My Heart to Keep: A Maxwell Family Saga - Book Four

by Alexander, S. B.

  “Something wrong?” Momma asked.

  I had no reason to worry since the video was gone. “Not at all.”

  “Quinn Thompson, what are you not telling me?” Momma always knew when her kids lied. “Did you lie to me? Did you have sex?”

  “No, ma’am,” I said low. “I didn’t lie. I promise. It’s just that I think I would hide forever if Daddy found out that I’m about to lose my virginity.” I couldn’t bring myself to tell her about the video. It was a moot point anyway.

  Her shoulders sagged as the mixture of fear and anger vanished. “I can understand that.”

  “Momma, I know this is hard for you. It’s equally hard for me, and a bit scary. But I love Maiken. I want him to be the one, and I’m ready. I’ll be fine.”

  I truly would be. I felt better just knowing I was taking measures to protect myself and Maiken and our future. Maybe now I wouldn’t be so nervous to allow nature to take its course when Maiken and I were together.

  I rubbed my eyes as I walked into the brightly lit kitchen, which was too blinding for four in the morning. The scent of coffee hung heavy in the air as Momma poured herself a cup. I didn’t drink the stuff as much as she and Daddy did.

  “What are you doing up so early?” I asked.

  Normally, Momma slept in an hour longer than Daddy and me. Then she got breakfast started.

  She set the carafe back on the burner. “I couldn’t sleep. I think I’m coming down with something.”

  She didn’t look pale. “You should go back to bed, then.”

  “Who’s the mom in this house?” she teased. “I have a lot to do anyway. I’m stocking shelves in the store this morning. I wanted to get a head start. We have a ton of orders to fill for Thanksgiving this week.”

  I grabbed my coat off the rack near the back door. “Momma, are you worried about Maiken and me?” She’d been different since my exam, quieter and more contemplative.

  I had a feeling Maiken and I were on her mind since he was home for the holiday. I hadn’t planned on taking our relationship to the next level that week. I had too much to do, especially with three more days of school before we were out for the long Thanksgiving weekend.

  She cinched her robe tightly. “No, honey. I’m just tired. But speaking of your relationship with Maiken, how are you doing on the pill? Any side effects?”

  “None.” I’d only been on it a week. So far, I hadn’t had any of the bloating or weight gain or anything else the doctor had mentioned.

  She picked up her coffee cup. “Good. Your dad is down in the horse barn. I think he hired someone to help out.”

  My eyebrows lifted. “That would be good.” Really good. Maybe then I could take a breather or get up an hour later. “Is that person starting today?” I had tacked a job posting to the board in school, so maybe it was someone I knew.

  Momma closed the distance between us and kissed me on the forehead. “Not sure. Now go before your father comes screaming for you.”

  I bundled up, hoping he’d hired a massive guy who could lift things and pick up the slack. Although not many kids at school matched that description. Then I remembered Sloane. She’d applied for a job on the farm last year. Surely she wouldn’t again.

  Nevertheless, I practically skipped down toward the barn, a cold wind slapping me in the face and waking me up just a tad more.

  The spotlight outside the barn came on when I approached. Daddy had installed not only spotlights but cameras too. We still hadn’t found out who had used our pigs for the prank at school, but Daddy was ready if the guilty party tried again.

  Apple nickered when I entered. “Daddy.” I grabbed a pair of work gloves off the table next to the door. “Daddy,” I called again, glancing down the stretch of space in between the horse stalls.

  I didn’t see him, but maybe he was cleaning out a stall. If he were, though, he would have the bales of hay stacked outside, ready to go.

  Maybe Momma meant he was in the other barn, where the cows were. He did usually start his morning milking the cows.

  I ambled up to Apple to say a quick good morning. “Hey, girl. Maybe we’ll go out later before the storm rolls in.” Five inches of snow was in the forecast. Apple loved the snow. I loved riding in it too. There was nothing like galloping through the woods while snow fell. “You haven’t seen your grandpa anywhere?”

  She nuzzled my hand as if to say no.

  “Okay, I’ll be back to take care of you. I have to feed the pigs first.” My chores began with my lovely pigs.

  Beast came up to me as soon as I entered the pen two minutes later. “Hey, boy. Smile for the camera.” I pointed to a camera up on the corner of the overhang. I dared anyone to take Beast, Godfrey, Lola, or any of the other pigs we had now.

  Beast grunted as he pushed his snout into my leg.

  “It’s good to see you too. Let’s get you fed.”

  As I began feeding the pigs, a big, fat snowflake fell onto my nose then another. A thread of excitement stirred. I knew it was too soon to cancel school, but if the snow did pile up, then school would be let out early, which meant I could see Maiken sooner.

  I envied him right then. He was sleeping in a warm bed and dreaming. I couldn’t remember a day when I was able to sleep in. Instead, I was up every morning, walking in mud and pig slop, shoveling horse poop, and doing everything else that came with living on a farm. I loved my animals. I loved my parents and growing up on a farm, but it would be nice to have a day off.

  Maybe I could sleep in when Carter and Liam came home for the holiday.

  So many good things were happening. Daddy hired someone. Maiken was home. And my brothers would be too, which meant fewer chores for me.

  Once the pigs were eating and happy, I headed toward the gate, but I didn’t see the bucket until it was too late. My arms flew outward, gravity took over, and I was falling backward. I squealed like one of my dear pigs as my butt hit the mud first, then my back and head hit with a thud.

  Motherpucker.

  Beast came up to me, and his wet nose tickled my ear as he sniffed me. I laughed as the snow fell, and more pigs joined Beast in the fun.

  Oh my word. It would take years to get the stench out of my hair. Manure was definitely not the right pheromone to lure Maiken to me.

  Sighing heavily, I was about to get up when a tall figure loomed over me.

  The man angled his head. His green eyes were like two high beams in the early morning light. “Do you always fall in shit?”

  I glared at the boy who was wearing a ball cap and dressed like he’d come to work his tail off in boots, gloves, and even a flannel shirt. “Are you the one my dad hired?”

  Trevor grabbed my hand and pulled me up. “The one and only.”

  “For real? You want to work on a farm?” I wasn’t shocked Daddy had hired him. Trevor certainly had the muscle to do the heavy lifting around the farm, something Daddy needed desperately. I was, however, miffed as to why a clean-cut boy who didn’t have a callus on his hands wanted to work on a farm.

  “I need the money. I saw the flyer at school, and I decided to check it out.”

  My Spidey sense was screaming at me for some reason. Yet so far, Trevor had shown me nothing but niceness and respect.

  He stabbed his thumb in the direction of the horses. “Your dad wants me to start cleaning out the horse stalls. He’s going to meet me in the barn.”

  Daddy and I needed to chat. The way Momma had talked, I thought Daddy would hire someone who would be permanent, as in someone who would stay years, not months.

  Trevor took long strides, leaving me standing in shock.

  I shook off the mud, or tried to. It was useless to clean the muck out of my hair or off my body since I still had chores. So I wiped my hands on my jeans, not caring that the pig stench was making me a little queasy.

  I jogged up to Trevor. “Where have you been? You missed our session last week, and I haven’t seen you in school.”

  “My old man had some business
out of town, and he wanted me to go with.”

  “Your final exam is this week in algebra. Right? Are you ready?”

  “I will be. Can we meet after school? I don’t have basketball practice this week.”

  I had plans with Maiken. “Why can’t we meet at our usual time after lunch?”

  “Mrs. Flowers wants to meet with me.”

  Our guidance counselor had returned a few weeks prior. I needed to talk to her myself and discuss college options. I hadn’t decided yet on whether I would change my major. I really had to figure that out soon.

  “I can do an hour at most. My boyfriend is home from the academy.”

  “Maiken is? I would like to meet him. Coach Dean talks about him all the time.” His tone led me to believe he was truly serious and somewhat infatuated with my boyfriend. Or maybe he wanted to meet Maiken to see why Coach Dean put him up on a pedestal.

  “Why?” I asked as we walked into the barn.

  But my question flew out of my brain when my gaze landed on the floor.

  I gasped.

  Trevor took off in an all-out sprint, dropping to his knees to help Daddy, who was laid out like he was dead.

  No. No. No.

  A silent scream left my mouth as the barn began to spin. I shook my head hard and blinked several times, hoping I was having a nightmare.

  Trevor felt along Daddy’s neck. “Quinn!” His deep voice snapped me out of my trance. “Call 911.”

  I fumbled in my pockets for my phone. No! I left it in my room. I rushed over to Trevor, feeling light-headed. “I need your phone.”

  He whipped it out, held it up to his face to unlock it, and shoved it at me. “Hurry. He has a weak pulse.”

  My fingers shook as I punched in the number.

  “Nine, one, one. What’s your emergency?” the sweet lady asked.

  “M-my d-dad n-needs help.” Not a time to be stuttering, Quinn Thompson.

  Trevor snatched the phone from me. “I have a man in his late forties who has a weak pulse and is passed out.” Trevor lifted Daddy’s eyelids. “Pupils somewhat dilated. Thompson farm. Yes, ma’am.” He pocketed his phone.

  I watched in horrid fascination at how well composed he was and how he knew what he was doing.

  Trevor tapped my dad’s face. “Mr. Thompson.”

  Tears flowed hot and fast down my cold cheeks.

  “Get your mom,” Trevor ordered as though he were in charge.

  Hell, he was, because I couldn’t even craft a damn sentence or thought. All I kept thinking was that Daddy wasn’t going to make it.

  Don’t think like that.

  Mom? Crap.

  Trevor felt for a pulse. “Oh shit.” He began CPR. Trevor was giving my dad CPR.

  I slapped a hand over my mouth.

  “Get your mom!” Trevor said again in a tone that could scare a rat.

  I heard him, but I still couldn’t move. This couldn’t be happening.

  Trevor blew into Daddy’s mouth then did chest compressions, counting to himself to kick-start Daddy’s heart.

  That thought snapped me out of my haze. My body thawed, and my feet began to move. I spun on my heel and raced up to the house faster than sprinters on an Olympic track, crying and praying Daddy didn’t die.

  I texted Quinn.

  Me: Hey, babe. Hope you’re having a good day so far. I can’t wait to see you. I’m stopping by school around lunch to say hi and talk to Coach Dean. What time is your lunch period?

  I set my phone down on the bathroom counter and was about to take a shower when my phone rang. Maybe Quinn was in between classes.

  Liam’s name lit up my screen.

  I tapped Answer and immediately asked, “Dude, are you coming home for Thanksgiving?” With the NCAA in preseason, I didn’t think Liam would make it home.

  “I need your help,” he rushed out. “Can you and your brothers head to the farm and feed the horses?” He sounded frantic. “I’m trying to get a flight now. If I can, I should be there early tonight. Carter is on his way from Boston. He’ll be there before me. Please, dude. You got to go.”

  I rubbed a hand down my chest. “Slow down. What’s going on?”

  He sucked in a breath. “My dad had a heart attack.” His voice hitched on the last two words.

  My eyes flew wide open as I gawked at myself in the mirror. “Is he…” I couldn’t bring myself to say the word. I clutched my chest, remembering when the military had shown up at the door to break the bad news to us about Dad. I pressed my fingers over my heart. It felt as though I had a Mack truck sitting on me.

  I blew out breath after breath. Quinn must be going crazy. I started the shower to get my ass in gear. I had to take care of my girl.

  “He’s in surgery,” Liam said. “Mom said something about a blockage, and if Trevor wasn’t there, my dad wouldn’t be alive.”

  “Trevor?” Surely he couldn’t be talking about the same boy who was related to Sloane. What would he be doing on the Thompson farm?

  “Some guy on the basketball team my dad just hired. Look, Quinn is a mess. When you’re finished at the farm, make sure you get over to the hospital. She’s going to need you.”

  He didn’t have to tell me twice. “I’ll wrangle some guys and take care of the horses. I’ll have my mom head to the hospital to see if she can help in any way. Maybe the farm store?”

  “Nah. My mom hadn’t opened the store. All this happened about four thirty this morning in the horse barn. Quinn and Trevor found him. I gotta go. I’m at the airport. I’ll see you soon, and thanks, man.” He hung up.

  I stood idle for a minute, my brain scrambling to figure out who else I could get in addition to my brothers. I knew just the person to call.

  On the first ring, Coach Dean answered. “Maiken?”

  “Coach, Mr. Thompson had a heart attack this morning. I need some guys to help me feed the horses.” I imagined we might have to clean out the stalls too.

  “Dear God,” he mumbled. “Fill me in.”

  I gave him the rundown as I knew it from Liam. When I was done, I told my mom what had happened, rounded up my brothers, and we piled into the Suburban and headed to the farm.

  Coach Dean was meeting us there with guys from the basketball team. We had more than enough hands to bang out the chores and ensure the animals were taken care of.

  Four hours later, after back-breaking work, a hot shower, and a quick burger, I was rushing into the hospital. Coach Dean had spoken to Mrs. Thompson while we’d been at the farm, and he’d learned that her husband had to have open-heart surgery. She hadn’t known much more at that point.

  I hurried past people walking by and down to the bank of elevators. Mrs. Thompson had told Coach she was in a waiting room on the fourth floor.

  I stabbed the button for the elevator and checked my phone. There was still no response from Quinn. I was going nuts with worry, and I was jonesing to get my arms around my girl.

  When the elevator doors opened, I practically flung myself into it. I bounced on my feet as the car traveled slowly up one floor then two. When the bell finally dinged, I was ready to pry the doors open with my bare hands. Suffocation took on a whole new meaning as I waited for the door to open. When it finally did, I tore out of the car, searching in one direction then another for any sign of the lounge or waiting room.

  A short lady in scrubs hurried by.

  “Waiting room?” I asked.

  She pointed ahead of her. “Around the corner on the right.”

  My feet clobbered on the floor, sounding like Apple’s hooves on concrete, as I flew in that direction and into a stuffy, filled room. The tension was thick, and the sadness was so soupy, I again felt like I couldn’t breathe.

  Visions of my own dad danced before me. But when I laid eyes on the girl with butterscotch hair, I faltered to an abrupt stop.

  Some big blond dude, who looked more like a wrestler, had his arm around Quinn, consoling her as she snuggled against his chest. What had my insides in a huge
knot was the way he was rubbing her arm and resting his chin on her head like he was the love of her life.

  Breathe, man. This isn’t the time to show your jealousy. This definitely isn’t the time to lift the dude and throw him out of the room, not with Mrs. Thompson crying next to Coach Dean.

  When Quinn’s mom cleared the tears from her eyes, she jumped up and smothered me in her arms. “Thank you. You’re such a good boy.” Her heartbeat was off the charts. “Liam told me you took care of the animals.” She eased away, regarding me with puffy, red eyes and splotchy, ashen skin.

  “Maiken?” Quinn’s voice was raw and cracked. The pain in her voice felt like daggers in my chest. She dashed away tears from her swollen eyes as she stood next to her mom on shaky legs.

  I hugged her to me, wanting desperately to take away her pain. I smoothed a hand down her mud-coated hair. It was a knot of tangles, and the funk of the farm burned my nose.

  Smell or not, I didn’t care. “I’m so sorry, baby.” My own tears sprang free.

  She bawled and shook as she held me as tightly as I was holding her.

  Coach Dean gave me a weak grin as he consoled Mrs. Thompson, while Trevor sat like the Lone Ranger. His expression was a mix of pain and sadness.

  I continued to soothe my girl as her cries became muffled. I wasn’t leaving this spot for anything. I wasn’t leaving her until I knew she was okay. She was mine to console, protect, cherish, and love. My heart was hers to keep forever.

  She lifted up her head, blinking long, wet lashes. Her amber gaze was crestfallen, yet it contained so much love. “I can’t lose my dad.”

  The word dad sent me back to the day Mom had broken down in a heap of tears. “I know, babe. I know. I love you,” I whispered. Emotions clogged my throat as I dashed tears from her beautiful face.

  I knew he had to have emergency open-heart surgery, but I wasn’t quite sure what the prognosis was at that point, and I was afraid to ask, afraid I would set in motion another round of tears from both Quinn and her mom. Regardless, I didn’t think I could speak anyway.