Page 65 of Whisper of Love (Whisper Lake 1)

“Any news?” Ali asked when she answered.

“No. Not yet. How’s Ricky? Are you guys home?”

“Yeah. He scarfed down some pizza and is already asleep. Dumbass is snoring beside him and KJ is camped out in a sleeping bag on his floor. It’s pretty sweet. I took a picture. I’m going to look at it when they’re driving me crazy.”

Kade smiled. “Good plan.”

“Do you need me to come back there? I can call Jess to come stay with the—”

“No, I’m fine,” he cut her off.

“Are you sure? I can bring you food and…” She wasn’t able to finish her thought because she yawned.

“Ali. Get some sleep. I’m fine. I’ll be home soon.” He loved the sound of that. Home. He’d looked at some places when he’d met up with Kennedy the other day but none of them felt like the Walsh house had always felt to him.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Okay…and Kade…” she paused.

After a few moments he prompted, “What?”

“You know I love you, right?”

He closed his eyes and inhaled through his nose, trying to contain the emotions that hearing those three little words inspired in him. He reminded himself that there were a lot of different kinds of love. She wasn’t necessarily saying that she was in love with him, but his heart still translated it as amazing.

“I know. I love you, too.”

They disconnected the call and he walked back in feeling like he was walking on cloud nine. Today had been such a roller coaster, but right now he was loving the ride. He’d just lowered down into the seat beside Nancy when he noticed a doctor walk out and talk briefly to the nurse who pointed their direction.

Kade nudged Nancy, and they stood to meet her.

“Mr. McNight?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“I’m Dr. Robinson. Are you George McNight’s son?” Her expression was unreadable.

“Yes.”

“Your father appears to have suffered a massive heart attack. When he arrived he was unresponsive and we were unable to find a pulse. The paramedics performed CPR and administered the defibrillator twice. We continued manual CPR, intubated him, and gave several drugs to try to restart everything in the body…however all our attempts failed. I am sorry but your father has passed away.”

Kade stood there, waiting to feel what he’d always imagined he would feel when this time came, but nothing happened. He wasn’t happy. He wasn’t relieved. He wasn’t anything.

“I’m so sorry for your loss. I can arrange for you to see him if you’d like to say goodbye.”

Kade wasn’t sure what to say. He didn’t know if he wanted to say goodbye.

“We’ll let you know,” Nancy responded for him.

“Okay. Let me know if you have any questions, and once again. I’m sorry for your loss.”

Kade watched as the doctor disappeared back through the door she’d come in and he sank back down in his chair. Nancy sat beside him.

“I’m not sure if this is the right time, but…” She reached down and rummaged through her bag. Then, she pulled out a VHS tape. “Your father recorded this right after he was diagnosed. When I became his sponsor he asked if I would give it to you when he…was gone.”

“You’ve been carrying it around in your purse?” he asked as he took it from her.

“No.” She smiled. “It was at the trailer, I grabbed it just in case. He just told me where it was, he never actually gave it to me, I think because he didn’t trust me not to watch it. I wouldn’t even know how. I haven’t had a VCR in over a decade.”

Kade looked down at the white strip of tape that had his name scribbled on it in his dad’s handwriting. He wasn’t sure how he was going to watch it either, but surprisingly, he wanted to. He wanted to hear what his dad had to say to him.

And that was something he’d never thought would happen.

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