I round the table and sit in the chair beside him, taking his hand in mine. “What is it, babe?”
His gaze lifts and meets mine. Tears well and he doesn’t try to blink them away. “Mom has breast cancer.”
All the air leaves my lungs, and it takes a few moments to form any words. “I’m so sorry.” The words rasp out as my chest tightens.
“So am I,” he murmurs.
He stares at me as though he wishes I could read his mind. Finally, it registers. “You need to go home.”
He nods slowly.
“Do you want me to come with you?”
He shakes his head.
I can’t breathe.
“Brandon, I can go with you. You don’t need to do this alone.”
He squeezes my hand. “Thank you,” he whispers as though it’s too hard to speak. “But I have no idea how long I’ll be gone. I need to be there to support her until we know more. I don’t even know how much time she has left.”
“She’s a strong woman. She’ll fight.” I try to think of every word to reassure him his mother will be okay.
He leans in and kisses my lips. “I have a flight in six hours. I’m going home to pack some things.”
“Tonight?” I croak.
“I’m sorry, Lottie. Only a few hours ago, everything was perfect. Now…” he shakes his head. “I don’t know what happens next.”
I wrap my arms around him. “I can come with you.” I’m close to begging him to let me be there to help.
He shakes his head. “We need this time as a family. Mum needs some privacy. When the time is right, I’ll call, and if you can spare the time to come out, then we can arrange it.”
Spare the time?
“This place doesn’t need me,” I state. “You do.”
He tilts his head as though I’m missing the point. “You are the governor. I… I…”
“What?”
“Don’t know when I’ll return.” He looks deep into my eyes, tears spilling onto his cheeks. “IfI’ll come back.”
“No.” I shake my head at him. “Don’t say that.”
“It’s true.”
“Then I’ll come to you. But don’t you dare give up on me. Give up on us.”
He leans forward, his elbows on his knees and his face in the palms of his hands. “It’s so fucked up.”
With my arm around him, I lean my head on his shoulder. “It is. But we will get through thistogether.”
40
CHARLOTTE
One week later…
