“Hello.”
Macy's heart started racing as her mother shrieked into the phone. The panic in her voice was very real, for once.
“I'll be right there.”
“Problems?”
He was behind her, so she made herself turn and face him.
“Dad took a bad turn last night. Both Doctors McBride are with him now.”
“I'm sorry.”
“I-I need to get there.”
“I'll watch Billy, you just go.”
“I can't—”
He grabbed the hand she dragged through her hair and pulled her into his body, simply holding her. Macy closed her eyes as she allowed herself a few brief seconds to rest on his chest. She had no rights to this man, but right now she would take his strength.
“I'm sorry about this morning, Brad, but it has to be that way.”
“I got that, now you go and get your things, and I'll drive you over.”
“I can drive.”
“Sure, and I've seen you, but you're shaking, so not today.”
She was shaking. She'd had calls before, but Macy knew this one was different. This one could mean her father had only a short time left, and that scared her.
Macy made herself pull out of his arms.
“Thank you for understanding about us…. I mean—”
“There is no more us.”
“Yes. I'll ring a few people, see who can take Billy now, if Dad… oh God.” She pressed a hand to her mouth.
“Macy, I got him. He's fine with me, and I'll look after him until you get home.”
“I was mean to you.”
He sighed. “No, you were honest, and sometimes that makes us mean.”
She nodded. This man could have been important to her before life had played its hand on them both.
“Go now, and get what you need, and then we'll leave.”
“Okay.”
They pulled out of the drive a few minutes later, and she was glad he was behind the wheel because her insides felt funny. She’d known her father was deteriorating fast, and the panic in her mother's voice told her this time it was bad.
“Call us if you need us, Macy.”
Brad pulled up outside her parents’ house and her stomach dropped as she saw Jake's pickup.
“Okay, and you be good for Brad, sweetie.”
