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“Okay.” He pulled his phone out of his jacket pocket, ready to dismiss the call. He couldn’t imagine there was anyone he wanted to talk to more than Hannah right now. Hm. Except Mel.
“Hey, Mel. What’s up?”
“Grady! I’m so sorry. I should have called you earlier. But everything’s been crazy. I’m not there. I got a call about my dad. They’ve taken him into the hospital and I’m on my way home. I’m at the airport now. I’m so sorry. I should have called you right away, but everything …”
“Whoa. Slow down. It’s okay. What’s the deal with your dad?”
“He …” she sniffed loudly, “he had a heart attack.”
“Damn. Have you got a flight?”
“Yes. I managed to get a last-minute ticket.”
“That’s good. Do you need me to do anything while you’re gone? Is the house taken care of?”
“Yes. I mean no, I don’t need anything. My neighbors have a key and they’re used to keeping an eye on the place whenever I go anywhere. I’m fine. As fine as I can be until I see him. I just feel awful. I’m letting you down. I know that you’re due at work in a bit. And I don’t know how long I’ll be gone.”
“We’ll be fine. Seriously, don’t give it another thought. Your priority is your dad, and your family.”
“Thanks, Grady. I’m sorry.”
“Would you stop apologizing?”
“Okay. I’m going to have to go. I still have calls to make.”
“Of course. And let me know if you need anything. I’ll PayPal you this month’s money as soon as we get off the phone.”
“No, you can’t do that. I don’t even know if I’ll be back before Christmas.”
“I know. And I don’t care. Are you going to tell me you don’t need it?”
Mel didn’t answer that.
“Yeah. I didn’t think so. I’ll do it as soon as we get off the phone, and honestly Mel, if you need anything at all, give me a shout.”
“Thanks, Grady. You’re the best. I’ll keep you posted.”
“Thanks. I hope your dad’s okay.”
“Me too. Bye.”
“See ya.”
He ended the call but didn’t put his phone back in his pocket. He was going to have to call Molly and tell her that he couldn’t go into work. She’d already had Ava last night so, he didn’t want to ask her again. Perhaps he should give her the choice – one of them would have to go to the restaurant while the other watched Ava. He didn’t have any other options.
Hannah came and put her hand on his arm. “Is everything okay?”
“It will be. That was Mel, who watches Ava for me. Her dad had a heart attack and she’s at the airport. I need to call Molly.”
“She could stay here.”
Grady’s breath caught in his chest. He wasn’t sure how he felt about that. Sure, Hannah and Ava had gotten along well, but …
“If you want,” Hannah added quickly. “I totally understand if you don’t. She doesn’t know me that well yet. I get it if you’re not comfortable leaving her here. Sorry. I’ll shut up.”
He covered her hand with his own. “It’s not that I don’t like the idea. It just worries me a little that maybe that’d mean that we’re all getting in too deep too fast.”
“I know. I thought that as soon as I said it. But I didn’t mean it that way. I’m not trying to win your niece over so that I can win you over.”
