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She laughed. “I never know the right answers to her billions of questions, either.”
I reached out and squeezed her arm. “Do you need me to do anything? I can cook, or clean. Do you need groceries?”
Beverly shook her head. “No. You’ve done enough. Thank you, Merritt.” She looked at the stairs. “Chase is laying down. You can go up, if you’d like. I’m sure he would love to see you.”
I paused before speaking. “No. Let him sleep. I’m sure he’ll call me later.”
“Just give him some time. I think he’s going to take this the hardest.”
I nodded in agreement. Tanner would bury it. Khloe was young and resilient. But Chase – he would go through every single emotion like someone trying to run through wet cement. “I wish there was something I could do.”
Beverly raised her hand to my cheek. “Having you by his side is all he needs.”
“And what about you? What do you need?”
Her voice waivered as she answered. “It will take time.”
I mustered up a smile before turning to leave. I closed the door behind me, and jogged up the stairs to my apartment. I knew I had to wait it out, and let Chase come to me when he felt ready. All I wanted to do was hold him while he slept.
I sat on my couch and called Shelly.
“I was just about to call you,” she answered.
“Oh, yeah? What for?”
“I’ve got some gift cards that are burning a hole in my wallet. Want to take a ride to the mall with me?”
“No. I called to tell you that Tim… he passed away this morning.”
“Oh, Merritt. I am so sorry. We were just talking about it this morning. How awful.”
“I know.”
“It’s good that he was able to make it through Christmas.”
“Yeah.”
“How is Chase doing?”
“I don’t know, actually.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, his mom asked me to watch Khloe while they were at the hospital. I never saw him. I hung out with Khloe for a couple hours until they were back. Tanner came to get her.”
“Tanner? You mean Chase didn’t come by when he got back?”
“No. His mom said he was laying down.”
Shelly was quiet for a moment. “He’s tired, and heart-broken. He just needs some time alone to process everything.”
“I know. I just wish I could be there for him. It sucks sitting here, waiting.”
“You know, you do have another option.”
“Like what?”
“You pushed everyone away when you lost your dad. Who was the only person you let near you, besides me?”
