When It Falls Apart (The D'Angelos, #1)(7)

Brooke leaned close to her father’s ear. “Daddy? Can you hear me? It’s Brooke. I’m here.”

His head moved, slightly. Even that brought the tears that she wanted so desperately to hold in. “I love you, Daddy. You need to fight, okay.” She squeezed his hand, felt a twitch of his fingers.

She brushed away a tear with her shoulder.

“I’m not leaving until you get better, and you know how cranky I get without any sleep.”

Her dad didn’t budge this time.

Brooke shivered and stood tall.

“I’ll get you a blanket and some water. Do you want coffee?” Lily asked.

“You don’t have to—”

“It’s not a problem. We keep it cool and I’m guessing you left without a sweater.”

Brooke nodded.

Lily pointed to a chair. “That reclines. Makes for a crappy night’s sleep, but you might manage some.”

One look and Brooke shook her head. She’d spent a couple of nights in one of them when her father had his stroke. “I’ll take some coffee.”

“I’ll be right back.”

“Thank you.”

Lily left the room and Brooke turned back to her father. “C’mon, Dad. You got this.”



“I’m flying down.”

Brooke ran a tired hand through her hair. She needed a shower and a few hours of sleep. “Carmen, no. Please. There’s no point. Not yet.”

“Brooke—”

“Listen. They’re only allowing me in the room and that’s where I’m staying until he either gets better or he . . .” She couldn’t bring herself to say the word dies.

“That’s exactly why I need to be there.”

“Carmen, please. If you’re here, I’ll just worry that I’m putting you out. And if it is my father’s time, I’m going to need you after. Right now, this is what I need. To pick up the phone and talk to you.”

“Damn it, Brooke. You did this the last time.”

“And I told you when I needed you and you came and I’m so grateful. This time is no different. Trust me. There is nothing for you to do. You’d be sitting in a parking lot, or at my dad’s condo hating it. When he makes it out of this, I really need to talk him into moving somewhere with a better climate.” She froze her ass off all night and now she was hot as hell standing outside the hospital taking a breather.

“You’re a stubborn bitch, you know that, right?”

“You love me anyway.”

“Yeah, I do.”

Brooke looked up as a couple walked past where she was leaning against her rental car. “I need to talk to Marshall.”

“You haven’t done that yet?”

“I keep putting it off. He leaves for Florida day after tomorrow.”

“He should be in California with you. If he cared.”

Brooke twisted a finger in her hair. “I’m glad he isn’t here. Relieved, really. I had a lot of time to think last night. And you know what I didn’t think about?”

“No.”

“Missing him. Wanting him here. Feeling like a piece of me was empty without him by my side. When Dad had the stroke, those emotions flooded my mind, my heart. Now I’m just relieved I don’t have to juggle Marshall’s feelings and directions on what he thinks I should be doing or not doing. Here I am half expecting my dad to die, and I don’t want the man I’m committed to to be by my side. That’s saying something pretty loud and clear, don’t you think?”

“I think your emotions are really off the charts right now,” Carmen said, her voice low.

“You think I’m wrong?”

“That’s not what I said. As your best friend, I’m going to suggest you get through this crisis with your dad, at least within the next few days. See what happens, before making any big moves.”

Brooke released her hair, forced her hand to her side. “You’re right. I’ll keep it short and civil. We’ll know in the next couple of days if my dad is going to pull through.”

“And if he does?”

“I don’t know. No one has even addressed that.” Which made her believe they didn’t expect him to make it.

Brooke was too afraid to ask.

“Okay. I’m texting you every hour. If you change your mind, I’ll be on the first flight I can.”

“Thank you.”

“Love you, girl.”

“Love you, too.”

Brooke disconnected the call and stared at her phone.

She’d been outside for twenty minutes and felt the pressing need to get back to her father’s side. Her rush would be the excuse to get off the phone quickly if Marshall picked up. With her exit in sight, Brooke dialed his cell phone.

Two rings in and she wondered if he was going to pick up.

On the third ring he did.

“Hey. I was wondering if you were going to call.”

She squeezed her eyes shut. “Yeah. I can’t talk long. Dad’s in the ICU. He’s really sick.”

“Hmm. I’m a . . . sorry. Yeah. Sorry to hear that.”

Brooke paused.

Waited.

Swallowed.

The long silence felt like a knife in her side.