“The plan is everyone goes home. I go to bed,” I say. “All I need is a good night’s rest.”
“You sure Dr. D?” David asks.
“I’m sure. Thanks for the ride, but I’m fine.” I force myself to meet his, Hailey’s, and Luc’s eyes in turn. “I’m home now. It’s all good. The rest of you should go home, too.”
I turn to walk away. I hope it looks like this is the end of the discussion, but really, I just need to get inside. I need my bed.
“Goodnight, Doc,” Hailey calls.
“Feel better, Dr. D,” David says.
“I have some cleanup to finish,” Luc mutters.
I manage a goodnight and climb the steps into the kitchen with Mattie and Clarence at my heels.
“Can I get you something?” she asks, the familiar fretting tone in her voice.
“Where are the boys?”
“Upstairs. I was practicing before my lesson when I saw that guy drive up in your car.”
It’s Tuesday. Mattie has her lesson. The boys are home. Am I forgetting anyone? No. What am I forgetting?
It’s too hard to think. My head is pounding. I’m thirsty, but my throat is on fire. I need to lie down. The twins and Emmett are home. That’s all that really matters. I head upstairs but Mattie follows me. She fires question after question at me, but I can’t answer just yet.
I reach my room and see exactly what I need. Bed. Even as I crawl across its welcoming surface, I know there’s something I’m forgetting. Something else I should be doing, but I can’t even.
Just a few minutes...
Chapter Seventeen
LUC
I lied.
I told Millie I was staying to clean up. I’m not. I finished that twenty minutes ago. I was just killing time until she got home so I could see her before I left.
She has worked until five this week. I’m not used to it. I like it better when she comes home at noon. In the last few weeks, I’ve rearranged my routine so that I’m at the other job sites early to be here when she is.
It’s the best part of my day.
And now that she’s home, looking like someone who’s escaped the ICU, I don’t want to leave. Not until I know she’s okay.
I head back inside after Millie’s coworkers are gone and close the door against the night. I hear steps descending the stairs, and I look up to see Mattie.
“How is she?” I ask.
Millie’s sister gives me a look of surprise. “I think she’s asleep already. She must be really sick.”
The urge to go up and look in on her is one I have to check with no small amount of restraint. I’ve never been upstairs. I don’t belong there. But, right now, it’s the only place I want to be.
I should just go and come back first thing in the morning. The only problem is I can’t seem to make myself leave.
Mattie heads straight back for the piano where she picks up with her practice. I slink back to the kitchen because that’s my territory. I look around for something to do, but any progress I could make would require the table saw or nail gun, and I don’t want to wake Millie.
Not to mention, Mattie might kill me if I interrupt her piano time.
I’m about to park myself on a tool chest and answer emails when I hear footsteps thundering down the stairs. Harry.
