“I love Wesley and don’t mind anything if it’s for him,” Nichole admitted. “But my data entry work is a different thing completely.”
“Yet you’re working to provide for Wesley.”
“Exactly.” Nichole pushed her glasses onto the top of her head to pin back her hair. “Unless I can figure out who has my super secret trust fund and why they haven’t told me about it yet.”
“Valerie is the only person I’ve ever met with a trust fund large enough to live on for the rest of her life.” Brooke leaned back on the headrest.
“It’s interesting that Valerie has this trust fund while her mom had to go back to work,” Nichole said.
Brooke straightened. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t know the details.” Nichole tapped her fingers on the steering wheel. “So I could have it wrong. But Ben talks about how his Grandma Lulu retired late. Now she’s traveling so much to catch up with her friends and their adventures.”
“So she worked late into her life to support Valerie’s travels?” That sounded backward to Brooke. Valerie should’ve been working to support her mother in her retirement. Then again, Valerie should’ve been aware of how to handle Ben’s diabetes, as well.
Nichole shrugged. “Grandma Lulu has often talked about the value of hard work. And praised Dan and I for setting good examples for the boys.”
Dan was everything a father should be.
“I’ve helped Grandma Lulu more than once with her computers,” Nichole said. “She’s a fascinating lady.”
“Like her daughter.” Fascinating was one word Brooke could use to describe Valerie. There were others, some kind and some not so kind. “Can you believe Valerie wanted to take Ben on tours of the soccer stadiums in Europe? That’s not going to happen now.”
“Wow,” Nichole said. “I’m sure he would’ve loved that. It sounds really expensive.”
“Now you sound like Dan.” A quick grin passed over Brooke. But she wasn’t ready to smile yet. Brooke checked the back seat again. “I can’t believe how careless she was.”
“She’s not a full-time or even part-time parent.” Nichole pulled into Dan’s driveway.
Neither was Brooke. Ben was going to be with her now. And she didn’t know how long. What if she was as careless as Valerie? “Can you keep your phone close tonight?”
“Sure,” Nichole said. “I’m a light sleeper, anyway. Call or text anytime. Dan still hasn’t replied?”
Brooke checked her voice mails and texts again. “Nothing.”
“Must be a bad night at work.” Nichole opened her car door.
Could it be worse than Ben’s scare? Brooke touched her stomach, willed it to stop churning. How did Dan manage his work and his life? He’d kept his humor and his lightness. Ben and Wesley spilled out of the car together, twin grins on their faces. Excitement lit up both their gazes. Ben looked no worse for his episode. Brooke envied his resilience.
The boys wanted a sleepover—they’d been plotting in the back seat. Brooke promised a basketball shoot-out, walking the dogs and s’mores at the fire pit tomorrow afternoon, if they could wait.
Nichole agreed. Then added another condition. “This only happens if Brooke and I get to play, too.”
The boys shared a look, then nodded in unison.
Nichole pointed her finger at them. “I saw that look. You don’t believe we can win.”
Ben stifled his laugh with his hands. Wesley patted his mom’s arm. “It’s okay not to win, Mom. It only matters that you have fun.”
“Oh. Now it’s on.” Nichole rubbed her hands together. “You both better get lots of sleep and be prepared to lose. Because tomorrow it’s on.”
Nichole pulled both boys into the same bear hug. Made Brooke promise to call no matter the time. Then helped Wesley back into the car.
Brooke shut the door of her apartment and looked at Ben on the couch. Archie was curled up on his lap. Cupid rested on the back of the couch behind Ben’s head, his tail draping around Ben’s neck. Luna and Rex framed Ben on either couch cushion.
The muscles in Brooke’s shoulders relaxed. It hadn’t taken Ben long at all to make himself at home.
Ben grinned at her. “Can I sleep here tonight?”
“You want to sleep on the couch and not in your own bed?” Brooke sat in the recliner. Ben looked fine. Acted fine. Still, she worried something else could happen. She glanced at his backpack on the kitchen stool. She should get the test kit out.
“Definitely.” Ben curved his palm over Archie’s back. “I’ve never slept with cats and dogs before.”
“I’m sure they will love to have you,” Brooke said.
Ben giggled, pushing Cupid’s tail away from his mouth.
His laughter unknotted more of those kinks in her body.
Ben’s hand stilled on Archie, his bottom lip disappeared. “You’re not mad I called you, are you?”
“No.” She slowed her words into an easygoing rhythm, the same way she rocked in the recliner. “Not at all.”
Ben played with Cupid’s tail and avoided looking at her. “I wanted to stay with you instead of Valerie.”
“Why?”
Ben shrugged. “I just feel safer with you.”
That heart Brooke kept trying to restrain flipped over again. For Dan’s son. Brooke sank back into the recliner. She could relate to Ben. She knew the power in feeling safe. She felt the same way with Dan.
* * *
DAN RUSHED INTO the backyard and hung up from the pediatric ward at Bay Water Medical.
Ben hadn’t been admitted. Where was his son?
Where was his family? No one answered his calls.
Where was Ben?
Terror ricocheted inside him, bouncing against his ribs, up into his throat. He’d been more calm facing an armed family than he was now.
The shift had started out routine, then tripped into anything but, with a standoff with a patient’s armed family. Dan had been forced to remain in a bedroom with a gunshot victim until the police had arrived. Between the standoff and the paperwork, he hadn’t looked at his phone until he’d climbed into his truck hours later to drive home.
The list of missed calls choked him. Valerie’s voice mail about an incident meant he hadn’t listened to any other messages. He’d started calling for answers.
Dan lifted his fist, ready to pound on Brooke’s door. Someone was going to tell him where his son was. Now.
The door swung open and Brooke shoved him in the chest.
Dan never budged, opened his mouth to demand answers.
Brooke steamrolled over him. “Wake up Ben and I’ll kick you.”
Dan’s mind stuttered. He tilted like a tree in a strong wind. But he had to know. Had to know he’d heard her right. “Ben is here?”
“You never read our texts,” she accused. “Never listened to my voice mails.”
“I...” He’d panicked. Straight-up panicked like he’d been trained not to do. Like the father of the little girl with asthma in the ER.
Brooke’s gaze softened. She recapped the evening, starting with Ben’s call, then the events at the movie theater and Nichole’s assistance.
“Where’s Jason?” he asked.
“On a plane to New York for business.” Brooke rubbed her hands together. “He probably hasn’t landed yet.”
“Why didn’t Valerie answer her phone?”
Brooke scowled. “She probably turned it off, so she wouldn’t have her sleep disturbed.”
Dan massaged the back of his neck. That sounded like Valerie. She’d have assumed Brooke had everything handled.
“You should know I was not nice to her.” Brooke shifted from one foot to the other in her fuzzy socks. “I’m not apologizing, either.”
Dan liked Brooke as she was: determined and protective of Ben. And
him. “I’m not asking you to.”
“Ben was up rather late. That’s my fault. He had to call his grandpa. Ben wanted Rick to tell me that Ben didn’t need to check his blood through the night.”
Dan stared at Brooke. “You checked his blood.”
“Absolutely. I would’ve done it every hour all night to be sure. I don’t trust those machines. My dad had one and it never seemed to register his counts correctly. Or maybe it was that my dad liked to visit with the friendly nurse at the lab.” Brooke waved her hands around her as if scratching that story from the air. “It doesn’t matter. Rick and Ben convinced me that Ben was good. Sorry I made him test so much.”
But it did matter. A lot. Brooke had tested his blood without flinching. Never stuttered. Never called to tell Dan to come home and take care of his son. Or maybe she had—he hadn’t listened to the voice mails. But somehow, standing there, he doubted it. “Where did you say my brother is?”
“Jason had to fly to New York for a business meeting. Ben told me that he felt safer with me rather than with his mom.” Broke walked over to the door, peered inside her apartment, then softly closed the door again. “Are you sure your brother is a professional gambler? He has a lot of business meetings.”
Dan wasn’t sure of anything. “What did you say?”
Brooke blinked. “Are you sure your brother is a gambler?”
“No, about Ben.”
“He felt safer here.” Brooke brushed the hair out of her face. “I’m sorry. We should’ve kept calling. I fell asleep in the recliner.”
Dan understood exactly why Ben wanted to be with Brooke. Dan grabbed her hands and pulled her attention to him. “Stop apologizing.”
“But...” she said.
He squeezed her hands until she quieted. “Thank you.”
She tipped her head and watched him. “I was the one who encouraged you to do the sleepover.”
Dan shook his head. He was speechless, humbled, grateful. And he was desperately trying to catch his heart before it fell completely for such an incredible woman. But he kept fumbling and falling harder.
Brooke stepped away and opened the front door. She waved Dan closer. “Look how precious they are.”
Dan peered inside. Ben lay stretched out on the couch. One arm thrown above his head. Cupid slept, curled up on his stomach. Archie shared Ben’s pillow, snuggled against his head. Luna had flopped down on the floor in front of the couch. Even Rex snuggled on the couch near Ben’s feet.
“I don’t know how you sleep,” Brooke whispered and shut the door. “I’ve checked on Ben every hour.”
Dan tugged Brooke into his arms and dropped a soft kiss on her forehead. “Thank you.”
Thank you for taking care of Ben. Thank you for being here. With me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
SEVERAL HOURS LATER, Dan and Ben debated the merits of zucchini as noodles at the farmers market. Brooke shook her head and added several plump zucchini to her basket. “You’re going to love them. I promise.”
“I don’t know.” Ben’s face scrunched up, then relaxed into a grin. “But I do love real pasta noodles with extra cheese.”
Brooke ruffled his hair. “Then we’ll add extra cheese to the list.”
“Cool.” Ben squinted at an heirloom tomato and pointed out its pumpkin shape. “Brooke, are you going to be looking at the vegetables much longer?”
Brooke glanced up and took in Dan’s and Ben’s miserable expressions. “There are two more rows of vegetables and fruits waiting for us.”
Ben slapped his hand on his forehead. Dan rolled his shoulders as if preparing to take on the task. Brooke burst out laughing. “You don’t have to stay with me. There’s homemade fudge and cookies over there.”
“Really?” Ben spun around and scanned the large market covering more than two blocks.
Dan touched Brooke’s cheek and lifted her gaze to his. “Do you mind if we head over there?”
“Only if you don’t mind sampling every vegetable I buy,” she said.
He leaned down, pressed his lips against hers. “Deal.”
Ben made a gagging noise that tempted Dan to kiss Brooke again. Brooke grinned at Dan. “This isn’t going to distract me from buying brussels sprouts.”
“Are you sure?” he asked. “Maybe we should try again.”
Brooke pushed him away. “Take Ben and pick out the cookies with the most chocolate chips.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He traced his finger along her cheek and his gaze over her face as if memorizing the moment. Then he disappeared down the aisle, hurrying to keep pace with his eager son.
Brooke tracked their progress, thankful for Dan’s height. She touched her lips, held on to the kiss and hummed along the next aisle.
Fifteen minutes later, Ben’s excited voice reached her. He lifted a bag of cookies and waved.
She never heard what he said.
The screams and shouts stripped his words from the very air.
A car had overshot the curb and sent people scrambling. The next thing she knew Ben was falling forward. Dan blocked a wooden crate with his arm, stumbled.
Brooke, too, staggered, dumping her produce on the ground.
She was too late. Ben hit the pavement. Dan beside him.
And Brooke’s world flatlined.
Sirens splintered in the air.
Dan pushed himself up, crawled to Ben. Brooke skidded on her knees beside the boy.
Dan touched her cheek. “Are you okay?”
Brooke nodded. That was the correct response, wasn’t it?
“Can you stay with him?” Dan asked. “I need to find help. I need to help.”
Brooke nodded again. Her head heavy on her neck. Her body rocking. Ben groaned, drawing her focus. Ben needed her. She pressed her shirt against the gash on his forehead, held him close and held back her panic.
Police officers moved around her. Paramedics swooped in. Secured Ben to a gurney. Escorted her to the ambulance. Confused, she searched the crowd. “Dan? Where’s Dan?”
The paramedic guided her into the ambulance. “He’s fine. He’s okay. He’s following in another rig.”
Again, Brooke nodded. Her head pounded. Ben called her name. That centered her. She scooted closer to the gurney, grabbed his hand and held on as her world tipped over itself.
Nurses and a doctor met the gurney, wheeled Ben inside. Spoke to her about running tests and stitches and contusions. Then they were gone. Taking Ben away and her focus.
Brooke clutched her head and wandered into the waiting area.
The past and present stumbled over each other. The street corner on Bayview. The shop windows. Ben falling. Brooke too far away. Squeals. Shouts. Screams. The shattering of glass. The crunch of metal. Of her heart.
She ached. Everywhere.
Gentle hands gripped hers. A strong voice. A familiar face. Her heart knew him. “Dan.”
“I need you to focus on me, Brooke,” he ordered.
No. There was no place safe to look. Especially not at the man she loved. The man she almost lost... Brooke squeezed her eyes closed.
Her chest hurt as if the world had collapsed on it. Her voice raw and stabbing. “I can’t do this. I can’t be here.”
Dan eased her into a chair and knelt in front of her. “Brooke. Please, listen to me. You need to breathe. Inhale. Exhale.”
Didn’t he understand? It hurt to breathe. It hurt so much more to love.
Dan falling. Ben crashing beside him. Helpless. She’d been helpless. Like before. Like now.
A doctor in navy scrubs joined Dan and touched his shoulder. Wyatt. The groom. Did he know how much love hurt?
Wyatt told Dan that Ben wanted him. Brooke latched onto Dan’s arm. “You need to go.”
She needed to go.
“Brooke. Stay here. Don
’t move. I’ll be right back.” Dan clasped her hands. “Wyatt is getting someone to help you.”
No one could help. She had to move. She had to run from so much pain. That was the only way.
Dan released her to go to Ben. As it should be. That was his life. A shudder swept through her, leaving a deep chill in its wake. She was not Dan’s life. She couldn’t be.
The ache returned and squeezed her heart. She’d known better than to love again.
Brooke shoved herself out of the chair. Stumbled past Rick and Valerie. Ignored Jason calling her name.
She lunged for the door. Escaped outside. And ran.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
“SOMEONE NEEDS TO sit with Brooke,” Dan said to Wyatt. Her hands had been too cold. Her eyes too glassy. Her skin too pale. He’d hated to leave her. Hated to walk away. But Ben needed him.
His name echoed into the hall. Dan and Wyatt turned. A frantic Valerie rushed toward them. His dad and his brother close behind. Dan searched the waiting area. Brooke’s chair was empty.
A scream built inside him. He wanted to call out Brooke’s name.
Valerie launched herself into Dan’s arms. But he wanted Brooke. In his arms. Beside him. With him.
His dad would find her. Jason, too. Dan started toward his brother.
A hand landed on his arm. A nurse smiled at him. “Mr. Sawyer, your son is asking for you.”
Ben. Dan had to get to his son. Ben was his priority. Always.
Dan knew then that Brooke was gone. As it should be. He only had room for one.
He’d had to choose. It was Ben. Every time. Dan turned to follow the nurse.
Wyatt stepped in front of Valerie. “Just his father for now. We don’t want too many visitors at once to add additional stress.”
Valerie lifted her chin. “I’m his mother.”
And yet like Dan, Ben preferred Brooke.
“And you’ll have a chance to see him.” Wyatt asked a nurse to show the family to the waiting area.
Dan scrubbed his hands over his face.
Wyatt squeezed his shoulder. “The doctors want Ben to stay the night. Make sure numbers are stable. And watch his head.”
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