Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 126602 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126602 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
I leaned against the wall and slid to the floor. “Oh, no. When?”
“About an hour ago,” she said, her voice tight with emotion. “It was a long time coming. She’s been sick and suffering for so long, but it’s still a blow. She loved you so much. She loved all of us so much. Your dad is pretty upset.”
I bit the tremble in my lip. “How is he doing lately?”
“He’s the same, sweetheart.”
I didn’t like hearing that, but I knew that was the answer I’d always hear unless things changed, and when they did, it wouldn’t be for the better. Parkinson’s was a progressive disease. Dad would be the same, until he was worse.
I didn’t know which response I feared more.
“How’s Pop?” I asked.
“He’s been preparing for this, I think.” She sniffled and blew her nose. “But there’s a lot to take care of, and I don’t think he’s up for it. Nana didn’t want a funeral or any fuss whatsoever. That’s one less thing. But she had so much stuff in that house, Shay. And Pop can’t mess with all that.”
I brushed the tears slipping down my cheeks. My poor nana. And my sweet pop. They were two of the best people I’d ever known.
“Your dad and I need to go out to Ohio to make arrangements,” Mom said. “I think Pop wants to stay there after she’s cremated. I don’t think he wants to leave the home they shared. Your dad wants to make sure he’s settled and okay before coming back. Do you think you could watch the boys for us while we’re gone? This might take a couple weeks, and I don’t want them missing that much school. Dominic’s already behind in math, and Eli can’t be missing therapy. They always have so much homework, and making all that up…God, I just can’t deal with all this right now…” Her sad, small voice trailed off. “They’re just going to have to miss school. I don’t see any other way around it.”
“No. I can do it,” I answered, not liking the level of worry in my mother’s voice. “I’ll take care of them, Mom. I can handle everything. I promise.”
“Shay, they have a ton going on. It’s going to be a lot on you. And with your job—”
“I can talk to Nate tomorrow about it. He’s understanding, Mom. He is. He’ll let me work around them.”
I wasn’t worried about Nate. And I knew if I needed entire shifts covered, I had my girls to help me with that. Tori, Kali, and Syd would pitch in. We always had each other’s backs.
“He won’t mind, Mom. I promise.”
I wanted to assure her. My mom had so much on her plate already, and how she managed it all while keeping herself together, I would never know. I was sure she could handle anything. But I wouldn’t let this add to her stress when I had the ability to prevent that.
I could do this.
“Okay,” she said, sounding a little better. “That’s great. That really helps us out a lot, sweetheart. We’re leaving tomorrow after we take them to school, so you’ll need to pick them up. Dominic gets out at three-fifteen and Eli gets out at three-forty-five. Is that okay?”
I was supposed to work tomorrow until three, but again, I knew Nate would be cool with this. “Yeah, that’s fine. That’s no problem.”
“I’m going to make a list of everything you’ll need to know. I need to pack still. I think I’ll have time to make a calendar or something. What’s going on tomorrow? God, what day is this? Oh, right. Monday. Tomorrow…”
Mom’s voice softened until I couldn’t make anything out, and I knew she was speaking more to herself now than to me, going over everything she still needed to do and stressing herself out further.
“It’ll be fine, Mom. I got this,” I said. “Everything with the boys will be taken care of.”
She breathed a sigh of relief. “I am so lucky to have you. Thank you, sweetheart.”
“Tell Dad I love him and give Pop hugs for me, okay?”
“Okay, baby. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
I ended the call and noticed twelve notifications from Snapchat on my screen. I’d get to them later. Dropping my head against the wall and resting my arms on my knees, I looked over at the chocolate-brown futon.
Waiting area/bed it is.
Chapter Two
SEAN
I pulled my bike behind Whitecaps, parked it, and cut the engine. Closing my eyes, I let my head hang between my shoulders.
I felt dead.
Barely two hours of sleep last night. My muscles ached. The skin on my hands felt stretched, burned, and broken. My back was fucked up, courtesy of the floor I’d passed out on like a dumbass, knowing I should’ve quit and gotten some shut-eye when I noticed the time creeping up on four a.m., but also knowing I couldn’t quit.