Page 100 of That One Heartbreak

Shana had heard him scream and ran to rescue him.

Tears rolled down Kate’s face. Marley reached for her hand, stone faced. She was never going away again. Not when her kids needed her.

Why hadn’t she locked the garage? Or stored the propane tank somewhere else?

She turned to look at the man who only hours ago was her sole focus. His profile was sharp against the low glow of the waning moon. He was staring at the road ahead, his jaw tight. Apart from asking if she was too warm, they’d had no conversation at all since they’d left the cabin.

She couldn’t gauge what he was thinking at all. Was he blaming her, the way she was blaming herself? It was all her fault, after all. She’d encouraged Ethan’s obsession. Showed him how to set up and start the grill. She might as well have given him a loaded gun.

“I should never have left them,” she whispered.

Marley didn’t react at all. “This isn’t your fault.”

“Isn’t it?” She blinked away the tears. “Ethan is my responsibility. He’s hurt. This is absolutely my fault.”

“Kate, it could have happened anywhere. At any time.”

“But it didn’t, did it?” She shook her head. “I should have been there. I would have known…”

He ran his tongue along his bottom lip, like he was trying to think of something to say. But there was nothing. How could there be? When Ethan needed her, she was busy getting it on with his father’s friend.

She pulled her hand from his, lowering her face into it as she let out a sob.

“This is killing me,” Marley whispered. “I just want to stop and hold you. But I can’t. I’m gonna get you to that hospital. Shana said he’s hurt but okay, try to hold on to that.”

“I’m trying,” she told him, squeezing her eyes shut. “I really am.”

“I know you are. And I know you’re crying now because you won’t be able to once you’re with Ethan. I know how strong you are. How much you love your kids. Nobody ever doubts that.”

Every word felt like a lie.

“We’re less than half an hour away now,” Marley told her. “We’ll go straight to the hospital. Shana’s with Ethan. You know she’ll take care of him until we are there.”

“I know.” She let out a ragged breath. Because he was right. When they got to the hospital she’d be strong. She had no choice. That’s what she did. Ethan needed her strength, he needed her to be calm.

She might have let him down today, but she wasn’t going to do it again.

“What do you need me to do, Kate?” Marley asked her, as though he was searching for something he could hold on to. And she got it. He felt as useless as she did. He was a first responder. If he had been home, he would’ve been on call tonight.

He would have come to the house and helped Ethan.

“I just need my son to be okay,” she whispered. “We both know what burns can be like.”

“Yeah.” This time it was Marley’s voice that cracked. “But that hospital is the best. They’ll take care of him. From what you’ve said, Shana got to him fast. Time matters in cases like his.”

“Cases like his…” She winced at the words. “He’s not a case.”

“I know. I’m just trying to help.”

“You’re not.” Oh God, she didn’t want to snap like this. She knew he was trying to help. But right now she didn’t have the emotional capacity to let him. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that.”

“It’s okay.” His voice was low.

“No it’s not.” She’d hurt him. “I really am sorry.”

“You don’t need to keep saying it, Kate,” he snapped.

Her chest was so tight it was hurting. She blew out a mouthful of air but it did nothing to make her feel better. She needed to be at the hospital. To be with Ethan.

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