Page 98 of Nothing But It All
“AndI’dbe disappointed inmyselfbecause my behavior told him it was okay. But then, once he has it pointed out to him, it’s on him.”
Jack brings our hands to his lips and presses a kiss on the top of mine.
“How was your dad today?” I ask, slipping my hand from his. “Did he seem okay?”
Jack groans as he lifts Snaps and puts him on the other side of him. I scooch closer until I’m against his hard, warm body.
My husband blows out a hasty breath that’s filled with concern.
“I don’t mean to worry you,” I say. “But he was a little off tonight.”
“I know. I’m trying to figure out how to bring it up to him, because you know my dad. He’ll posture up and fight against me.”
“Has his blood sugar been stable?”
Jack nods but also shrugs. “I think so. He’s been eating better than he usually does, and he’s not really giving off bad blood sugar vibes. He usually gets dizzy and wants to drink all the time. But that’s not really been the case.”
I kiss Jack’s rib.
“He’s just ... what is it?” Jack asks, thinking it through. “More abrasive, maybe? Talkative? More open?” He looks down at me. “That all sounds normal when you say it out loud.”
It does sound fine when it’s spoken aloud. Honestly, if that’s what Pops thinks he’s being with his sharp responses and willingness to talk about a lot of things he usually avoids, it doesn’t sound like he has an issue. It sounds normal.
But it’s not. It’s not Harvey Reed. And like Jack, I don’t know what to make of it.
“He had a hard time in the woods today,” Jack says. “And a couple of times, he started going the wrong way. My dad doesn’t go the wrong way. He knows those woods like the back of his hand.”
“I noticed when he was talking to me around the fire that he kept going off on tangents. Or, maybe it was that he kept losing his place in the story he was telling me. But it was very odd, and I wanted to mention it to you.”
Jack nods. “I’ll talk to him about it tomorrow. Prepare for fireworks, I’m sure.”
I laugh. “Oh, that’s a guarantee.”
He rolls over in one fluid movement and pins me to the bed. I yelp, my heart pounding in anticipation.
“In the meantime,” he says, eyes blazing, “let’s make some fireworks ourselves.”
I lift my legs and wrap them around him. “What are you waiting for?”
He captures the rest of my words with his mouth, making it clear he’s not waiting for anything.
Which is good. Because I’m tired of waiting too.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
LAUREN
Mom!” Maddie’s cry pierces the air.“Mom!”
I sit straight up in bed, struggling to get my senses together. I have no idea what time it is, nor what day. All I know is that my baby girl is screaming my name.
“Madeline!” I shout, yanking the blankets off me.
Her steps smack against the floor in a rush. Sobs tear through the air, sending a cold chill down my spine.
Jack’s out of bed before me and across the room before my feet hit the hardwood.
My heart thunders, adrenaline spiking at the sound of my child in panic.What’s wrong? Where has she been? Is she hurt?
