Page 124 of Keep My Heart
‘Dad had a heart attack.’
‘Wait—what? Is he okay?’
‘We don’t know yet. He was having chest pains and trouble breathing so Mom called for an ambulance. He just got to the hospital. Theparamedics think it was a heart attack, but we need a doctor to tell us for sure.’
‘Fuck.’ I rub my jaw, a thing I do when I’m trying to think. ‘I’ll see if I can get a flight. I’ll get the next one out.’
‘Let me know when it gets in and I’ll meet you at the airport.’
‘I’ll have Matt get me. You need to be at the hospital with Mom. Are you there now?’
‘Yeah, I’m outside the ER. Mom’s in there filling out paperwork.’
‘Where’s Jason and Brody?’
‘They’re on their way.’
‘Go be with Mom. She’ll tell you she’s fine, but you and I both know she’s freaking out.’
‘Yeah, I’m heading in there now.’
‘I’ll be there as soon as I can.’ I end the call and race through the airport to one of the ticket counters. ‘I need a flight to Haydon Falls, Wisconsin.’
The woman types on her computer for what seems like forever. ‘I’m sorry, sir, but I don’t think they have an airport.’
‘You’re right. Sorry. I’m not thinking straight. I meant Madison.’
She types some more, then nods. ‘I have one leaving tomorrow morning at five.’
‘I need to be there tonight. Try Milwaukee.’
After what seems like an hour of her typing, she shakes her head. ‘Everything’s booked. The soonest I could get you a seat would be tomorrow morning.’
Shit. I can’t get there tomorrow. Dad could be dead by then. He better not fucking die. I’m not ready to lose my dad. I need more time with him.
‘What about Chicago?’ the woman asks. ‘I have a seat open on a flight that leaves in an hour.’
‘Yes. I’ll take it.’ I give her my credit card. The ticket will probably cost me a few thousand dollars, but I don’t care. I have to get home.
Ten minutes later, I’ve got my boarding pass and am heading to the gate, trying to calculate when I’ll get there. Chicago’s at least a two-hour drive from Haydon Falls, more with traffic, and I’ll have to rent a car.
I text Sawyer and tell him I’m flying into Chicago and give him an estimate of when I’ll be there.
Call Uncle Mitch,he texts back.Mom was just on the phone with him. He’ll give you a ride.
I’m so out of it I wasn’t even thinking of my uncle. He lives in Chicago and wouldn’t think twice about picking me up and driving me to Haydon Falls. He’s probably going there anyway to be with my mom.
I call him up, but his phone goes straight to voicemail. I call his home number, knowing he still has a landline.
‘Hello?’ It sounds like Nash answering, not Uncle Mitch.
‘Hey, it’s Nick. Is this Nash?’
‘Yeah, hey, I just heard about your dad. We’re heading up there soon.’
‘All of you?’
‘Yeah. Dad’s at the gas station, filling up the truck. I’ll follow behind him in mine. Bryce and Austin are going with Jake.’
