The Amendment (The Contract 2)

“Hey, Richard,” he stated easily, although I saw the stress around his eyes. “Don’t be jealous, but I took your pretty wife for lunch. I thought she needed the break. You’re a little boring these days. I think you need to wake up and talk.” He moved closer and patted Richard’s leg. “Honestly, Richard, I get hit by a car and end up in a coma, so you have to outdo me? Your car flipped four times and took out a bunch of signs, causing total havoc and congestion. Talk about attention-grabber. Yeesh. I would have come for a visit if you asked. No need for all the dramatics.”

I didn’t hide my grin. I knew that was how they were with each other. Constant teasing and back-and-forth was their way of showing they cared. The fact that Maddox was here said it all—I knew how much it would mean to Richard.

“So, listen, buddy, here’s the plan. You and I are gonna hang together while Katy goes and sees your girls and gets a little sleep. Any objections?” He paused as if waiting for a response. “Good. I thought so. We can catch up and banter around a few campaign ideas I had. You’re gonna love them. Might even learn a thing or two. At least I’ll be able to speak my mind—you won’t be too busy telling me to shut up to listen to my brilliance.”

He met my gaze with a wink.

“Graham will be here soon. Go with him, Katy. I’ll be with Richard, then Jenna is going to take a turn. Richard will love that.”

I couldn’t help the smile that curled my lips. Jenna and Richard were like siblings, constantly squabbling. She talked a great deal and called him on his shit, and he pretended to only put up with her, when in fact, he adored her—most of the time.

“I’ll come to get you this evening. You can stay with him tonight, and by tomorrow, we’ll have a schedule set up.”

Before I could protest, he held up his hand. “You have to get the house ready for him coming home, Katy. You’ll have meetings and appointments to handle. Details. Your girls need you. Stop being difficult. Let us help.”

“I-I don’t know if I can do it all,” I confessed.

“You will,” he insisted. “I’m not leaving until he’s awake. I’ll help you with it all. We all will. Let us do what we know Richard would want us to do. Please.”

“All right,” I relented. “Thank you.”

“Thank me by going and getting some sleep. Cuddle your girls. Bring Richard some Gracie artwork to hang on these walls. That, I know he would really love.”

The thought of seeing the girls tugged at my chest. Maddox was right. I had to do this. It could be days before Richard woke, and it wouldn’t be instantaneous when he did.

I bent low and kissed Richard’s cheek. “I’m going to see our girls. I’ll be back soon. Don’t give Maddox a hard time.”

Maddox hugged me, shooing me out the door. He returned to Richard’s side. “You heard her. Now about those campaigns you sent me. I want to change the colors. I was thinking fuchsia and orange would be a striking combination.” He winked at me.

I was smiling as I went to the elevator.

Richard was in good hands with his friend.

My smile slipped as I thought about the girls. Gracie would want to know where Daddy was. I had to tell her—at least as close to the truth as I could.

I still had to figure out how.Graham brought me up to speed while he drove me to his house, assuring me that Gracie knew Daddy wasn’t with me.

“I have to tell her something, Graham.”

“Yes, you do. But this will give you a few moments to settle before you do. Laura is holding off on Heather’s bottle. She thought you might like that time with her.”

“Thank you.”

He cleared his throat. “Ah, Katy, Brad is at the house for a few days. Laura’s sister, Barb, is there as well.”

“All right. I’ll try not to bother him. How is he doing?”

“He’s recovering. I need to tell you he is very worried about you being there.”

“Why?”

“He thinks you will hold him responsible for the accident. That it’s his fault Richard is in the hospital. God knows the boy is heaping guilt on himself every day.”

I gasped and turned in my seat to face him fully. “The man driving was drunk, Graham. He was speeding and blew through the red light.” We had found out he had hit three other cars—glancing off the back bumpers and sideswiping them, his speed increasing before plowing into the side of Brad’s vehicle. “How on earth is that Brad’s fault?”

“He has somehow decided he should have reacted faster. If he had sped up or slowed down, the car would have been hit in a different place, and perhaps Richard wouldn’t have been so severely injured.”