leaves in three hours. I’m gonna run home and then head to the airport.”
Maggie squeezed him one more time. “Keep me posted, okay? I’ll be praying for you guys.”
Chase nodded and strode to the door.
After Chase pushed his carry-on in the airplane’s overhead compartment, he slid into his seat and took a long exhale. Despite the tension with his family over the years, Chase didn’t even think twice about heading back to Alabama. His mom and brother needed him.
Chase and his brother, Cam, were as different as night and day. Cam the star athlete, Chase the offbeat musician. Chase had eventually grown into himself but for the longest time, he was lanky and skinny and awkward. Even if the two of them together were oil and water, at the end of the day, Cam was his brother.
When the plane touched down, Chase texted his mom for an update. All she wrote was “In surgery.” Chase normally flew into Chattanooga, which was cheaper, but he had bit the bullet this time and paid the extra $300 to fly into Huntsville directly. Grabbing the first cab he saw, Chase was able to get to the hospital in twenty-five minutes.
