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“That we were supposed to meet up to discuss next week’s forecasts.” He shrugs. “You should probably call her and tell her you’re okay.”
Yeah, I should. The last thing she needs is to be worrying about me.
I shoot her a message, and reluctantly follow Liam to his car, sliding into the comfortable passenger seat. Was it really only last night when I was sitting here as he drove me back from the station?
It feels like a lifetime ago.
“So where do you want to start?” he asks.
“I need to drop by my dad’s. You can stay in the car, though.”
He starts up the engine. “That would be rude. I’ve met your dad before. I should come in and say hi.”
I turn my head to look at him. “Why would you want to do that?”
“Because I like your dad,” he says, as though it’s a stupid question.
Well okay then. If he wants to see him, then let him. No skin off my nose. Maybe a day with me doing chores is what he needs to see I’m not that exciting. I give him my dad’s address, the briefest of directions, and within five minutes we’re pulling up outside his house.
The curtains are still closed. It’s weird because Dad’s always an early riser. He loves sitting with a coffee in the early morning sunshine.
And he’d never let his curtains stay closed. He’d worry too much about the neighbors’ opinions for that.
“Are you okay?” Liam asks.
I shake my head. “I think there’s something wrong.” Pulling at the handle, I climb out of the car. Liam walks beside me up the steps, and then I knock on the door.
No answer.
“Oh shit.”
“What’s wrong?” Liam asks.
“He’s always up at this time.” My hands shake as I find his spare key in my bag. “He has a heart problem.” My fingers are trembling as I try but fail to slide it into the lock. Liam gently takes the key from me and opens the door easily.
“There’s probably a simple explanation,” he says as we walk inside. “Mr. West?” he calls out. He’s holding my hand. I don’t know when he grabbed it, but it feels nice.
“Dad?” I shout, rushing down the hallway, Liam still holding onto me. “Are you okay?” I wrench open his bedroom door, my stomach twisted as I steel myself for the worst.
“Sophie?” Dad sits up. His chest is bare and from the fact his pajama pants are strewn across the floor I can only assume his bottom half is, too.
And so is the woman next to him.
“Dad?” I blink. “I… ah…”
Liam tugs my hand. “Sophie wanted to make sure you were okay. And it looks like you are.”
I’m frozen to the spot, staring at my dad, who stares, horrified, back.
The woman next to him smiles at me. “Are you Frank’s girl?” She has a strong Charleston accent. She also has pink hair, which I’m kind of jealous of.
“Um yeah,” I say, my face flaming. “Sophie.”
“It’s lovely to meet you.” She doesn’t look at all embarrassed, unlike Dad and me. “I’m Jenny. From the market. I run the crystal stall a few down from your dad.”
“Crystals. Right.” I nod. Dad hates anything new age. Then there’s silence again and it takes Liam’s mouth against my ear for me to actually start to think clearly.
“We should go now,” he whispers. “Call your dad later, okay?”
