“Hi. Sorry, I’m busy now.”
“Yeah. Who you got up there?”
“No one. I’m tired.”
“It’s about 4:00 p.m. A bit early to call it a day, don’t you think?”
“I can’t talk right now.” Lani went to shut the door, but he stopped her, then grabbed her arm as she turned away.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Try again.” He nudged her inside and shut the door. “You have panic written in big letters on your forehead.”
“No, I don’t.” Lani pulled free and backed away. “I need you to go.”
“And I will, when you tell me what’s going on, Lani.”
Mikey chose that moment to moan.
“Who’s here?” He walked past her and headed toward the stairs. Before she could stop him, he’d started up. She followed as fast as she could, but he had a bigger stride than hers.
“Mikey?” He was beside the bed when she reached the second floor, his hands stroking the hair from the boy’s forehead and cupping a cheek.
“What the hell is going on, Lani? He needs a doctor.” Noah’s look sliced through her.
“I know, but he wouldn’t let me call one. I was walking the trails and found him like this about twenty minutes ago. I brought him here and was about to call Jake.”
“No!” Mikey sat up. “N-not Jake.”
“Easy, tiger.” Noah eased him back down and pulled up the blankets. “Someone needs to see you, and it’s Jake or his mother.”
He was so gentle with the boy, his voice steady and calm. Hands soothing as he cupped Mikey’s head.
“You’re important to us, Mikey, and we need to get you well, because tomorrow’s a big day.”
Lani went around the bed as Noah talked and stood on the opposite side. She took Mikey’s hand and held it tight.
“The thing is, Mikey, whatever is going on with you could get worse, and you’re too important to us to let that happen. We need to get a doctor to see you, and in my mind Jake’s probably the best one right now.”
Mikey started to cry. The sobs were heart-wrenching. Lani climbed on the bed and hugged him. “Tell us what’s going on, Mikey. Why don’t you want to see Jake?”
“I-I smoked s-something.”
Lani went cold, her eyes meeting Noah’s. He must have seen the fear, as his finger touched her cheek, just a stroke, a reassurance.
“What did you smoke?” Noah asked.
“N-not sure.”
“I’m calling Jake now, Mikey. He needs to check you over.”
The boy burrowed into Lani.
“Be right back.” He leaned in and hugged Mikey. His hand then cupped Lani’s head briefly before he left, and it comforted her. Knowing he was here made her feel better, stronger somehow, and that was not good, not good at all.You are the only person you can rely on, Lani.
Chapter Twenty-Two
