“I see the cavalry,” Jason says with a grin, pointing over my shoulder.
Our replacements thankfully arrive right on time. I need a shower and a bed.
“Hey, Matt. Your brother is trying to reach you,” Dave says as he approaches. “The phone was ringing the moment we walked in this morning.”
Shit. My mother.I hadn’t had time to consider anyone would be trying to reach me in the middle of the night. “Did he say what was up?” I ask, climbing up into the engine to search for my phone.
“No. Just that he was trying to get in touch with you.”
“Thanks.” I walk to the SUV the replacement crew had arrived in to wait for the rest of C shift to join me so we could return to the station. Hitting Harrison’s name in my contact list, I lean against the vehicle and try to calm my racing heart. Had Mom managed to get out despite the night nurse? Or worse, was she hurt?
“Hey, Matt. Thanks for calling me back.”
“I called as soon as Dave told me you’d tried to reach me at the station. We’ve been working a brush fire for hours, so I haven’t had my phone on me. I didn’t bother checking to see if you’d left a voicemail. What’s going on? Is Mom okay?”
“Yeah. She’s fine.”
“Then what-”
“It’s Ellie.”
I bolt upright, my heart sinking at the mere notion she’s in trouble. “What’s wrong? Is she okay?”
“No. Pops died. Apparently, she found her grandfather’s lifeless body when she went to check on him. He’d only been out of the hospital for a few days. Jo said they’d discussed placing him on hospice, but they thought he had a little more time. But somewhere along the way, he caught pneumonia. It was more than his body could handle.”
I slump down the side of the SUV, landing on my ass. Leaning my head back against the tire, I clutch my chest. My poor girl. The thought of her dealing with this alone. “I just talked to her yesterday morning. I knew he’d been sick again, but she said he’d come home, so I thought he was doing okay. When did all of this happen?” I’d texted her good morning right after I arrived at the station. I was surprised when she called me right back. We didn’t normally have conversations at six in the morning. But the call was interrupted by one of many fire and medical calls that kept us hopping throughout the day. I never had a chance to speak with her again after that.
I think right after you spoke with her. Jo said she called him at about six thirty yesterday morning.
Pulling my phone away, I thumb through my call log. “I wonder why she didn’t call to tell me.”
“That’s why I’m letting you know. Jo said she’s practically catatonic. He and Charlene have tried, but she’s inconsolable. I hate to-”
“I’m on my way. Any chance you can pick me up in Key West? I’ll get the earliest flight I can find. If not, I’ll rent a car.” Driving any distance is going to be tough on no sleep, but hopefully, I can make it on pure adrenalin if I need to. “I can try to sleep on the flight.”
“Just get here. Text me with your flight information, and I’ll meet you there.”
“Harry. Where is she now? She’s not alone, is she?”
“No. Char is with her. But she needs you, Matt.”
* * *
Harry barely has his truck in park before I’m barreling out the door toward Ellie’s front door. Who was I kidding, thinking I could sleep on the plane? I couldn’t relax, that constant aching crevice in my chest reminding me that my girl was hurting.
Flinging the door open, I dash down the short hallway to her room. I carefully push the door open, not wanting to alarm her. Once inside, I find she’s lying with her back to me. Charlene lies behind her, rubbing her hand up and down Ellie’s arm. Char glances over her shoulder, and the look of relief on her face is instantaneous. She carefully lifts her hand and rolls to sit at the edge of the bed.
“I think she’s asleep. But it was a long night,” she whispers.
Tears well in my eyes hearing this. My strong girl. I’d managed to keep my shit together until now. But seeing her like this is gutting me.
Char places her hand on my arm reassuringly. “Thank you for coming. You’re what she needs right now.”
“Thank you for being here for her when I couldn’t,” I choke out. As tough as long-distance relationships are, the realization that she could be facing this without me had I not given us a chance makes me want to hurl.
Charlene gently closes the door behind her as I carefully lower myself onto Ellie’s bed. I want desperately to hold her but don’t dare wake her now that she’s finally given in to sleep. So I lie on my side, facing her back, as tears tumble down my cheeks. It took a tragedy like this to make one thing clear. I’ll never let her suffer alone again. I’m marrying this beautiful girl as soon as the time is right. Even if it’s at the Candy Cane Key Town Hall and our first dance as husband and wife is toGrandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.
As if my ridiculous thoughts have invaded the calm, I feel Ellie stir beside me. Quickly trying to find a way to let her know I’m here so I don’t frighten her, I discover it’s too late as she rolls to face me. My beautiful, broken girl doesn’t appear surprised I’m here. Had she been awake this whole time? Or is she simply numb to everything around her now?
