90 Days (Prairie Town Book 2) (33 page)

     “G-good.  Oh, God.  That’s so good to hear.  Where are you?  Is Devin there?  How are you calling me right now?”

     “It’s…complicated.”

     She straightened in her seat and switched ears, glancing at Callum and Jeb.  “What do you mean by that?”

     “Just…come to the hospital, okay?  We’re heading there now.  I’ll tell you all about it when you get there.”

     “The hospital?” Her heart dropped into her stomach.  “Benji, what’s wrong?  Who’s hurt?  Is Laney hurt?”

     “We had a wreck.  Devin lost control of the car and…just come to the hospital, okay? I swear I’ll tell you everything.”

     “Okay.” She nodded eagerly, sucking in a deep breath.  “I want to talk to Laney.  Is she able to talk?”

     “Of course.  Give me just a second.”

     “What’s going on?” Jeb whispered anxiously.  “What happened?”

     “They had a wreck, but they’re okay.” She laughed, unable to help the influx of emotions she felt.  “They’re in an ambulance and on their way to the hospital.”

     “Thank God.” Callum sighed.  He turned the key over and his Tahoe hummed to life.  “Which hospital?”

     “I don’t know y—.”

     “Hello?” Laney’s voice graced her ears and Lydia wasn’t sure she’d ever heard anything so wonderful before.  “Lydia?”

     “Laney!” The dam burst again and she sobbed into the phone.

     “Lydia, hi.  Oh, God.  I’m so glad to hear your voice.”

     “Me, too.” She struggled to speak.  Her throat tightened and the words were difficult to find.  All she wanted to do was hug her sister and never let go.  “Are you okay?”

     “I’m…fine.  I’m okay.” Laney sniffled.  “Are you coming to the hospital now?  We’re on our way.”

     “Yes.” She replied without hesitation.  “Which hospital are they taking you to?”

     “I don’t know.  Hold on just a second.”

     Lydia listened as Laney asked someone and then she returned a few seconds later.

     “We’re going to the one in Prairie Town.  We’re not far away.”

     “Prairie Town.  Got it.” She lifted a trembling hand to wipe at her eyes.  “We’ll be there as soon as we can, Laney.  I promise.”

     “Okay.” Laney laughed weakly and Lydia could hear the fear and exhaustion in her voice.  It only fueled her need to hold her little sister in her arms.  “Lydia?”

     “Yes?”

     “I love you.  I love you so much.”

     “I love you, too, Laney.  More than you’ll ever know.”

     “I need to go now.  I’ll see you soon?”

     “With the way Callum drives?  You’ll see me in about ten minutes.”

     “Good.  Oh, and one more thing?”

     “Anything.” She promised.

     “Don’t let Mom and Dad know about this.”

     “Laney…”

     “I’m serious.  Don’t tell them, Lydia.  I want this to stay as quiet as possible.”

     Sighing in defeat, she switched ears again and shook her head slowly.  “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea, Laney.  I can’t make any promises, but I’ll try, okay?”

     “Okay.”

     It was only when they pulled into the hospital parking lot that Lydia realized she wouldn’t be able to keep her promise to Laney.

     “Holy hell.” She got out of the Tahoe and froze.  “Is that…is that Dad’s truck?”

     “Ah, yup.” Jeb released a long sigh of frustration and stopped beside her, raking his fingers through his hair with a funny look on his face.  “I’m going to guess maybe Mom and Dad got a phone call from someone else’s dad.”

     “Hey, don’t blame this on me.  My dad is a pretty confidential guy.” Callum rounded the Tahoe and grabbed her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.  “Let’s just go inside and see what’s going on.”

     A million and one possibilities ran through her mind as they hurried inside the emergency room.  Her eyes searched frantically for any sign of her parents, Benji, or Laney, but it was seeing the familiar red hair that caught her attention.

     “Ags?”

     “Lydia!” Aggie sprinted in their direction and flung her arms around Lydia, nearly knocking her backwards.  “Oh, Lydia.  Isn’t this awful?”  She pulled away and wiped at her bloodshot eyes.

     “It’s the worst.” Lydia nodded, glancing around again.  “Have you seen Laney or Benji?”

     “No. I’m not ‘family.’” She laughed bitterly.  “But I did see your parents—they’re actually in the back right now.  God, how did this happen?”

     “It’s a long story.  How did you find out about it?”

     “Benji called me a few minutes ago.  He sounded so upset,”—she wiped at her eyes again—“and I swear if I had known something was going on…”

     “We couldn’t do anything anyway.” Jeb interrupted.  “Devin’s a crazy piece of shit.”

     “Well, be that as it may,”—she gave him a stern look—“You guys should have called and told me.  It’s a shame I had to find out after it was all over.”

     Damn.  Guilt weighed her down and Lydia dropped her head in shame.  Aggie was right; she should have called and told her, but she had been so scared.  Could she really blame her for not calling?

     “Anyway, I’m going to get some coffee because I’m not fully awake yet.  Any special requests?” Aggie averted her gaze from Lydia and stared at Callum instead.

    
Aw, crap.  She’s mad at me.
  Lydia’s heart sank.

     “I think we’re good here.” Callum’s arm slipped around Lydia’s waist and he pulled her close.  “Do you need some change?”

     “I think I’ve got it,
Ritchie Rich
.” Aggie mumbled quietly.  “But thanks.  I’ll be back.”

     “I’ll come with you.” Jeb followed in suit.

     Sinking back against Callum’s strong frame, Lydia sucked in a deep breath and closed her eyes.  “She’s upset with me.”

     “We’re all upset.”

     “I know, but she’s
really
upset with me.  I didn’t call her.  She deserved that much.” Turning in his arms, she buried her face against his chest.  “I’m a horrible sister
and
a horrible friend.”

     “Stop that.” His large hand moved up and down her back slowly.  “You are wonderful at being both; anyone would have reacted the same as you did tonight.  What’s important is Benji and Laney are safe now.”

     “You’re right.  You’re always right.” She tilted her head back to peer up at him and smiled when he winked at her.  “What would I do without you?”

     “Marry somebody who’s occasionally wrong, I suppose.”

     “I don’t think I could ever marry anyone else.” She tiptoed to kiss his lips.  “You’re the only one for me,
Ritchie Rich.
”

     “Hey now.” His hands fell to her waist.  “Let’s not call me that, okay?  Who my grandfather was and what he earned, it’s got nothing to do with me, Lydia.  Money doesn’t mean as much to me as it did to him.”

     “I know that.  I can tell.”

     “Can you?”

     “Yes, of course.  Callum, you drive a nice car and your parents have a nice house, but you walk around in blue jeans and dirty boots all the time.”

     “That’s true.  I just didn’t want your opinion of me to change.  I’m sorry, Lydia.  I should have told you the truth from the get-go, but I just felt that getting to know each other for who we are rather than what we have was more important.”

     “And I feel the same way.  Baby, I don’t care if you have twenty thousand dollars in the bank or ten; what matters to me is what’s in here.” She rested a palm over his heart and smiled.  “Your heart is more valuable to me than money could ever possibly be.  I love you so much.”

     His lips brushed over hers tenderly.  “I love you, too.”

     “Please let me go! I didn’t do anything wrong! Please!”

     They jerked apart upon hearing the desperate screams of a man and Lydia’s mouth fell open when she spotted two police men escorting a man down the hallway.

     “Is that Devin?” Callum questioned as the three men got closer.

     “Please, please!” Devin sobbed as he struggled to get free from the officers.  “You’ve got the wrong guy!  I saved them.  Please listen to me!”

     “Oh my god.” Her hand flew to her lips and she watched as the three men disappeared through the double doors.  She could still hear Devin sobbing.  “What was that all about?”

     “He was probably just trying to get out of being arrested.” Callum’s jawline tightened.  “But I’m sure my father will have other plans for him and Mia.  He’s in for a rude awakening.”

     “Lydia!”

     Whirling around, Lydia caught sight of her mother and immediately ran to her, wrapping her up in a tight hug.  “Mama!  Oh my god, have you seen Laney?  Is she okay?”

     “She’s fine, dear.  She’s a little roughed up, but she’ll be okay.  Oh, what a nightmare this has been.  Why didn’t you call us?”

    
Uh oh, here we go again.

     “I’m sorry, Mom.  There was just so much going on and—”

     “Never mind that.  What’s important is that we’re all together now and Laney is safe.  She’s being fitted for a cast right now.”

     “A cast? What?”

     “She broke her arm during the crash.  Oh heavens, we sure don’t have much luck with vehicles, do we?” Mrs. McIntosh slid into a seat and pinched at the bridge of her nose.  “Perhaps we should consider walking everywhere…” 

     “Laney didn’t tell me she broke her arm.” Lydia eased down by her mother and rested her hands in her lap, toying with a loose thread on the hem of her dress.  “She said she was okay.  Why would she lie to me?”

     “Because she’s too much like your father; she didn’t want you to worry.” Her mother smiled sadly.  “Lydia…”

     “No, Mama.  You don’t have to explain it to me.  I’m sorry about what happened back at the house.  I shouldn’t have lost my temper like that.  I know Daddy was only trying to protect me, in his own way.  I imagine the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree with the rest of us.” She met her mother’s gaze and gave her a small smile.  “Do you forgive me?”

     “I’ll always forgive you, Lydia; you’re my daughter.  But what I need to know is if you’ve forgiven your brother and sister.”

     “Always, Mama.”

     “Good.” She grabbed Lydia’s hand and pulled it into her lap, squeezing her fingers.  “Because one day your father and I—we won’t be here anymore.”

     “Mama, don’t talk like that.”

     “It’s the truth and you know it, Lydia.  One day we won’t be here anymore and all you kids will have is each other.”

     “I know, Mama, but—”

     “Hey, my girls.” Mr. McIntosh appeared suddenly, and he looked exhausted.  “What are you two talking about?”

     “Daddy!” Lydia stood quickly and wrapped her arms around him.  “Is Laney okay?  Did they get the cast on?”

     “Yeah, they got the cast on.” He winced and flexed his fingers.  “Damn, that hurts.”

     “What?” Her eyes followed his.  “Is it your heart? Are you okay?”

     “Oh, I’m fine.” He nodded.  “I just punched the shit out that Rose boy.”

     “You what?”

     “Hey, he had it coming.” Mr. McIntosh’s lips thinned as he met her gaze.  “You don’t mess with a man’s daughters.  He’s lucky I didn’t kill him.”

     “So…was that the reason he was crying?”

     “One of many, I imagine. He’s going to jail for a long time.”

     Lydia didn’t feel the least bit bad for Devin Rose.  She hoped he never saw the light of day again for what he put her sister and best friend through—his girlfriend, too. 

     Jeb and Ags returned just then, and as good as a cup of coffee sounded, there was something else she wanted more at the moment.

     “Can I see Laney?”

     “Sure, honey.” Her dad nodded.  “Just go through the double doors and she’s the last room on the right.  Benji’s right across the hall from her.”

     “Can I tag along?” Ags asked, hopeful.  “Maybe they’ll let me in if I go with you.”

     “I’ll make them let you in.” Lydia promised, holding a hand out for her friend to take.  “Come on.”

Chapter 18

Laney – The Big Day