Page 12 of Operator
Callum steers one-handed into the long driveway, and even from a distance I can see an ambulance parked in front of the house. My heart drops to my butt. It's only the wriggling life inside of me that reminds me to breathe.
He parks the car and squeezes my hand. “You stay here,” he orders without preamble.
I object immediately. “The hell I will.”
I may move slowly, but it's fast enough to get out of the car before he can reach my side.
His expression is thunderous. “Dammit, woman. Can’t you ever do what you’re told?”
“I’m not one of your soldiers you can order around.” I saysoldiersbecause I know Marines are touchy about that, and maybe I want to piss him off a little. It’s better than being worried with him or for him. It’s better than wanting his hand back on mine.
“You stay out here. I mean it. Stay here or I’ll tie your ass to the passenger seat.”
“Either you let me come with you or I’ll go in without you after you walk away. Your choice,” I respond with a stubborn jut of my chin.”
“Fine, but stay behind me. I don’t want you getting hurt because of some overzealous EMT.” He glares at me as though he intimidates me one iota.
“Whatever. Let’s go.”
He mutters under his breath about beating my ass, but I pay him no attention. At first, my stomach is in my throat at the sight of the paramedics and the flashing blue and red lights. Instantly, my thoughts are transported back to that night nearly a year ago when I had to call 9-1-1 for completely different reasons. Losing someone else? It might break me.
An EMT walks out of the house with Bunny clinging close to her. Relief washes over me in a brilliant wave. She's okay. I hurry as fast as my body will allow to her side. Once she notices me, she launches herself into my arms as she dissolves into sobs.
Callum follows close behind me. To his mom, he says, “What happened? Is Dad okay?”
Bunny, true to form, is in a state. “They think it’s a st-stroke. We won’t know how bad until they get him into the hospital.”
Callum turns his gaze to the EMT, knowing Bunny will only get more and more anxious if she has to explain. “One of you can ride in the ambulance to the hospital. The rest can follow behind.”
Bunny wails into my shoulder. “I’ll go with your father. I can’t leave him.”
“Of course. Cal and I will take my car. You go, be with him.” I take Bunny under one arm and murmur soothing words to her. It takes a while, but I manage to calm her down enough by getting her loaded into the ambulance. I can barely look at Todd, who seems too small on the gurney. Despite his gray pallor, he looks so much like Ian, it takes my breath away.
“We’ll be right behind you,” I say despite the strangling sound in my voice.
CHAPTER SIX
CALLUM
“I’ve seenthe way you look at her,” Bunny says at the hospital room door.
“Look at who?” I ask, but I’d have to be an idiot to not know who she’s talking about. I nearly sigh. You’d think her husband lying in a hospital bed with tubes and wires all over the fucking place would be enough to get her to leave me the hell alone, but no.
I’ve always been her favorite punching bag.
And now, when she’s stressed and frazzled and needs to let off steam, of course she turns to me. I’m the perfect target. A headache begins to brew behind the back of my eyes. I brace myself for the onslaught, my body tensing and my fists clenching by my sides. My expression goes slack. I’ll put up with whatever she’s got to say and more. I’m done running away.
“Don’t be stupid. Gwen’s been through enough. You’re only here because your father can’t manage the businesses alone anymore with his health being so bad. We’ll sell everything before we let you run her off.”
The scorn in her voice is enough to flay my nerves. But I have thick skin where my parents are concerned. I don’t answer because she wouldn’t hear me if I did. One of these days, her opinion won’t matter as much as it used to. Until then, I’ll weather the storm because Gwen may not admit it, but I think she needs me to stay. She’s working herself to the bone and a blind man could see it.
“Leave her alone,” Bunny warns before turning on her heel to go back to Dad’s side.
I grind my teeth, which doesn’t help the headache. Gwen wasn’t the only reason I stayed away from Sweet Creek. My parents were reason enough. The only time I ever visited—against my will—was because of Ian. Once he was gone, it was easy to stay away.
Now, I’m determined to stick it out. If not only for Dad’s sake, but for Gwen’s.
There was a time when a part of me, no matter how small, that knew I couldn’t stay away for long. That I’d be right back where I started. Just not under quite these circumstances. It says a lot about me that she’s what I would be thinking about while moping around the hospital. I guess Bunny had been right to worry.
