Page 23 of Fractured Frets

I was sure it fucking would.

Chapter 8

SLIP

THE PAST – EARLY MARCH – 12 MONTHS AGO.

10:37pm.

Maddy: You there?

Me: Yeah. Just got home from Mexico.

Maddy: How was the video clip shoot?

Me: Awesome. So much fun.

Maddy: Can’t wait to see the final cut.

Me: Me too. Single drops in three weeks.

Maddy: Looking forward to the launch.

Me: Same. Getting excited. How r u?

Maddy: Um...R u with the guys?

Me: No.

Maddy: Can I call you?

Me: Sure.

I closed the front door behind me and left my suitcase at the bottom of the stairs. As I headed for the kitchen, my cell phone buzzed to life.

I answered Maddy’s call after one ring. “Hey? What’s up?”

Shuffling my phone from hand to hand, I shrugged off my leather jacket and tossed it on one of the kitchen stools.

“Hey.” Maddy’s voice was so soft I could barely hear it. “I’ve just got home from the hospital,” she sobbed. “I’ve been there all day with Mom. She had a huge flare-up. Struggled to breathe. And was crippled with pain.”

“Fuck. Is she okay?”

“Yes, but no.” Maddy burst into tears. “I’m so sorry. I called Sutton, but she’s not answering.” Funny that...Flint had just arrived home too. Doubted she’d be available for a couple of hours. “My other girlfriends are away, filming on location. Everyone in Canada has gone over to the islands for the weekend, and cell service is shit. I didn’t know who else to call.”

“Mads, you never have to be sorry. You can call me anytime.” I didn’t expect to be her number-one person to contact, but we were friends. I was happy even to make the list. “Your mom’s home, right? That’s good, isn’t it?”

“Yes.” Maddy sniffled and snuffled. “She’s asleep on her recliner, maxed out on meds. She had all these tests. The doctors are concerned that her pneumonitis is getting worse. She’s now on oxygen therapy. Her health is going downhill.” The anguish in Maddy’s voice speared my heart. “Slip, what am I going to do?”

I had no idea. But she didn’t have to go through this alone. “Sit tight. I’m coming over. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.” I hadn’t stopped for days, even weeks...no, months. Why stop now?

“No. It’s okay,” she whimpered. “You don’t have to do that. I just needed to talk to someone. Vent.”

Every bone in my body wanted to hold her and make her feel better. “Mads, you’re upset. I’m coming.”

“’Kay. That’d be really sweet,” she whispered through the speaker. “Do you remember my security gate code?”

“Yep.” I grinned, picking up my jacket and heading for the garage. “Two-seven-nine-zero, right?”

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