Her phone rang, interrupting her thoughts. She reached out and snatched it up from where she’d set it on the bed beside her when she’d laid down.
The screen revealed it was her mom calling back, and while she would have liked a call from Ben more, Amelia didn’t hesitate to answer it.
“I was able to talk to Cole,” she said. “He, Annie, and the kids were at the estate when Duncan collapsed.”
“Oh, no,” Amelia said. “That must have been scary for the kids.”
“Yeah. Cole said they were pretty upset.”
“Are the kids with Cole?”
“No. Kiara stayed with all the kids until the housekeeper and her daughter showed up to watch them. Kiara then went with Ben and his bodyguard.”
“So they’re all there at the hospital?”
“Yes, but so far they don’t have any news.”
“Is Duncan still alive?”
“Yes,” her mom said. “He’s alive, but they’re running a bunch of tests to try to figure out why he collapsed.”
“Have they been able to talk to him?”
“Cole said that Elizabeth had been in to see him, but no one else. He said they’ve rented a short-term rental home near the hospital, and it sounds like Ben will be staying there with his mom for the time being.”
“Wow, they’ve organized things quickly.”
“I think it gave Annie something to do,” her mom said. “Get things organized while waiting for some answers. Plus, Cole said something about Jude having to make sure the security was arranged.”
“Security is a big issue for Duncan, so I guess they probably wanted to make sure that they could reassure him that it was taken care of.”
“The last thing he needs is more stress,” Charli said.
“Thanks for letting me know what’s going on. I appreciate it.”
“It’s no problem, sweetie,” her mom said. “I’ll let you know if Cole calls again with an update.”
“Thanks.”
After the call, Amelia shifted onto her back, her phone clutched to her chest. She was glad to hear that Duncan was still alive, and she knew that would be a relief for Ben as well.
Amelia didn’t know if she should text Ben or not. She didn’t want to bother him, but she also wanted him to know that she was there for him. She only wished that she could be with him the way Cole was there for Annie.
Unfortunately, Ben hadn’t wanted her to go with him. And while she understood why, it wasn’t how she wanted a relationship to be. If he wouldn’t let her be there for him the way he’d want to be there for her, what sort of relationship would they truly have?
It would feel one-sided and like all she did was take from Ben, when she wanted to be able to give to him too. Especially in the difficult moments.
If Ben couldn’t see that he needed to allow her to be there for him, then she couldn’t see how a relationship between them could work.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Ben was worn out by the time he made it back to the estate with his parents. It had been a long five days in Coeur d’Alene.
They might have made it back sooner, but his mom had refused to consider leaving until the medical staff had done every test possible to determine what had happened with his dad. And he’d stayed with her because his dad had asked him to.
He’d been only too happy to do that for her since he could see the toll it took on her to watch her husband of thirty years face a potentially life-threatening medical situation. She’d leaned heavily on Ben over the past five days. Other members of the family had been there as well, but their focus, rightfully so, had been more on his dad. Their dad.
They’d discharged his dad from the hospital the previous afternoon, but his mom had insisted that they stay one more night. Just to be safe.
