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“Thanks, I’ve got it.”
When he hands me the phone, I answer before it cuts off. “Hello.”
“Is this Lucy?” a deep voice grates from the other end of the line. He sounds as though he’s in his sixties or seventies, but I don’t recognize who it could be.
“It is,” I confirm, unsure if I should give more.
“This is Bryan Johnson, Greg’s dad.”
Fuck! What the hell?My eyes shoot to Wes’s as he watches me with a furrowed brow, no doubt desperate to know who’s on the line.
“Hi Bryan,” I say, once again keeping things short, my eyes never leaving Wes’s so I can see his reaction. His eyes widen, and within seconds he’s by my side, confirming that I’m talking tohisdad too. Though the last name gave it away.
“Greg asked me to call you because he’s in a pretty bad way. They’ve got him at San Francisco General Hospital.” I gasp as he continues to talk. “I think that’s what he said it’s called. Anyway, he’d like you to go and visit.”
“What?”
“Greg’s in the hospital, love. He wouldn’t tell me what happened but says you’re his girlfriend so he wanted you to know.”
“The fuck?” Wes yells, his booming voice making me jump. It’s the first time he’s said anything above a whisper since he came inside.
I take a step away, so he can no longer hear Bryan’s side of the conversation and apologize.
“Sorry, Bryan. Do you have any more details? A room number or floor?”
“As far as I know he’s still in the emergency room. We don’t live in the same state, so it would make us feel better knowing someone who cares about him is there.”
“Of course. Thank you for letting me know.”
Turning around, I find several sets of eyes locked on the phone in my hand. I expect Wes to start arguing, but it’s not him who speaks first.
“Tell me you’re not going?” Dylan says, pushing past others to get to me. He grabs my shoulders and looks me square in the eyes. “Lucy, you can’t go. You need to think this through. I’m not condoning what Wes did, but I’m also not going to say he did the wrong thing. You owe Greg nothing.Nothing.”
I sink down onto the stool behind me and drop my face in my hands.What do I do?
“Mom?”
Katie’s voice draws my attention, and I look up to see her and Delilah entering the room. Delilah mouths “I’m sorry.” But I could use the distraction so I wave off her apology.
“Hi sweetie. Are you okay?”
Katie nods and runs to my side, pulling me down to whisper in my ear. “Is Wes okay?”
I turn his way as his eyes open in surprise before he digs his palms into them and sighs. Once again, Katie’s attempt at a whisper failed.
“He’sokay, but your—”
Joel clears his throat and shakes his head, causing me to stop talking immediately.God, what was I thinking?I don’t need to offload that much weight on a four-year-old. I need to check on Greg before I mention anything to her. Right now, she needs this party to start again so she can forget any of this happened.
“I think it’s time for cake!” I cheer, surprising more than just Katie, and despite everyone’s obvious concern for me, they all play their part, acting like the party never stopped. The music starts up again, and the party hats come out. And while Katie’s worries are thankfully forgotten, mine have only begun.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Lucy
Theparty’sdyingdownwhen Thomas’s face lights up my phone, right on cue.
“Katie, Thomas is calling,” I yell out and watch as she drops the book she’s reading with Joel and comes screaming into the kitchen where I’m waiting for her.
