“Hi, I’m looking for Kimberly James’ room?” I said to the nurse.
“You must be Mackenzie,” the woman replied with a smile, then glanced down at my bag. “You came from the airport? Sandra said you had to fly back from Australia…”
I think I kept up my side of the conversation. The need to be polite rode me hard, but all small talk was shoved aside as I walked into the room.
“Mom…” No child should ever have to see their parent lying on a bed, looking as pale as the sheets. No one should trace all the wires stuck to their skin, trying to work out what they were all for. Staring at the heart monitor, seeing what should be a series of regular upwards spikes look instead like a wild wiggly line is something I’d want to spare anyone from. “Mom…”
“Mackenzie?” When she lifted her head, I dropped my bags to the ground and rushed over to place another pillow behind her head. “Baby, what’re you doing here?”
“I called her.” Sandra walked in, carrying a coffee. “Hello, sweetheart.” She pressed a kiss to my cheek. “How was your flight?”
Chapter 29
Troy
I went to bed feeling lighter than I had in years. Selling the farm was something I’d tried to avoid, so the relief that came from everyone agreeing to it was unexpected. I’d damn near floated down the hallway, because the weight of the world was finally off my shoulders. Opening my door when Mackenzie came home, drawing her inside. There was a sweetness to that which I didn’t deserve, but she came to my bed anyway.
And this time, it was different.
I couldn’t hold back what I felt. When she stared into my eyes, a look of wonder on her face, I was pretty sure on some level she knew. I was falling for her fucking hard and now… Freed of the farm, we could make a go of things, in the US or Australia. Wherever the hell she wanted, that was what my heart made clear, and I’d say the same to her the next morning, I promised myself.
Only to wake up and find her side of the bed was empty.
It took a second for me to realise that. My hand slid across the sheets before I even opened my eyes, some primitive instinct knew that reaching for her was my first priority. Patting themattress, then rolling up onto my elbow, I blinked and looked around, sure she had to be standing there, getting dressed.
Nope.
Jumping out of bed, I pulled on some shorts and then walked into her room, just in case she was there.
Nope.
The place was a mess, stuff thrown everywhere, but I didn’t look any closer. If I had, I’d have realised why. That her bag wasn’t there.
That she wasn’t.
Instead, I stuck my head in the bathroom, then walked out into the living room to see Charlie standing in the kitchen.
“Hey.” My voice was carefully modulated, softer in tone that I usually used. She glanced my way, a wary look in her eyes. That was on me, I realised. Whatever future lay ahead, making amends to my family was high on my to do list. “Seen Mackenzie?”
“Yes.”
The way she said that one word, gripping the sink edge as she turned around, it had my senses going on high alert. Something was wrong, I knew that in my gut and yet I forced myself to smile.
“She’s out in the rescue?” I asked. “Or in town, helping?—”
“Mackenzie’s gone, Troy.” I knew what every single one of those words meant, but put together, I couldn’t seem to get my head around them. Charlie sighed. “Her mum is in hospital and?—”
“Hospital?” Shaking my head, I wanted to dislodge this information, sending it flying out the door. “Why…? How…?”
“She got a call last night. I found her out in the dining room spiralling. While she got packed, I sorted out the tickets.”
Tickets. Hospital. Gone. My heart beat over and over, repeating those words for me. Didn’t help them sink in, though.
“No, she…” What was I going to say? That we had a moment last night that made clear we had a future together. “But…”
My hands flexed, the knuckles tight and sore from all the work we were forced to do yesterday.
Work I needed to finish today.
