Page 63 of My Heart to Keep
I watched in horrid fascination at how well composed he was and how he knew what he was doing.
Trevor tapped my dad’s face. “Mr. Thompson.”
Tears flowed hot and fast down my cold cheeks.
“Get your mom,” Trevor ordered as though he were in charge.
Hell, he was, because I couldn’t even craft a damn sentence or thought. All I kept thinking was that Daddy wasn’t going to make it.
Don’t think like that.
Mom? Crap.
Trevor felt for a pulse. “Oh shit.” He began CPR. Trevor was giving my dad CPR.
I slapped a hand over my mouth.
“Get your mom!” Trevor said again in a tone that could scare a rat.
I heard him, but I still couldn’t move. This couldn’t be happening.
Trevor blew into Daddy’s mouth then did chest compressions, counting to himself to kick-start Daddy’s heart.
That thought snapped me out of my haze. My body thawed, and my feet began to move. I spun on my heel and raced up to the house faster than sprinters on an Olympic track, crying and praying Daddy didn’t die.
Itexted Quinn.
Me:Hey, babe. Hope you’re having a good day so far. I can’t wait to see you. I’m stopping by school around lunch to say hi and talk to Coach Dean. What time is your lunch period?
I set my phone down on the bathroom counter and was about to take a shower when my phone rang. Maybe Quinn was in between classes.
Liam’s name lit up my screen.
I tapped Answer and immediately asked, “Dude, are you coming home for Thanksgiving?” With the NCAA in preseason, I didn’t think Liam would make it home.
“I need your help,” he rushed out. “Can you and your brothers head to the farm and feed the horses?” He sounded frantic. “I’m trying to get a flight now. If I can, I should be there early tonight. Carter is on his way from Boston. He’ll be there before me. Please, dude. You got to go.”
I rubbed a hand down my chest. “Slow down. What’s going on?”
He sucked in a breath. “My dad had a heart attack.” His voice hitched on the last two words.
My eyes flew wide open as I gawked at myself in the mirror. “Is he…” I couldn’t bring myself to say the word. I clutched my chest, remembering when the military had shown up at the door to break the bad news to us about Dad. I pressed my fingers over my heart. It felt as though I had a Mack truck sitting on me.
I blew out breath after breath. Quinn must be going crazy. I started the shower to get my ass in gear. I had to take care of my girl.
“He’s in surgery,” Liam said. “Mom said something about a blockage, and if Trevor wasn’t there, my dad wouldn’t be alive.”
“Trevor?” Surely he couldn’t be talking about the same boy who was related to Sloane. What would he be doing on the Thompson farm?
“Some guy on the basketball team my dad just hired. Look, Quinn is a mess. When you’re finished at the farm, make sure you get over to the hospital. She’s going to need you.”
He didn’t have to tell me twice. “I’ll wrangle some guys and take care of the horses. I’ll have my mom head to the hospital to see if she can help in any way. Maybe the farm store?”
“Nah. My mom hadn’t opened the store. All this happened about four thirty this morning in the horse barn. Quinn and Trevor found him. I gotta go. I’m at the airport. I’ll see you soon, and thanks, man.” He hung up.
I stood idle for a minute, my brain scrambling to figure out who else I could get in addition to my brothers. I knew just the person to call.
On the first ring, Coach Dean answered. “Maiken?”
