Page 82 of Hidden Plays
Did she know what was going on? “Holden, I think she’s in shock.” I released her hand. What was the protocol for that?
“Mom, look at me.” Holden grabbed her shoulders and turned her to face him. “Are you okay? Do you know where you are?”
Her unwavering stare softened, and then her expression brightened. “Holden Cox, are you gay?” The edge of her lips twitched.
“No, Mom, I’m bisexual. But JJ is my boyfriend. I love him. I’m…” He snuck a peek at me. “He’s the love of my life.”
Leah’s gaze softened, and she cupped his cheek. “I love you, Holden, and I support you.” She blew out a long breath and shook her head. “I’m just uh, I’m stunned.”
“I’m sorry it went down like this, Mrs. Cox.” I stepped closer to them. Thank God, she hadn’t reacted badly. “Holden needed me, and my dad?—”
“Is helping to save Noel.” She tilted her head. “JJ, what’s your last name?”
“Matthews.” I held my breath. Would she put it all together?
Her brows snapped up, and she covered her open mouth with her fingers. “Oh my, you’re Dan and Kelly’s son. They come into the bar for happy hour every other Friday.”
“I am.” I gave her my best smile as warmth threaded through my chest. “They love you, you know. They say great things about you. In fact, Dad won’t let any other bartender in the entire valley make him a Manhattan.” Goddamn, it was a small world.
“Come here.” She threw her arms around me for a perfect mom hug. “They’re both good people.” She freed me. “They talk about you nonstop. Your father is so proud of you.” She tapped my chest.
Holden’s eyes glittered as a grin tugged at his lips. “Mom, you don’t know how scared I was of this moment. But having this out in the open is making the bullshit with Noel bearable.”
“Oh, honey.” She side-hugged Holden. “We’ll get through this somehow.” She hooked an arm in mine and one in Holden’s. “Let’s go find your father. He was staring out a window anddrinking coffee when I left him.” She guided us toward the elevator.
“Mom, how will Dad react to JJ and me?” Holden tensed his jaw.
“He’ll experience the same shock I did, but he’ll be supportive.” The elevator door slid open, and she led us inside and then unhooked our arms.
“Are you sure? Noel thought Dad would cut me off financially.” Holden stepped to my side, threaded his fingers in mine and rested his head on my shoulder.
“Your father is not like that, and you know it.” She faced him, her gaze growing hard. “Why do you listen to your brother? I love him to death, but he thrives on drama. You know that.” Her expression fell flat. “God, how can I badmouth him when he’s fighting for his life?”
“I don’t know, Mom. But the state he’s in is a consequence of his own actions. Maybe now he’ll be open to treatment?” Holden frowned.
“I hope so.” She huffed as the elevator doors slid open. Walking out, she said, “You know your father started looking into rehab facilities.”
“He did?” Keeping his hand in mine, Holden guided me from the elevator and into the hallway.
No one had mentioned what was wrong with Noel. Should I bring it up? “Um, Holden, what’s your brother’s diagnosis?” I tugged on his hand to stop him. It might help to know what we were facing.
“Hang on, Mom.” Holden faced me. “He has a broken kneecap, a broken sternum and some broken ribs, but the biggest problem is he was bleeding internally. That’s why they had to get him into surgery right away.”
“Oh.” I nodded. “What drugs were in his system?” I glanced at Leah, who waited for us a few feet down the hallway.
“Alcohol, marijuana and meth.” He swallowed hard. “We didn’t know about the meth use, but at least it wasn’t heroin.”He sighed, his shoulders sagging. “But then, who knows? Maybe he just didn’t take it today.”
“I’m sorry, babe.” After giving him a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek, we ambled down the hallway again. Dad needed to know I was here. He wouldn’t look at his phone or know he was treating Leah’s son and Holden’s brother until after the surgery, but at least he’d want to find us and could provide more answers. “I’m texting my dad.” I slipped my phone out of my pocket and tapped the screen as we walked.
JJ
I’m here at the hospital. If you’re in surgery with Noel Cox, he’s Holden’s brother and Leah’s son. Leah is the bartender who makes great Manhattans for you at Eddy V’s. I’ll be waiting with the family.
There. Even if Dad weren’t working on Noel, he’d come find me. I looked up as we entered a waiting area with sterile blue vinyl couches and chairs.
A man sat on a couch with a Styrofoam coffee cup in his hand, his brown hair cut short and a frown on his face, staring straight ahead.
“Honey, I found Holden. He has a, um, a friend with him.” Furrowing her brows, Leah peeked at us.
