Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25885 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25885 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
“I hear you.”
“I’m trusting you, son, to take care of your brother. You both get here safe, you hear? Your mom will be spitting fire when she wakes up and hears you were all irresponsible.”
There’s a choked laugh. “Yeah, you’re right. She would be mad.”
“What’s he saying?” I hear Dunc ask.
“You’d know if you stayed on the phone,” shoots back Van.
“Fuck you. I’m trying to get to the hospital.”
“Not in that state, you’re not. Look, here’s our ride.” To me, he says, “Bye.”
And those are the last words I hear until the thud of boots on the hallway fifteen minutes later. I look up to see only Dunc.
He clears his throat. “Van went upstairs to see Sadie. I need to know—is she—” He can’t finish.
I throw an arm around his shoulder and draw his body next to mine. “There’s no update yet, but she’s going to be fine. You and I will make it so. Together.”
He sags into me, and then a sob catches in his throat. He turns and buries his head in my neck and weeps silently. Tears prick my eyes as well. Oh, Fischl, honey, come back to us. We’re two broken shells without you.
CHAPTER 20
FISCHL
I try to open my eyes when I hear my name being called, but they feel as though they have weights on them. The voices are familiar, but I can’t really piece together what else they’re saying. Only a word here and there. Something about an accident and surgery.
Every fiber of my being hurts. Panic begins to rise in me as I try to get my bearings. I take a deep breath, trying to calm down. But even doing that seems to be a chore.
“Sadie!” My eyes spring open when the memories of what happened flood my mind.
“I’m okay,” I hear her say softly. I try to sit up, wanting to see her, but get nowhere. Two arms are pushing me back down.
“Baby, it’s all right.”
“Cooper,” I whisper, my voice cracking. Relief fills me knowing that he’s here.
“You’re fine and so is Sadie, but I need you to stay in bed. No quick movements.” My eyes start to clear more. “Flip off some of those lights,” Cooper orders, making everything come into view now. Well, at least Cooper comes more in focus because he’s leaning over me with his hands on my shoulders keeping me in place.
“What happened?” Cooper presses his mouth against mine in a soft kiss before he finally answers me.
“There was a police chase, and the guy they were after crashed head-on into you and Sadie.”
“I remember Sadie screaming and the sound of the impact, but everything after is blank.” That’s not a sound any parent ever wants to hear. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.
“You were pretty banged up when the ambulance brought you in. Docs had to do surgery because your lung collapsed,” Cooper continues. Holy crap. No wonder it feels as if I was hit by a bus.
I glance over to my right, now that my eyesight has cleared to see Sadie, Van, Dunc, and Sebastian all sitting there. It’s the first time since we merged families that I’ve seen them all sit close together. They look tired and have worry etched on their faces.
“Well, this is a welcome sight. I mean you guys should have told me that all I needed to do was almost die in order for all of you to get along.” I try to lighten the mood in the room, but no one laughs. “Too soon?”
“Fuck, Mom.” Cooper steps aside to make room for Van. He places his hand on Van’s shoulder, and to my surprise he doesn’t try to push it off. “You scared the hell out of me.” I reach my hand up to cup his face.
“I’ll be okay.” Van takes my hand into his. I can’t help but smile seeing Cooper and Van standing side by side. “Sadie, sweetheart.”
“Told you guys I shouldn’t drive.” Sadie comes to stand on the other side of the bed. She has a bright pink sling on her arm. Her eyes are red. Dunc stands right behind her.
“I’ll drive you.” Dunc says it like an order.
“I can drive my own sister.”
“You have early football practice.” Van starts to respond, but Cooper cuts in.
“Dunc can take Sadie to school.” Sadie glances over her shoulder at Dunc. I don’t think she’s too excited about it.
“I’m sure I could just, ah—” Sadie tries to think of some excuse.
“I’ll take you.” Dunc takes a step closer to her, crowding her in.
Sebastian stands at the end of the bed. Our eyes lock, and I know what he’s thinking, and it’s not that he can’t take his own daughter to school because he could. It’s that things are starting to settle. He gives me a half-smile. I’m sure it’s all he can muster with what he’s been through today.