Page 88 of In Good Company

I shake my head immediately. The exhaustion is clear in her voice. There’s no way I’m making her handle this alone. “No, Mom. I want to be there. I want to see Dad, and I want to be there for you. It just might not be until tonight that I arrive.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Please just keep me posted if you get updates. Tell Dad I love him and I’ll be there soon. I’m going to book a flight out as soon as we hang up.”

“Okay. Be safe. I love you, Lu,” Mom responds. I hate how worried she sounds, and I hate myself for being irresponsible enough not to have checked my phone since last night. She’s had to worry about Dad all alone while I was being selfish.

“I love you too, Mom. I’ll be there soon, I promise.”

I hang up the phone just as tears begin to rush down my cheeks. I try to stop them, but the guilt of not being there when my parents needed me and the fear of not knowing if my dad is going to be okay overtakes me. I’m so upset with myself. I’ve always been so good at keeping my phone on me at all times in case of an emergency.

I just got so swept up in the night with Cal that I forgot all about it.

And I hate myself for letting that happen.

“Baby, what’s wrong?”

I jump, turning to find Cal walking into the kitchen. He slipped on a pair of sweatpants and nothing else.

A sob rips through me just at the sight of him.

His entire face falls as he rushes to close the distance between us. Without any questions, he pulls me against his chest and holds me as my body shakes from the sobs coming out of me.

Cal’s hand cups the back of my head. He just holds me as I try to regain my composure enough to talk.

Eventually, I let out a shaky breath as I pull my cheek from his chest.

“I have to go home,” I announce, wiping underneath my eyes. “I need to get back to Virginia.”

“I’ll go with you,” he responds immediately, his thumbs swiping at the tears still streaming down my cheeks.

I shake my head. “No. I need to get home. It’s my dad. Something’s happened, and I need to help my mom and?—”

“And you can do all of that, baby. I’m not stopping you.” His eyes are full of concern as they scan my face. “I’m just saying I’ll go with you so you don’t have to go back alone.”

I let out another cry at how sweet he’s being. I can’t ask him to drop everything and come back to Virginia with me. I don’t know how long I’ll be there. Deep down, I wonder if I should just stay in Virginia for the rest of the summer. I don’t know if I’ll be able to leave again after hearing the fear and exhaustion in my mother’s voice and not being there to help her.

“I don’t know how long I’ll be there for,” I begin, stepping out of his arms. “I know it’s unprofessional for me to quit like this, but I don’t know if I’ll be back to work this summer. My mom will need help, and I can’t leav?—”

“Lucy, we’re not talking about work right now,” Cal interrupts. There’s frustration laced with worry in his words.

“I work for you,” I remind him, my voice shaking. “It’s my responsibility to let you know if I won’t be able to work, and with my dad in the hospital for I don’t know how long…I just don’t think I’ll be able to work anymore this summer.”

“Your dad’s in the hospital?” There’s so much concern in his voice that it kills me. He doesn’t even respond to the fact it’s unlikely I’ll be able to finish out the summer working for him.

I nod, trying not to let my emotions get the best of me. “Yes. He’s in the hospital, and my mom’s there handling it alone, and I just need to get home as soon as I can. I can’t work for you anymore. I can’t be here.”

Cal’s hands find the sides of my face as he steps closer to me once again. “Baby, I don’t care if you can’t work for me. What I care about isyouand making sure you’re okay.”

“I’m okay,” I lie, ducking under his arm. “I just need to book a flight home.” I take a deep breath, trying to compose myself. After I make it to Virginia and I get things figured out, I’ll be able to fully break down. Right now, I need to push all my emotions to the side and get back home.

“I’m coming with you.” Cal’s tone makes it seem like it’s not up for discussion.

“No, Cal. You stay here.”

He lets out a low growl. “I’m just supposed to stay here and do nothing while the woman I’m falling in love with is left to handle her father being in the hospital all alone?”

I gasp at his words.

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