Page 112 of Catch and Release

But it went straight to voicemail, and then he remembered why.

“I’m going to take you to the hospital, Grams.”

She nodded.

It was no use trying to call an ambulance. The hospitals were understaffed in this area, and he knew it’d be faster to take her himself.

He bent down and gently picked her up. She moaned, and he stiffened.

“What hurts, Grams?”

“Wrist,” she wheezed. “Ribs.”

Gently—even more gently—he continued picking her up, and she moaned.

“I’m sorry, Grams,” he said. “I’m so sorry. I’m going to get you to the hospital.”

He grabbed his keys from the kitchen, slowly with the hand holding her legs, and carried her outside to the car. Their front door swung open and he didn’t bother closing it. He didn’t care. Getting her into the front seat of his car was a challenge, but he sat her down and buckled her in as slowly as he could.

Shawn couldn’t remember what happened between leaving the driveway and pulling into the hospital, but he was there. It was usually a 40-minute drive, but he must’ve gotten there in half the time, because it wasn’t even midnight.

He rushed into the emergency room, carrying Grams as delicately as he could.

“Help,” he shouted. “My grandmother fell. Please help!”

A few nurses rushed over to him, one carting an empty bed, and he gently laid her in it.

They asked him a few questions.

Name, age, blood type, medications, allergies.

All questions he’d known the answers to since he moved in and made it his mission to take care of her. A mission he failed.

And then he was alone in the waiting room, being told that they’d update him as soon as they could.

He sat down in one of the dozens of empty chairs and threw his head into his hands, tugging at his hair in an attempt to feel something other than utter despair.

“No choice?” Willa screamed, then laughed humorlessly. “You could’ve let me live my life! Could’ve taken care of your wife and child and let me go! You had a million choices, but robbing me of more of my time was not the one you should’ve chosen.”

“Willa, I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry?! And have you apologized to your wife and daughter, as well?”

Leo shifted. “Lacey and Ella don’t know about us.”

“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.” Willa closed her eyes and groaned. “Why are you here, Leo?”

“I wanted to apologize, Willa. I messed up. My marriage was in shambles and I was struggling when my wife was pregnant. It wasn’t right, what I did. But I owed you an apology, so?—”

“Nope,” Willa said, popping the p. “You hired what I’m assuming is a really fucking expensive PI to find me so you could apologize? I’m not buying it.”

“It’s true,” Leo responded, eyes wide and clear. “I didn’t feel good about the way we left things. We were together for two years, and even though it ended poorly, it still meant something to me and I’m sorry about tha?—”

“Ended poorly?” Willa deadpanned. “Dude. I found you at my favorite restaurant with your wife and child right after you told me we could move in together. If you owe anyone an apology, it’s them.”

“Willa, I?—”

“No. Nope. I’m done. What do you want, Leo?”

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