Lost and Found (Twist of Fate #1)(82)

“What, you mean like how we’re alone right now?” he asked, curiously.

“What? No!” I nearly shouted, but then I caught the smile that flitted across his mouth. “Little shit,” I said as I gently punched his shoulder.

“Don’t worry. B already had ‘the talk’ with me.”

“He did?”

Lucky nodded. “Last year. He used a cucumber to demonstrate… you know.”

I laughed. “A cucumber?”

“Yeah. You should’ve seen him. It was a really big cucumber.”

I smiled at that. I could envision Bennett getting all flustered as he tried to explain the facts of life to a teenage boy while working a too-small condom over a too-big cucumber.

“Ok, carry on then,” I said with a wave of my hand.

Lucky’s face fell. “He hates me,” he said.

“He doesn’t hate you, Lucky. My guess is he’s not ready to face some things about himself.”

“Yeah,” Lucky said with a sigh. “I just thought…”

“What?”

“I thought he might be the one, you know?”

“Yeah, I know,” I said as I put my hand over his arm. “But maybe the one is still out there for you. Could be you’ll meet him tomorrow or next week or next month or next year. Could be you don’t meet him for a lot of years. But believe me, it’ll be worth the wait.”

“Like you and B had to wait?”

“Exactly,” I said. “Doesn’t matter how many years you lose, the ones you share are the ones that’ll stay with you.”

The boy nodded and then he stood. “I should go get started on homework.”

“Okay, dinner will be ready in a bit.”

“B’s doing his thing tonight, huh?”

“Yeah, he’ll be home late. We’ll go ahead and eat without him.”

Lucky nodded, and then suddenly he leaned over and hugged me. “Glad you’re here, X.”

I smiled at the nickname. “Me too, buddy.”

Once he and Bear were gone, I climbed to my feet and began pulling ingredients for salad from the fridge. Just as I began searching for the serving bowl, my phone rang. I assumed it was Bennett calling for another pep talk, or to yell at me for the suggestive text I’d sent to remind him what was waiting for him when he got home tonight besides his favorite meal.

But I didn’t recognize the number.

“Hello?”

“Hello, is this Xander?”

“Yes, who’s this?”

I didn’t recognize the voice. The man’s voice sounded shaky. “Um, it’s Steve… Steve Patterson. I run Bear Trodden Acres.”

I stiffened. There was only one reason he could be calling me.

“What happened? Is my aunt okay?”

“Xander, I’m sorry, there was an accident.”

I felt my throat close up. Heat washed over me as I leaned hard against the counter to keep myself upright.

“Is she…”

I couldn’t even say it.

“She’s still alive, son, but they had to use Flight for Life to get her out of here.”

I barely registered him telling me that a car had sideswiped the van she and some of the other residents had been riding in. “Where… where is she?”

“They took her to St. Elizabeth’s in Denver. I tried calling there before I called you, but they wouldn’t tell me anything over the phone. I’m so sorry, Xander.”

I didn’t even remember responding to him before I hung up. With shaky fingers, I pulled up the browser on my phone. It seemed to take forever to find the number. My knees felt weak, so I stumbled to one of the kitchen chairs as I hit the dial button.

Please god, don’t let me lose her too.

It took forever for someone to answer on the other end, and I was immediately put on hold. When a young woman came on the line, I didn’t even let her finish her greeting. “Yes, I need some information on a patient. Lois Reed. She was brought there by Flight for Life… she was in a car accident. I’m her nephew.”

“One moment, please.”

As the seconds dragged on, I could feel the tears coursing down my cheeks.

She was alive. She had to be.

“Sir, what’s your name?” came a man’s voice over the line.

“Xander Reed,” I croaked. “Lolly is my aunt.”

“Mr. Reed, your aunt arrived twenty minutes ago and was rushed directly to surgery. I’m sorry, but I don’t have an update for you at this time.”

“But… she’s alive?”

“She’s alive.”

“I’m in New York… I’ll catch the next flight out. Can you call me if you hear something? I’ll use the Wi-Fi on the plane to check my email.”

“Of course. Give me your number and your email address.”

My tongue felt thick as I gave him the information and hung up.

Bennett. I needed Bennett. I began dialing, but stopped before hitting the send button. I knew that he’d drop everything to be by my side, but the cost was just too high. From everything he’d said, his presentation was a one-shot deal. It had taken months to get all these people together in one room. The kids who benefited from all the hard work Bennett had done were counting on him to make this happen. As badly as I needed him, they needed him more.