Page 64 of The Yips

I dialed Josie and let it ring through once before trying again. When she answered, she yelled, “This better be goddam important, Samuel.”

“It’s Dad.”

“Fuck, what happened?” I filled her in on what Monica had shared and told her I would call her more once I got to the hospital and had additional information. While I talked, she searched for flights to New York and booked one arriving after five that evening.

“Can you tell Mom?” I asked.

“Yeah, I will. Are you going to be okay until I get there?” Josie and I had been each other’s rocks through the turmoil in our childhood. Unless you lived in a family torn apart from alcohol, you couldn’t understand what it was like to love your parent fiercely and loathe everything about them. As adults, we understood why our mother left, but we hated her for giving up on him. There was always a what-if, but I’d always wondered what our lives would have been like if only we’d been enough for him.

“Kelsey is coming with me. I’ll be good.”

“Okay, love you, Sammy,” she said, reverting to her childhood nickname for me.

“Love you, too, Jo Jo.”

Kelsey returned carrying Crew, who was actively nursing. Her father was in tow, and I had finished dressing. “Hey, my dad can take tomorrow off work to help with Crew. Is it okay with you if he texts Monica to book another night here? It doesn’t sound like we’ll make it to the Hamptons tonight.”

“That would be great. Can you ask her to try to bookboth rooms for another night?” I asked him while he nodded.

Crew had finished eating, and I held my arms out to him. I needed to feel him in my arms. How had my life changed so much that I sought comfort from this happy infant boy? He giggled when I blew a raspberry on his cheek and blew bubbles back at me before I handed him back to his grandfather.

Kelsey’s Dad clapped me on the back in a silent show of support as we both kissed Crew’s forehead and left.

“Sam,” Kelsey said, taking my hand and turning my head to meet her gaze, “This isn’t only yours to fix. I’m not leaving your side, okay?”

“Thank you,” I answered thickly, fighting back tears.

CHAPTER 57

Kelsey

When we arrived at the hospital, we were informed only immediate family was allowed in the room with Sam’s father, so I stayed in the waiting room. I felt useless as I thumbed mindlessly through the magazines on the table. After Sam had been in the room for at least an hour, a gorgeous woman arrived, claiming to be Sam Sr.’s wife.

Based on the lewd comments Sam Sr. had levied at the waitress last night, I hadn’t expected there to be a wife.

“Name, please?”

“Veronica Drummond.”

“I’m going to check with both Mr. Drummond’s to confirm. Hold tight.”

As I inspected the woman more closely, I noticed the resemblance between her and Sam. He was the perfect combination of both of his parents.

“Excuse me, are you Sam’s mom?” I asked hesitantly.

She turned around, and I realized then that she was in a panic. “Kelsey? What am I saying? Of course, you’re Kelsey. I recognize you from the photos. Yes, I’m Sam’s mom. Don’ttell them we’re no longer married. Please. They’ll never let me in.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know I should expect you. Sam’s been in the room for an hour, and I haven’t had any updates.”

“It’s okay. I know I’m the last person you expected to show up here. Sam and I still talk. He’s, well, he’s my best friend. I couldn’t stay married to him for obvious reasons,” she said with a sad shrug.

I couldn’t imagine what it must have been like losing your husband to alcohol, and it was clear that his mother still loved his father deeply. Just then, Sam texted me.

Sam: I forgot to mention that my parents are still in love with each other…

Me: Yeah, I was wondering if I needed to lie to your mom about where he was.

Sam: No, she’s been waiting for him to quit drinking since the day she left him.

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