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The girls just hold each other. Colt looks at me, and as much as we want to be here for the girls, the reality of them leaving immediately, as they should, is killing both of us.
Colt says, “He’s in the ICU. He had a massive heart attack.” She leaves Maggie, and I take her into my chest as she sobs.
“She’s the sick one. He’s fine. My daddy is fine, I know he is. Oh, God. We have to go.”
Maggie wipes her face, and says, “I’m praying for him.” She squeezes Mak’s hand. “I’m going to pack.”
Kris is in the hallway with Danny—not sure where Lizzie is—and she says, “Take only what you need. We’ll pack the rest and ship it to you. Don’t worry.”
Danny says, “And let’s see if we can get your tickets changed.”
Colton says, “Magpie, it’s ok. We’re ok. I’m here.”
She’s so emotional. But then I realize, as tears tickle my eyes, it’s because she’s leaving. Shit. This is it for France and my girl. This fucking sucks. This all sucks, but I hope her dad is ok.
I say, “Don’t bother changing the tickets. I’ll buy them. Kris, could one of you do this while Colt and I put the witches back together?” She nods. Everyone clears out, and Mak sits on the edge of my bed. I squat before her and put my hands on her knees, so she knows I’m here.
She bursts into tears as she looks at me. “I have to go. And I feel like shit because I want you to come with me.”
“Oh, my perfect, beautiful girl, you know I can’t. But I can get to you quickly when I get home. But if things don’t go well, I’ll be there. Fuck school. If things are ok, then I’ll be there the moment I come home from France. That’s three weeks. Then we have six weeks until we both graduate. We’ll find all the time to be together this summer. We can spend all the time before we have to move into our freshman dorms. I promise. I love you so much. Go be there for your dad.”
She inhales sharply and nods at me. I see her straighten up, and steel takes over her spine. She says as a matter of fact, “I love you. We’ll be fine.”
Then she dials her mother and I hold her close. When her mother picks up, I see her start to waver, but then she’s back to the fearless caretaker I know her to be. That’s who she must be at home.
“Hi, Mom.”
mak
Ifell asleep, and now my eyes are even puffier. Jesus, never cry and then get on a transcontinental plane. I’m going to have to pry them open. I look down, and Maggie is still holding my hand. Thanks to Tony, we’re in first class, and it’s fancier than I thought. Dad was stable before we got on the plane, and I hope he still is when we land. My mom’s heart is the one that’s shitty. I was prepared for my mom but not my dad. And now I’m annoyed at both of them that Tony’s just gone from my life.
I’ve cried, and Mags has cried. There’s no more place for more tears. I keep trying to fool myself that I’ll see him again. That it’s all fine and will work out. That it doesn’t matter I blew off class to the point where I won’t graduate. Or that my father’s in the hospital, and my mother won’t be able to take care of him. Or that I have no idea if they paid the insurance this month or not. Because that’s a bill we can afford. Oh God. I saw my whole life for a moment in his eyes, but I should have known better than that. The bubble was always going to burst.
End of Part One
part two
viva las vegas
PRESENT DAY
tony
Las Vegas-Present Day
“And we’re here, why? It’s fucking July in the desert.”
My mostly silent brother, Dax, has agreed to come out of his on/off love den in Boston and grace us with his presence. But he’s not a fan of heat.
I toss a look at him. “Ask Mom. She’s the one who gave birthed in the summer. Bitch, drink up.” He laughs and slaps me on the back, then gestures to Hayden to see if he needs another drink. We used to call him Dan in prep school, but he goes by his middle name now. It suits him.
The rest of my ‘brothers’ are either scattered or en route here. I try to see one of them every month. I flew to Paris last month to meet Hayden for a drink. They’re the only thing that makes me feel comfortable in my skin these days. My 30th birthday has become a reunion for the six of us who struggle to find time.
Colton’s late because he had some dance recital to watch. He’s a total girl-dad.
He’s the only one without a blood relative in the mix. Colt usually ends up mediator between all the actual brothers. Ironically, he grew up in a neighborhood between the Ladd boys and the Danson boys.
Our house was the brothers’ safe haven growing up. My parents never minded if Hayden, his two brothers, or Colt showed up for dinner. The Dansons had a shitty beginning, but they’ve all made something of their lives. Our parents always supported our relationship with our friends from different neighborhoods.
