Page 6 of Hidden Vows
It’s not until I’m behind the locked door of my room that I finally answer my phone.
“All right. I know it’s been a few days, and I’m sorry, but calling four times in a row is even a little much for you. Someone’s gotta be dying if it’s that urgent we talk,” I chuckle as I fall onto the bed.
It’s not silent on the other end of the phone; there’s noise in the background, but nothing distinct enough for me to know where he is. It’s his silence that has me sitting up at the foot of the bed.
“Dad? You know I was joking, right?”
It’s silent for a beat longer before a voice comes clear across the line, but it’s not my father’s voice I hear.
“Sorry, Jude. I—Jeez, you think I’d know how to handle making a call like this.” It’s a man’s voice, and the way he mutters that last part, I know it wasn’t meant for me.
There’s a shuffling sound and a muffled noise before everything stops, and the voice comes back, clear as day. “Jude, it’s Gage Flynn. The manager of the bookstore next to Murphy’s found your dad unconscious at the bar this evening. He’s been rushed to the hospital, and they believe he’s had a heart attack.”
I know Gage continues talking because I hear his voice in my ear, but I have no idea what words are coming out of his mouth. It’s like I’m in aCharlie Brownmovie and his teacher is talking to me—I hear the sound, but nothing makes sense.
My dad can’t be going to the hospital. He has to be all right. It’s been too long since I last saw him.
My attention is focused on the painting above the desk in front of me. It’s a painting of a lighthouse at sunset. It’s so realistic it almost doesn’t look like a painting, except the colors are so bright that everything practically pops off the canvas. It’s truly a stunning piece of art, but what keeps drawing my focus is the inclusion of a man and a child walking hand in hand toward the lighthouse. And even though I hear Gage still talking in my ear,allI can focus on is that image.
“Jude, are you still there?” The sharpness in how Gage says my name finally draws my gaze from the painting.
On shaky legs, I stand from the bed and move to the window overlooking the dock I was just standing on. “Sorry. Yeah, I’m here, but I-I missed most of what you said.”
“No. Don’t apologize.” Gage releases a deep breath, and I can almost imagine his entire body slumping at the realization he’s the one who has to share this news with me.
It’s been seventeen years since I’ve spoken to anyone in Ashford Falls—outside of my dad—but at one point in time, I thought of Gage as my brother, as one of my closest friends. He may be two years younger than me, but thanks to our dads being best friends, we grew up with each other, and for a period of my life Gage knew me better than anyone—like I knew him.
Gage is one of the few people my dad openly talks to me about during our chats, so I know their relationship is just as close as it’s always been. Even knowing Gage has had to make these kinds of calls before due to his job, I know this one is difficult for him.
“They don’t know much at the moment, but he’s alive.”
I want to respond, but I don’t know the words to express the thoughts coursing through my brain. Ironic for a person in my lineof work.
“I-I don’t know if you’re close. Your dad doesn’t really share much about what’s going on with you. I know you don’t like returning to town, but I thought this might be the exception…” Gage trails off, and I don’t know how to pick up the train of thought.
Gage isn’t wrong; I haven’t stepped foot in Ashford Falls in almost fifteen years. Though, there isn’t a soul on this earth who knows I was there fifteen years ago.
No, to everyone in that town, it’s been seventeen years since I’ve touched the soil of Ashford Falls, and I know there’s at least one person there who wants to make sure I never return. But I’m going to have to disappoint them.
There are a lot of choices in my life I already regret, and if I’m not there for my father in his time of need—if I’m not there to say goodbye if he’s leaving this world and I was given a chance—well, that’s not something I’ll ever be able to live with—no matter the consequences.
“I’m in a small town in Massachusetts. Harborview, I think.” I turn for my laptop set up on the desk and shut it down.
What sounds like a disbelieving puff of air releases from Gage through the phone, making me pause for a second before he speaks. “I know exactly where that is. You’re a lot closer than I thought you’d be.”
I’m tempted to ask how he knows where this little town is, but now isn’t the time for that. No matter what happens with my dad, I’ll be in Ashford Falls for a while. There’ll be plenty of time for me to satisfy my curiosity when I get there.
“I’m packing up now and then I’ll hit the road. You can get my number from my dad’s phone. Text me, and I’ll let you know when I’m close to town.”
“They’ve brought him to the Silverleaf Medical Center. I’ll keep you updated on any changes, but they won’t release much to me since I’m not a blood relative.”
“Thanks, man. I’m glad you’re there with him.”
“Of course, that’s what family does.”
I stumble over my feet and collapse to the foot of the bed at those words. It shouldn’t surprise me that Gage still views us as brothers. That’s precisely the kind of person he is. No matter how long it’s been, he’ll always care for the people he holds dear.
“I gotta finish packing so I can hit the road. Thanks again.”
