Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 101254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
“Fuck,” he says after I give him the lowdown. “Just what she doesn’t need right now.”
“I know. But we got through the bachelor and bachelorette parties. You and Skye can stay and enjoy yourselves. I’ll take care of the pilot situation. And Tessa.”
“Yeah, sure.” He gives me a quick hug. “Thanks, bro. I owe you one.”
Except my brother owes me nothing. Because it’s becoming increasingly clear to me that I would do just about anything for Tessa Logan.
Chapter Thirty-One
Tessa
The jet lands in Boston in the middle of the night, and Ben’s driver meets us at the airport and transports me straight to Mount Sinai, where my father is.
After checking in with the volunteer on duty, Ben also accompanies me up to my father’s room in the ICU.
I haven’t checked in with my mother since we landed. I was afraid to. Afraid I’d get bad news.
We wait in front of the elevator. I tap my foot on the glistening white floor. “For God’s sake!” I curl my hands into fists. “Where’s the fucking elevator?”
Ben looks around. “We can find the stairs. It’s only three floors.”
“Yes, please.” I feel better when I’m moving.
Just standing here doing nothing, waiting for damned—
Ding!
Finally the mirrored elevator doors part, and I rush in, Ben behind me. The doors close, and slowly—so damned slowly—we ascend. When the doors slide open, I rush out—
But a young man in dark blue scrubs walks into the elevator at the same time, carrying a tray of something. He collides with me and—
“Now look what you did!” he exclaims as what look like packages of gauze and bandages thud to the floor.
I stand, mouth agape, unable to form words.
“She did nothing,” Ben says. “Don’t you know it’s courtesy to wait until people get off the elevator before you get on? Come on, Tessa.” He grabs my hand. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, yeah. Except, no. No, I’m not.” Tears spring to my eyes.
“He’s an asshole,” Ben says.
“What if he was trying to get to a surgery?”
“He wasn’t. It’s the middle of the night, and even if he were, he wouldn’t be using the regular elevators. This isn’t your fault.”
I gulp, following him through the hallway, reading the numbers on the plaques by the hospital rooms.
And when I get to—
I gasp.
The room is empty.
I rush out to the nurse’s station. “I’m looking for my father, Daniel Logan. Where is he?”
The nurse widens her eyes. “You’re his daughter? I thought he only had one.”
“I was out of town. I got here as soon as I could. Where is he? Where’s my mother?”
She smiles weakly. “I think you need to talk to your mother, my dear.”
My heart is racing as if I’ve just run a marathon, and my mind… My mind…
The nurse’s face blurs in front of me. Ben’s strong arm steadies me, and my vision clears.
The nurse’s face reveals nothing.
She knows nothing, of course.
Oh God, oh God, oh God…
“Tessa,” Ben says calmly, “you need to call your mother.”
“It’s the middle of the night.”
“I know, but she knew you were on your way, and she needs to know you’re here.”
But my mother doesn’t pick up. It goes straight to voicemail.
This is Carlotta Logan. I apologize for not being able to take your call. Please leave me a message.
“Mommy, it’s me. It’s Tessa. Where are you? I’m here at the hospital. Where is Da?”
And then my phone clatters to the hard, tiled floor of the hospital hallway right outside the room where my father is supposed to be.
My mother is walking toward me, tears streaking her face.
“Mommy!” I run to her.
She cries into my shoulder.
“Mommy, where’s Da? Tell me what happened?”
She sniffles on my shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Tessa. Your da… He didn’t make it.”
The world spins, then. The room spins. Everything spins.
My mother becomes a blob that is glommed onto me.
She doesn’t even look like my mother.
I look up to the stars, to the heavens—but of course I see only the drywall in the hospital ceiling.
My body chills, as if pins are prickling me, daggers slicing through my heart.
My da…
My daddy…
My father…
“He’s with Nana now.”
The words come from somewhere. I believe from my mother.
Nana wasn’t his mother. She was Mommy’s mother. But she loved Da. She thought he was the best thing that ever happened to Mommy.
She finally lets go of me—but I still don’t see her. Her face is a blur. All I see are the tears running down it. As if water is just coming from somewhere other than her deep brown eyes.
“It was a massive coronary,” another voice says. “We did all we could.”
“But I talked to Eva. And to you… When did I talk to you?”
“Tessa, that was hours ago.”
Right. I was in Jamaica. Then on the plane. Then Ben’s car.
Ben.
Where is Ben? He was here.
And then I see him.
He’s standing a few feet away from me, keeping his distance, letting me be.