Page 125 of Delicate Storm

“You haven’t pushed anything.I’vebeen pushing it. If my life has an expiration date, then I’m going to spend as much time as I can with my kids and my grandchild. You can’t stop me.”

“But—”

“I won’t let you ruin the time I have left. That’s why I never told you.”

“Fuuck,” I curse under my breath and run my hands down my face, letting my fingers drag, pulling at my skin. “What if you’re speeding things up? What if—”

“How long?” Keeley cuts me off and my gaze flashes to hers.

“How long, what? How long have I known?” Mom questions, but I know exactly what Keeley’s asking.

“How long do you have left?”

Mom sighs, holding her hands out for both of us to take. “No one knows exactly. Could be a year, could be ten.”

“Christ.”

“Only He can help me now.”

“Mom.” God, she can be so frustrating but I get it. I’d probably act the same way if I knew death was coming for me.

“What are—”

“Now that we have that out of the way,” Mom cuts me off, “I need you to distract me with something.”

“Have you told Addison?” I ask, switching into pragmatic mode, needing to get things organized. “Is she on her way here?”

Mom groans. “How isthata distraction?”

“She’s the dramatic one of the three of us,” I say even though that’s not at all what I meant. “I’m sure she’s got some issue she’ll need help with.”

“I’m sure you’re right, but I haven’t told her yet. She doesn’t need to rush here. I’m not dying tomorrow.”

“Mom,” Keeley complains and this time, I agree with her response.

“Stop. Both of you. The best way to help me is to let me live. So either distract me or go home.”

“Fine. Isaac had—”

“Easton’s in love,” Keeley blurts, making me choke.

“The fuck, Keeley?”

Mom’s face lights up and I both love and hate it. “That worked. Thank you. Now I need all the details.”

“I’m not in love.”

Mom frowns before it morphs into a smile again. “Maybe not. But I’m guessing there is a girl. A special someone. Whether you love her or not.”

“There’s no one.”

“It’s Paige,” Keeley answers for me and I groan, throwing my hands in the air.

“Paige. As in your big boss’s daughter, Paige? Isaac’s bestie, Paige?”

“Isaac’s what?”

Mom laughs to herself, muttering something about how much fun this is going to be. “Isaac talks about her all the time. I thought that was just from the few times we’d seen her. I didn’t realize he knew her better than that.”

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