Knowing how Zack could get distracted with the idea of a party after a little pain, I wondered if Zack didn’t have plans to come immediately home and thought we should doublecheck with him—and Braden was thinking exactlywhat I was. “Should we make sure he’s coming here afterward?”
“Oh, he is. I told him I was making steak and potatoes. He’ll be here.”
Relief washed over me like a gentle breeze. “Can we help with anything?”
Zack’s mom was tossing a green salad but paused. “Um…you can both set the dining room table—and put out butter and salad dressings.”
Silently, Braden and I did just that. Fortunately, both of us had spent so much time there over the past few years that we knew where everything was. After a bit, Cy came into the kitchen and, although we didn’t hear what he said, we could tell by Lacey’s tone of voice that something had happened.
Immediately, I suspected that Cy must have gotten a text from Zack. Maybe he’d driven by, seen our cars, and knew what was up. Braden and I exchanged glances and headed to the kitchen—but Cy and Lacey were already heading out back.
Of course, I started marching toward the back door, but Braden touched my arm. “Maybe we should wait.”
It turned out to be good advice because, seconds later, Cy and Lacey—on both sides of Zack’s grandpa—were helping him through the door. Braden and I backed out of the way as my mind raced, wondering what had happened. “Can you make it to the living room, dad?”
“I’m fine,” he said. “Just get me to the dining room and let me rest for a minute.”
“Dani, can you pull out a chair, please?”
“On it.” I practically raced to the dining room and pulled a chair away from the table, turning it slightly to make it easier to sit down.
Meanwhile, Lacey said, “Braden, please get a glass of water.”
Soon, we were all huddled around the table, eyes glued on Zack’s grandpa, a man I’d only ever met a few times—but most recently during the Christmas holidays. He had short gray hair, a full head that would make most men jealous, steely brown eyes that seemed as sharp as ever, and a big belly hidden fairly well under denim overalls. What I liked most about his grandpa was how he seemed mean and grumpy when you looked at him, but he was actually the sweetest, kindest man—and now I was concerned for him.
“I’m fine, kiddo,” he said to his daughter. “Stop fussing over me. And, Cy, you better get those steaks off the grill now or they’ll be burned and tough.”
Without a word, Cy hustled toward the back of the house.
“I’ll stop fussing when you tell me exactly what happened.”
He let out a long sigh, his way of telling her he wasn’t happy with the proceedings. Still, he obliged. “I felt a sharp stabbing pain in my chest, and I lost my breath. Then I got a little dizzy. But I’m fine now.” When Lacey narrowed her eyes, he said again, “I’mfine.”
“Promise me you’ll go to the doctor.”
He acted like he was going to argue—but he said, “If we can drop it now, I will. I’ll make an appointment Monday.”
“Promise?”
“I just told you I would.”
Standing up straight, she smoothed the front of her dark blue shirt. “Okay. But no more exertion today.”
“That wasn’t exerting.”
“Still.” She pursed her lips, cocking her head. “I think that’s Zack’s car outside. Braden, would you please get the sour cream out of the fridge and Dani, would you bring in the salad?”
While Braden and I were in the kitchen, Cy passed us with a platter full of steaks. Before we left, Braden shot me a worried expression—but I didn’t know if it was because of Zack’s grandpa or Zack himself. It could have been both, because I was a bundle of nerves due to it all.
“Mom,” Zack said as we entered the dining room, “you didn’t tell me everyone was going to be here.”
“I told you we were having a birthday dinner.”
“Yeah, that’s cool.” But there was something in his eyes that said it wasn’t.
But his mother was completely oblivious to it—or she didn’t care. “Well…let us see it.”
I’d already noticed the knuckle tattoos—on his right hand, each knuckle had a letter and together they spelledRIOT. He could have also had them tattooOUAR, as it was an abbreviation I’d already seen fans using online. As I stared at his hand, I pictured it moving down my bare belly where it had touched me dozens of times…and I swallowed, trying to bring myself back to reality.
