Your One True Love (The Bennett Family 8)

“How about Dad? He’s not getting any younger. What if he gets caught in the crossfire too, and next time he isn’t so lucky?”

I ball my hands into fists. “That is a low blow, Niall.”

“I’m worried for Dad, okay? For you too.” he says angrily, then exhales sharply. “Do you want me to fly to San Francisco? I can catch the next plane.”

Despite his harsh words, I appreciate the offer. “It would mean a lot of trouble for you, though, right?”

“It would, but I’ll come if you need me. If Dad needs me.”

“It’s okay, Niall. I’m handling this. Dad’s okay. Don’t worry.”

“Okay. I’m going to hang up now and try to reach my contact at the San Francisco hospital, ask for the CT scans. Call me if anything changes.”

“I will.”

I’m seething after our conversation, alone with my thoughts, which are even darker after the fallout with Niall. At first, I’m mad at myself for allowing him to get to me like this. But then I have to be honest with myself: his words got to me because I’ve had those same thoughts too, the same fears.

I play with my phone in my hands, itching to talk to Daniel, to hear his voice. But the time difference to Australia is seventeen hours. It’s still nighttime there. So I call Blake instead and tell him everything.

“The fucking media. Don’t worry. Daniel and I will sort this out. Best not to take your dad back to his house today. It’s too close to the store and there’s a slight chance one of the reporters hung back.”

“Sure, I’ll take him to my apartment. They don’t seem to have my address yet.”

“Perfect. What did Daniel say?”

“Haven’t talked to him.”

“Why?”

“It’s the middle of the night in Sydney.”

“So what? He’ll get wrinkles if you wake him up from his beauty sleep? I’ll talk to him as soon as I hang up. Call if you need anything else.”

“Sure. Thanks, Blake.”

Far from easing my mind, the conversation with Blake only sets me on edge more. Now Dad can’t even go home because of me. I go back inside his room, sit next to his bed. I brought this on Dad, no questions about that. I look at his figure huddled under the sheets, struck again by how frail and old he looks, and somehow even smaller than before. What if this does happen again? Niall is right. Daniel’s company is a revolving door for celebrities.

Damn it, this is not the time to have a “dark night of the soul.” I read about that once, and didn’t quite understand what it meant. Well, now I do. I feel as if I’m literally lost in the dark, with no idea which direction is the right one, what would lead me to safety.

Not that there is ever a good time to have a breakdown, but if I have one, I would have preferred to at least have chocolate on hand. Not the type I can find in a vending machine either, but homemade chocolate cake, the kind Mom used to bake. Yeah, I’m picky even when I’m having a breakdown.

I jump in my uncomfortable seat when my phone chimes and rush straight out of the room so it doesn’t wake Dad. Then I glance at the screen, and my throat closes up a bit. Daniel is calling. Clearly Blake wasted no time.

“Hi!” I say.

“Blake told me everything. How’s your dad?”

“Sleeping. Nothing came up on the scan, but they want to keep him under observation today because he was unconscious for a few seconds after he fell.”

“I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do? Is he comfortable there? Do you want him to be transferred to a private hospital? Are you comfortable?”

I can’t help the wave of warmth spreading all the way to my fingertips. I love that he cares so much.

“No, we’re fine, but thank you.”

“When are they discharging him?”

“In the evening, I suppose. I’ll take him to my apartment, for tonight at least. Blake said it would be better if he didn’t go back to his house, because it’s too close to the store, and some reporters might be lingering there.”