Page 48 of Will & Patrick's Endless Honeymoon
“It’s not just about you, William. You can’t just keep your phone turned off like this. What if there was an emergency? What if Caitlin, Olivia, or Connor needed you?”
Patrick blows a raspberry at her guilt trip.
Will closes his eyes and summons patience. “If there was a true emergency, Jenny would know about it, and she knows where we are.” Will rubs his mother’s shoulder. “She’d have contacted the hotel and they’d have made sure we got the message. Do you understand?”
“You better. Because it’s ridiculous to interfere like this,” Patrick gestures at her sharply. “And it’s exactly what we were trying to avoid.”
Kimberly’s eyes fill with tears. “Well, when you’re a mother and you hear your son is in the hospital possibly dying—”
“He said I was dying?” Will can’t believe his father would take the farce that far just to get Kimberly to Hawaii for a too horrible to imagine fuck fest.
“No, but you might have been!” she exclaims. “You know what happened the last time you went to the hospital!”
“That was a few ER trips ago, actually.” Will gently squeezes her shoulder and peers into her eyes, trying to pass his seriousness and sincerity through to her. “I haven’t come close to dying in a long time.”
“Don’t remind me how often you end up in the hospital, young man! It doesnotmake me feel better!” She blinks tears from her blue eyes and digs in her purse for a tissue.
“Speaking of hospitals,” Patrick says, rubbing his temples before giving her a half-smile. “How’s Kevin’s dumb head? Good as new I hope?”
“He’s taking care of the children. He’sfine.” She wipes at her nose. “He just has to stay off the horses for a while. That’s all.”
“Good to hear.” Patrick nods, considering. “I guess I’ll have to trust Dr. Lerma’s opinion.” Though it is obvious to Will that he wants to check Kevin over again himself.
“Look, this is Dad’s fault, okay?” Will says, returning his focus to his mom. “He wanted you here and he got what he wanted.”
“Where is he?” she asks, looking around hopefully. She straightens her dress and runs a hand over her hair. “I’ve tried to text him since I landed but he hasn’t answered.”
“He’s probably enjoying his new bride,” Patrick says. “In a bush. Or on the beach. Somewhere public if possible. The way he likes it best.”
Will pleads, “Patrick, don’t.”
Kimberly stares at Patrick, opens her mouth, and shuts it. And then her eyes don’t just fill with tears—they spill over.
“Mom?” Will asks, pulling her into his arms. “Hey, don’t cry. I’m fine. I’m sorry I yelled at you—”
“I’m not sorry,” Patrick says, rolling his eyes.
Will ignores him and when his mother doesn’t stop crying, he steers her toward a bench beneath a pergola strewn with pink and yellow flowers on a vine. It’s out of the way of the main lobby and less public. They’ve made enough of a spectacle.
“I’m not crying about you,” Kimberly says, reaching into her purse to pull out a tissue.
“You’re not?”
“No. Of course not.” She waves dismissively at him. “You’re fine.”
Will grinds his teeth as he takes a seat beside his mother. Patrick’s stomach growls and Will sighs. It’s only a matter of time before Patrick gets truly hangry, if he isn’t already. And Will needs dinner too. For his health.
“How can I help you, Mom?” he asks, hoping to cut to the chase, but most conversations with his parents are like labyrinths. He can get in, but he can’t get out.
“Did you say Tony is married?” Kimberly asks, her gaze swerving back to Patrick.
“As married as ketchups in a diner,” Patrick confirms.
Her lips twist slightly, but she sits up straighter. Her voice is tight when she asks, “To whom?”
“Angelica Madison.” Patrick raises a brow. “Stripper extraordinaire. Lovely girl. She’sfun.”
“Patrick…” Will warns again. The Hawaiian breeze washes over them along with the scent of jasmine.
