“Need anything before we go in there?”
“No. I wanted to talk to you in private.” His eyes sharpened, features intense. “About you and my mom.”
I braced for uncomfortable questions. His hard glare suggested he had plenty.
But what he asked threw me. “She doesn’t know what’s happening with you, does she?”
Smart kid.
“No, she doesn’t.”
“Were you planning to tell her?” Without waiting for an answer, Hunter lowered his voice in clear warning. “Friends shouldn’t keep big secrets from each other. Especially friends who kiss.”
“Noted.”
“Good. It’s scary to tell the truth sometimes, but it’s better. Trust me—I always feel better when I tell her the truth.” He turned and walked toward his grandfather’s room, leaving me stunned.
Fuck, he was right. “Hunter.”
He paused in the doorway.
I caught up in four quick strides. “It’s not fear holding me back. At least not the kind you’re thinking. My fear isn’t about your mom. It’s about Caleb.”
“I know. Just like I’m not afraid to meet my grandfather.” His eyes went glassy, breath strained. “But I am afraid of what happens when he dies—how sad my mom’s going to be. So, I’m still kinda scared to go in there. I don’t think it matters why.”
This kid’s insight put me to shame. “You’re right. Fear is fear. But you don’t need to worry. I’m not leaving your mom alone. I promise I’ll be with her. And I promise I’ll tell her everything.”
“Okay, good. But can you promise me one more thing? Give me warning next time you two decide to make out? Witnessing that was seriously disturbing.”
“Hey, she kissed me. I can’t be held responsible for my reaction to that.”
“Stop. I don’t want details. Save that talk for like three years from now, okay?”
“Deal.”
Our laughter was genuine but brief. When Hunter looked back toward the open doorway, the mood turned somber.
Squaring his shoulders again, he declared, “Let’s go meet my grandfather.”
I didn’t tell him I’d already met Frank Hartley. Didn’t tell him how brave I thought he was. Didn’t mention that despite my hope for the future, this could be the last time I ever saw him.
Instead, I wrapped my arm around his shoulders and squeezed. “Let’s do this.”
DAY MINUS 1
Chapter Thirty
Jamie
I’d always imagined my father’s death would be tumultuous. He was such a demanding, volatile man, I figured his death would be equally loud and abrupt.
It wasn’t.
He slipped away silently in the early morning hours as I sat by his bedside, holding his limp hand.
The timing matched almost exactly what the doctor had predicted, like they were counting down to his final breath. Or maybe they just knew how much morphine a failing body could tolerate before shutting down for good.
He never regained consciousness after forcing my promise to find a family. Never opened his eyes to meet Hunter. My son stared at his grandfather’s sleeping form for what felt like an eternity.
