Page 91 of Winning Match
“Have some water,” B recommends.
But I push the glass away, preferring to suck down my margarita like its nectar from the gods. The only thing keeping me tethered to reality.
My phone buzzes on the bar top and I swear when I note Gladys’s name. I don’t want her to worry. I don’t want the Sewing Circle to know that since I landed in Spain, I’m zero for two.
I ignore the call but a second later, Judith’s name appears on the screen.
Groaning, I drop my head into my hand and slurp until I’m only sucking up the melted ice cubes of my drink.
When Grandpa calls, my self-pity morphs into actual concern—for others.
Is it Dad? Dorothy?
I answer the phone. “Hello?”
“Kid.” Grandpa’s voice is scratchy.
I sit up straight, feeling a hell of a lot more sober than I did a minute ago.
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
Grandpa sighs heavily. “Your dad’s okay?—”
“What happened?”
“He fell.”
“He fell?”
Grandpa clears his throat. “Take a deep breath, Marlowe.”
I do as he says. And then, my voice gets smaller. “He fell?”
“He broke his hip.”
Fuck. I drop my forehead to my hand, sucking in deep breaths as tears burn my eyes. “Is he okay?”
“He’s okay,” Grandpa murmurs reassuringly. “But he’s in and out of it. He has…it’s going to be a long road to recovery. This is a tough injury on its own but with his…”
“I know,” I supply, so he doesn’t have to say it. Cognitive decline.
Grandpa grunts. “It’s going to be rough. This one has taken the wind from his sails. From everyone’s sails,” he amends. And I know what he’s asking without asking.
“I’ll be home by tomorrow.”
“You don’t have?—”
“I’ll get on the first flight out,” I cut him off. “I closed the account, Grandpa. I did what I stayed to do. I’m coming home.”
“What about?—”
“Things ran their course,” I interject, repeating Ale’s words that I hate. My voice is sharp and clipped. The last thing I want to do is cry to Grandpa about my heartbreak. Especially when my dad is thousands of miles away, confused and hurt and suffering an actual injury.
“I’m sorry, kid. I really am.”
“I’ll send you my flight info as soon as it’s sorted.”
“Okay. Be safe, Marlowe.”
