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“Ash is in Chicago,” I told her, knowing that Mom must’ve put me on speaker phone by now. “I guess something happened with his dad, and he’s in the hospital.”
“Chicago?” Dad’s voice was clear now, worry etched in his words. “Ash wouldn’t go back there unless that asshole was literally dying.”
“I know, that’s what I’m afraid of,” I admitted. “His dad has to be in bad shape for him to drop everything and go. I can’t leave him alone like that, by himself with that awful man. Hospitalized or not, I’m sure his sharp words still work.”
“I’ll come with you,” Dad said suddenly. “Terry can take over the floor for a couple days.”
“If you’re going, I’m going,” Mom countered.
“Stop it, nobody’s going but me,” I interrupted. “Too many people will overwhelm him, and he’s already going to be in a shit place mentally and emotionally. I love you Dad, and so does Ash, but you two are not in a place right now where you can give him the support he needs.”
“Bullshit,” he groaned, but I could hear the resignation in his voice.
“You two need to make up,” I insisted. “Maybe it will take for something terrible to happen, but I need you two to make up.”
Dad sighed loudly, but didn’t argue. Instead, Mom spoke.
“Come over here, park in the lot and I’ll get you to the airport,” she agreed.
“I’m almost there,” I told her, then we hung up.
When I got there, Mom and Dad met me in the employee parking lot, and both gave me a hug before Mom drove me to the airport.
“Let me know when you arrive, and that Ashton picked you up,” she told me, giving me that mom stare that told me she meant business. “Take care of our boy.”
“Promise,” I agreed before opening the trunk to get my carryon.
The airport wasn’t too busy, which I was grateful for. I was also glad I was able to find a flight so soon. Luckily Chicago was a big city, and a central hub like New York and Atlanta, so lots of flights went through there.
I tried to keep busy for my flight, but I was just too full of anxiety. Nothing could really calm me down. By the time we arrived, I was a ball of nerves. I was going to meet his dad. Ashton’s dad. The dad that beat him and who he ran away from. I wanted to kick him in the balls so hard, he’d be breathing in the scent of his own pubes, but he was also in the hospital, probably dying, so I had to come to grips with that. Ash would likely need a buffer, and I needed to prepare myself to be just that. A buffer and a shield, and a soft place to land.
As I wandered to the pickup zone, I saw him, big and imposing in a hoodie, jeans, and his usual big boots. His face looked worn and he had bags under his eyes, but otherwise, he seemed fine.
“Hey,” I greeted after running awkwardly toward him with my bag in tow.
“I missed you,” were the first words out of his lips.
Speaking of lips, I put mine to his, soaking in his scent and the feel of his arms around me.
“I’m so sorry,” I murmured between kisses.
He just shook his head and backed his head away, though he didn’t let me go.
“I’m ok. I’ve actually got news. I have an aunt.”
“An aunt? I thought you didn’t have any family.”
“Yeah, me either. Turns out I do. You’re about to meet her.”
Taking my hand, he grabbed my bag then led me out of the airport to where cars were parked along the pickup lanes.
“Get the fuck outta here!” a cop yelled at someone in a big, black sedan.
The man inside yelled back, and the woman in the side seat looked embarrassed. Her eyes alighted on us though, and she perked up, pointing and saying something.
The car moved up a few feet in line, stopping right in front of us.
“So, uh, here we go,” Ash stuttered before opening the back door to let me in.
