AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Her heart broke.
Oh my God.
The doctors had told them when this first happened that it could be a matter of hours, days, or at best, weeks.
Her father was dying.
“How long does he have?” Emma asked.
She could hear her mom crying.
“Oh, Mom, I’m sorry,” Lily said, falling against Emma as she wrapped her arm around her.
“A day. Maybe a couple more. They don’t know, but he won’t be coming home.”
She began to sob.
She hated that she was here in Hawaii worrying about what stupid Andrew Dufort thought of her while her father was dying, and her mom was all alone with him.
Well, fuck that.
There was no way she was staying here while there was a smidgeon of a chance she could get there before he took his last breath. She jumped up and started packing, throwing her things into her suitcase.
“Mom, hang up. I’m coming home. I need to use my phone to book a flight,” Lily said as she tossed her clothes, toiletries, and shoes haphazardly into the black case.
“Lily, no.”
“Forget it. He’s my father. Tell him I will be there as soon as I can and to hang on for me,” Lily cried, tears falling down her face. “Please, Mom.”
There was a moment of silence, then her mom said, “I’ll tell him. But, Lil, he might not be able to and that doesn’t mean he loves you any less.”
Her eyes shot to Emma. A guttural cry left her throat as tears poured down her cheeks.
“Have a beautiful day tomorrow, Emma,” her mom said.
“Thank you, Mrs. Peterson,” Emma replied. “I’ll get Lily home safely.”
Lily looked up as Emma ended the call.
God, she’d totally forgotten. But there was no question what she had to do here. “I’m sorry, Em. I just have—”
Emma held her hand up. “Don’t even say it. He’s your dad. You have to go. Let me get the jet ready for you.”
Lily shook her head. “Oh, God. No,”
“It will be faster. And more private. You don’t want to be crammed in with hundreds of other people feeling like this. If I could, I would go with you.” Emma said, halfway out the door. She stopped in the doorway. “Finish packing and I’ll organize everything.”
Lily let out a sob.
“We will get you there to see him one last time,” Emma said and pulled her into a tight embrace. They both knew she couldn’t promise anything, just as her mom couldn’t, but Lily appreciated her friend trying.
Ten minutes later, a shirtless Daniel was standing in the living room, his hand rubbing the back of his head. He was staring at her while speaking into the phone.
Lily sat on the sofa, her luggage packed and ready, while her leg bounced up and down. Harper and Emma were on either side of her, rubbing her arms.
Daniel hung up and frowned at Harper. “Baby, put some clothes on.”
Lily glanced down and saw Harper had a very lacy and sexy blue nightie.
