Page 14 of One Last Kiss
“Well? Thought you wanted out of here,” Nora yelled down to Abby.
“I do.” Abby dragged herself up the creaky staircase. Suddenly, she didn’t know what she wanted anymore. She thought she did before getting locked in the basement with Sam. Now, her thoughts were jumbled and confused. If Sam really wanted a second chance, he wouldn’t have given up so easily. The offer must have been an impulse that he’d immediately regretted. That’s why he hadn’t given her time to think and respond. His offer wasn’t sincere. Instead, it was just cruel.
Sam didn’t drink much,but he was drinking this afternoon. Not that it would do him any good. It wouldn’t make things work out with Abby or erase the history they shared. Their marriage had gone off the rails somewhere between their decision to get pregnant, fertility treatments, and a miscarriage.
Why hadn’t she told him before last night?
He decided another beer was in order and stood to go get it. Before he reached the fridge, his doorbell rang. He debated pretending that he wasn’t home, but his truck was parked in the driveway. With a sigh, he changed direction and opened the door to his brothers.
“What are you doing here?” Sam asked.
Jack frowned. Noah, who was usually always smiling, also frowned. Sam had a sinking feeling in his gut, gurgling with his beer, that his bad day was about to get worse.
“Might want to sit down, bro,” Noah advised.
“Screw sitting. Just tell me.”
Jack nodded. “Dad’s in the hospital. We’ve been calling you all day.”
Sam had heard his phone ringing, but he hadn’t been in the mood to talk. He was still in such a funk about last night. He’d woken and gone out on the boat early this morning. That usually consoled him, but not this time. Then he’d come home to drink and watch TV. “What’s wrong with Dad? Is he okay?”
“He’s resting after surgery,” Noah said.
“Surgery?” Sam felt his blood pressure spike. “For what?”
“His appendix burst,” Jack told him. “While they were in there, they found something else.”
Sam swallowed. Maybe he should have sat down after all. “Cancer?”
Both Jack and Noah looked grim as they stared back at him.
“They’re running some more tests. The doctor said we’d know more in the next few days.” Jack patted Sam’s upper arm.
Sam looked between his brothers. “I’ve had a few drinks. Can I catch a ride to the hospital with one of you?”
“I’ll take you,” Jack offered.
On the ride over, Sam focused on his dad. Or tried to. Abby kept creeping back into his thoughts though, which made him feel worse. How could he think of her when his dad was sick and possibly dying?
What would he do if his dad didn’t make it? His dad had always been the cornerstone of the family. After their mom died, their father had essentially served the role of both parents. He’d been a great dad, whereas Sam had briefly been a father and hadn’t even known. Over the last twelve hours, he’d considered the signs he’d missed. Abby had been moody. She’d had cravings that surprised him. Maybe if he’d paid more attention…
Sam massaged his forehead as he rode shotgun, wondering when everything in his life had gotten so messed up. He was the oldest son, the responsible one. The one everyone could always depend on. But it turned out no one, not even his own wife, could rely on him.
They made it to the hospital and headed to his dad’s second floor room. As they entered, his dad’s eyes cracked opened.
“Oh. It’s only you,” Pete Sawyer said weakly.
“Fine welcome that is,” Sam said.
“I was hoping for that nurse to come again. She’s very nice.” His dad’s eyebrows lifted slightly, and Sam had to laugh.
“Nothing wrong with your eyes, I see.” He sat in the chair next to his dad’s bed. “Sorry I wasn’t here.”
“You’re here now.” His dad looked at him. “I tried to call you last night too. Did you have a hot date? Maybe it ran over into this morning?”
“No. I was with Abby last night,” Sam admitted.
“Oh. Is that a good thing?”
