She sounds so happy. I’m about to break her heart.
Should I have let Patrick do this after all?
Tears well in my eyes.
“Lauren.”
“Are you okay? Is it Mark? What’s happening?”
I swallow hard. Patrick’s hand lands on my shoulder and gives it a squeeze.
“I don’t want to tell you over the phone, but I need you to decide if you want to see him before …”
Oh God. I’m not doing this well at all.
“Lauren, Mark passed away this afternoon.”
“What?” she gasps.
“Patrick says it was a heart attack. He was weak and his body just couldn’t take anymore.” I pause. “He’s still here. The funeral director hasn’t been yet. Come over and see him.”
She sniffs. “I don’t know if I can.”
I feel so bad. If she was here, I could hug her and be there for her. She’s not far away, but right now it feels like a million miles.
“We’re right here if you need us. Come and stay if you want to.”
“Isn’t Patrick staying with you?”
I close my eyes. “He is, but there’s always Sophie’s spare bed. I can pull it out and you can sleep on that.”
“I’ll pack some things and come over.”
I hesitate to ask the next question, but I have to—I can’t let anything happen to her.
“Lauren, are you okay to drive?”
There’s silence for a moment, and I wonder if she’s about to lose it at me. She has a very loose relationship with alcohol and although she thinks I don’t know, it’s been obvious for a while.
“I’m okay. I haven’t had anything to drink today.”
“Then come over and stay with us. We love you.”
“I love you too.”
I chew my bottom lip as I end the call. I’m not sure how I’m going to juggle all this grief. Mine and Sophie’s will be tough enough, but Lauren’s as well? I know she’s a grown adult—we’re not that far apart in age—but she needs some TLC too.
Patrick grips my shoulder. “She coming over?”
I nod. “Yeah. She’ll be here soon.”
“You said something about Sophie having a spare bed?”
“There’s a pull-out under her bed.”
He wraps his arms around my shoulders and kisses my temple. “I’ll get that organised when Sophie wakes up.”
I meet his gaze. “You don’t have to. You’ve already done so much.”
