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I might lose my little boy.
No, Grace. Don’t think like that. You won’t lose him. You will find a way.
I dried my cheeks and slipped from his room into the hallway. My hands were shaking as I searched through my phone for Alex’s number, or at least the last number I had for him years ago. I dialed it, not expecting an answer but at least trying anything I could.
It rang twice then someone picked it up. My heart skipped a beat at first, until a female voice responded, “Yes?”
“Hi, yes, I’m trying to reach Alex Denning.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t know anyone by that name. I just got this number though, so…”
“Oh, yes, of course. I’m sorry for bothering you.” My voice cracked as I said goodbye and hung up.
What did I expect? Last time I tried this number, it was disconnected. Alex had obviously changed his phone number years ago.
I searched through my phone for his father’s number, but found it was disconnected. I never had a number for his mom, she had been out of the picture for most of his childhood.
I had nothing.
I had no idea how to reach Alex.
I nearly crumpled on the floor and started sobbing, but I heard a small voice from the hospital room.
“Mommy?”
“Yes, baby, mommy is right here,” I said, drying the tears in my eyes and putting a smile on my face.
I had to be strong.
Ollie needed me to be strong.
Even though it felt like I had failed him in every way possible.
Chapter 5
Alex
I took a deep breath before stepping into the bar. It had been the place we had celebrated Grace’s twenty-first birthday a few years back, before I disappeared. Stepping in the doorway flooded me with memories, and when I heard a woman laughing over the loud music, I had to turn and make sure it wasn’t Grace’s laughter I was hearing.
Part of me had hoped it was.
It would be easier than making that call.
But I wasn’t there to see Grace… that would come later.
I spotted my old friend sitting at a table in the corner, and when he saw me, he stood up and waved me over. I walked over to Duncan, and we shook hands.
“Wow, man… I don’t know what to say. It’s been a long time,” he said.
“Yeah, it has. You look good though,” I said, taking a seat across from Duncan and waving the waitress over.
“So, are you going to tell me what happened?”
“What do you mean?” I asked, staring down at the table where someone had carved their initials into it.
“You know what I mean, Alex. Where have you been the last few years? I’ve tried to call you, and I know Grace has as well. You practically disappeared off the face of the earth without any explanation.”
I took a deep breath and was grateful when a twentysomething waitress popped over to our table to take our orders. She offered Duncan a flirty grin which he ignored.
