Page 132 of Sing it, Sam

“Are you with Sam? Can he talk?”

“He’s sleeping right now.”

A giant yawn rumbles from my mouth. “I’m going to drive up.”

“Jane, the drive at night’s too dangerous. Too many ’roos on the road. Sam wouldn’t want you to, and besides, you sound tired.”

I clear my throat to try and sound more put-together. “Yeah, maybe, but I’m only going to be lying in bed thinking about him.”

“Get some sleep, and I’ll call you in the morning once the doctor has done his rounds.”

“Are you sure? I feel so helpless here.”

“There’s nothing you can do, Jane. Sleep is the best thing for him. And for you, by the sounds of it.”

“Okay. I’ll talk to you in the morning, then.”

“Will do. Sleep tight, Jane.”

“You too, Ben.”

***

The sun is up before I know it. Somehow, I slept like a log. If logs slept.

I shower, get dressed, and take Butch for a walk up the road to Kathleen’s house with dog food and his dishes in a bag. Regardless of Sam’s condition, I’m going up there today.

As I finish packing a bag with spare clothes and toiletries, my phone rings in my back jeans pocket.

“Ben,” I breathe into the phone. “How is he?”

“Hey, babe,” a voice I barely recognise barks.

Something between a sob and a laugh erupts from my mouth. “Sam. W-what the hell?”

“I blame the soup,” he says in a gravelly voice.

Tears spring to my eyes as laughter bursts from my mouth. “That’s not even funny. Leave the pumpkins alone. Anyway, tell me what’s going on. I’m coming up there. I’m packing now.”

“Are you panicking?”

God, it bugs me when he says that. “Um, yes. You happy?”

A series of coughs fills the line. “Don’t stress.”

“I’m trying not to. I’ll be less panicked when I see you. Anyway, I have good news?” Hearing about the future with Ed will definitely lift his spirits.

Cough, cough, cough. “Cool. Love you. See ya later.”

Did he not hear what I said about news?

I shake it off. He needs to rest, and I’d rather tell him in person anyway. “Love you too.”

The phone is shuffled around. “Jane?”

“Hi, Ben.”

“Just give me a sec. I’ll leave the room.” About ten seconds later, he says, “You there?”

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