Page 22 of You Fall First

“Where are you?” I ask.

“Southampton Grace.”

My teeth clench. That’s the hospital closest to Mayville. Great doctors. Bad family history. I’m well aware that my mom never waking up after routine surgery was nobody’s fault. But me not being there for her was definitely mine.

And I may never get over that.

“What’s happening, exactly?” I send up a silent prayer that Dutton doesn’t hear the panic in my question.

Jo does, though.

“Hey there, Woody.” She hoists her lips into a smile. “We’ve got ice cream in the kitchen. Is my favorite deputy interested in a couple scoops?”

Rowan jumps up. “I am!”

“Ice cream,” Wally crows.

Dutton’s gaze toggles between Jo and me. He knows he’s supposed to finish his whole dinner before dessert, and the way he’s still trying to follow the rules splits my ribs down the middle.

“Is that all right with you, Uncle Noah?” Jo asks, and we lock eyes for a beat.

“Yeah, thanks.” I give her a tight nod, then I shift my focus back to Dutton. He’s blinking up at me, and all I want to do is stop the world to make everything okay for him. “Go ahead, bud. I’ll be right there. Save me some, though.”

He gives me a head bob. A tiny smile.

“I’ll take charge of ice cream, Auntie Jojo,” Kendal offers. “The rest of you keep eating. Mom’s bolognese is way too good to waste.” As Kendal leads the kids into the kitchen, I cast one last glance at Jo, then I charge out to the porch, shutting the door behind me.

“What’s going on, P?”

“I just wanted to get back to you and Dutton as soon as possible,” she groans. “I was so focused on getting packed up and out of here, I ignored the signs all day. Longer, honestly.”

Something stabs at my sternum. “What signs?”

“Nausea in the beginning. A headache.” She hesitates. “The pains weren’t too bad when they started, but they got pretty sharp by this afternoon. In my abdomen, then in my lower back. I guess I fainted, so one of the movers called an ambulance.”

“Oh, man.” I’m not a doctor, but these symptoms seem pretty clear. “Your appendix?”

“Ding, ding, ding.” She lets out a jagged laugh. “You win the diagnostic prize.”

I lift my gaze to the sky, shut my eyes. “Dutton and I will be on a plane tonight.”

“You absolutely will not.”

“Paige.” My lids reopen. “You’re alone. You can’t expect me to stay here while you⁠—”

“That’s exactly what I expect,” she says. “Annie’s at the hospital now, so I’m not alone.”

My insides torque. “You called Annie first?” Paige’s best friend is kind and competent, but she’s not me.

“Annie was already at the apartment, helping with the move.”

My jaw goes even tighter. “Right.”

“And I didn’t call you sooner because I knew you’d get all heroic and try to rush to my bedside.” Paige pauses for a moment. “I needed a plan in place. Annie’s the plan.”

“I hate this so much.” I blow out a long breath. “If I could be in two places at once⁠—”

“I know,” she cuts me off. “But don’t even think about dragging Dutton here. He’s too young to sit around a waiting room, and seeing me hooked up to IVs would only scare him. Then, after I’m out, he won’t understand why we can’t play like normal, so I’ll pretend to be normal, and …”