Page 104 of Strictly Pretend

“I love you,” I tell Linc. Then I look at them one by one. “I love all of you. But I need to do this alone.”

Because there’s no way the first time they meet Emma is going to be like this.

Linc pouts. “Are you sure?” he asks. “Because I could do with a kid free night right now.”

“I’m certain,” I growl. “I gotta go. I have a helicopter to catch.”

CHAPTER

TWENTY-SEVEN

EMMA

I hold Granddad’s hand for the entire drive to the hospital. The EMTs have him on a gurney, all kinds of pads on his chest that are hooked up to a monitor that one of the EMTs is watching. He has one of those big plastic masks on his face, feeding him oxygen.

He looks so scared and it takes every inch of strength I have not to show him I’m just as petrified. He’s the only family I have left. I can’t lose him, I’m not ready.

I send up a prayer, begging for more time. I’ll do anything for it. The time I didn’t have with my parents, the time that wasn’t enough with Grandma.

“Emma?” His voice is frail. “Is that you?”

A tear rolls down my cheek and I wipe it away, annoyed at myself. He needs me to be strong. “I’m here, Granddad,” I tell him. “It’s okay, you’re going to be okay.”

When we arrive at the hospital they wheel him through some big doors, then point me toward the waiting room. “Someone will come talk with you just as soon as they can,” the EMT tellsme, patting my hand. “Why don’t you go register your granddad, that would be great.”

“Can’t I stay with him?” I ask. “What if…”

She catches my eye. “We’re not there yet. We need to get him stable. You’ll see him just as soon as he is.” She gives me a soft smile. “Try to relax. He’s going to need your strength later.”

My phone buzzes in my pocket as I walk toward the waiting area. There’s a line of people waiting at the desk. I pull my phone out of my pocket and see Brooks’ name on the screen and that’s when I start to really cry.

I can’t talk to him. Not now. I don’t have the energy to be angry, and this waiting area, full of scared relatives, isn’t the place to ask him the questions I have.

Truth be told, I’m scared. Because I trusted him with everything I had and it hurts that he didn’t at least give me the courtesy of a heads up about the lawyers. I get that business is important. If he would’ve asked me, I would’ve told him that just because we’re sleeping together it doesn’t mean he has to treat me and Granddad any differently when it comes to the shop lease. I’d already agreed to go look at the new facility. After Granddad started talking about being too old to run the shop, I was even starting to think the new place could be a good thing. We could go fully online, and we’d have more space and a lot more organization.

But now I can’t think straight at all. And the hurt is so painful that it’s getting harder to breathe.

So I reject the call and then turn my phone off, because the only important person right now is in the ER about a hundred yards from where I’m standing. Rita is closing up the shop for me and then she’s driving over here.

Everything else can wait.

It takes ten minutes for Granddad to get fully registered. It feels like I have to answer a thousand questions, most of which I can only guess at answers to.

“Okay, we’re good.” The clerk gives me a reassuring smile. “Take a seat, and one of the medical staff will call your name when they’re ready.”

I sit on the hard plastic chair and stare into space. I can’t look at my phone, I can’t pick up one of the old tattered magazines that are scattered on the tables around me. It’s all I can do to bite my lip and stop the tears from flowing.

I’ve never felt so alone in all my life.

After another ten minutes I walk over to the clerk to ask if there’s any update. He gives me a sad shake of the head and promises me as soon as they’re ready somebody will talk to me.

“Is that bad news?” I ask him. “It has to be bad news.”

“Honestly, it’s just no news,” he says. “They’re hugely busy and understaffed back there, but your granddad is getting the best attention money can buy.” He gives me a sympathetic look. “There’s a vending machine over there if you’d like a coffee.”

I think about the cups of coffee that are sitting cold in the bookshop. I shouldn’t have gone to get the coffee. I should have been there when the man came with his stupid letter. Granddad didn’t need to know about any of this.

Or maybe he did. Maybe if I’d told him about the whole situation he wouldn’t have been taken by surprise. I thought I could manage it myself without him worrying. But now look at what’s happened. This is my fault.

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