Page 44 of Seeing You

And just thinking about that made his chest ache.

“What is it you want me to say?” Marcus asked, emotion threatening to clog his throat.

“I want you to say that you’re going to step up here—if not for Dad, then for me. If you don’t think you can be a good son, then be a good brother. I’m drowning in my own stuff and…and it would be a big freaking relief if I didn’t have to take on more. I never ask anything of you, mainly because you’ve blown me off for so damn long. Well, I deserve a little help. I’m always there when you need me. It would be nice if you would do the same for once.”

Well, that was a whole heaping load of guilt dumped on him.

And what was worse was how accurate it was.

Shit.

Marcus didn’t look at his calendar, he didn’t refer to any schedule or agenda. He simply relieved his brother. “I’ll head home first thing in the morning. I should get to Dad’s between ten and eleven. Text me Mr. Jameson’s number and the number for the hospital and I’ll take care of everything. I promise.”

His statement was met with silence.

“Um…Max?”

“I’m here,” his brother replied quietly. “I’m just…I swear, you have no idea the weight you just lifted off of me. Thank you.”

That made him feel like the crappiest human being alive.

“Send me those numbers and I’ll get right to it. And I’ll keep you in the loop. Go do what you need to do and we’ll talk later. Okay?”

“I will. And seriously, Marcus, thank you.”

Placing his phone down on his desk, Marcus slowly sat back down. When Stella walked in with his lunch a few minutes later, he thanked her.

“Is there anything else you need?”

Nodding, he told her about his father’s accident and his conversation with Max.

“So, what does this mean?”

“It means we need to make some calls and work on making sure we have a nurse coming home with him, finding out what supplies we may need so he can move around, and I have a list of contractors I spoke to when I was home a few weeks ago. I’d like to schedule some of that work.”

Nodding, she smiled. “Send me the numbers and I’ll start on the calls. Anything else?”

“Clear my schedule of any in-office meetings. I’m going home to Sweetbriar Ridge for at least two weeks. Any meetings will have to be virtual for the time being.”

Another nod. “I’m on it!”

It wasn’t until she was out the door that the enormity of the situation hit him.

“Holy shit. I’m going to be living back in Sweetbriar Ridge,” he murmured.

It felt a little like returning to the scene of a crime.

He just hoped he wasn’t going to cause any more damage.

Chapter Eight

Her house was set up for girls’ night, and it was the first thing she had been seriously excited about in over a week.

Jade, Ashlynn, Chloe, Avery, and Cora were coming over for their monthly get-together. She had extended the invitation to her mother—only because Cora was coming—but Marie had other plans. The relief she felt after getting that news seemed odd, but things had been strained with her mother for a little while now. Actually, it was that way for all of her siblings, but…she knew they’d get over it. They always did.

When the girls showed up, Billie was thrilled to see them. “Welcome! Wine and cheese are set up on the island—Ash, there’s juice for you—I’ve got a lasagna in the oven and I’ve got all the makings for ice cream sundaes! I hope you’re all hungry!”

Everyone was talking at once, but it was always like this. Ashlynn was talking about a crazy client who came into the salon earlier looking to get a perm, but then wanted it straightened with a flat iron. “What was the point of making her hair curly if she was only going to straighten it?”

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