If I Only Knew(62)

“I would never ask you to.”

“I know.” He gets himself under the covers and I wish I could touch his face.

“The sentencing is next week.”

It’s been weighing on me a lot the last few days. I want this over. This is the final piece of resolution.

Milo’s eyes turn sad. “I hate that I’m not there, but it all depends how the next few days go. Maybe I’ll make it back.”

“That wasn’t why I was saying it.”

“Doesn’t mean that’s not how I feel.”

My temporary assistant pops her head in. “Did you call me?”

“No,” I draw the word out. “I’m on a call.”

“Oh,” she giggles. “That makes sense. I thought maybe you were talking to yourself and I was going to let you finish, but then I thought maybe you were talking to me.”

Oh my God.

“Thank you for checking, Sierra,” I somehow get the words out.

“Of course! My job is to make sure you’re all set.”

My job is to wonder how we’re giving the reins over to the younger generation.

Great. Now I’m one of those older people complaining about kids today.

“Good job, love,” Milo answers. “Danielle loves to talk to herself, so be sure to check in.”

I glare at him and then look to her. “Don’t listen to a word he says.”

“Oh, it’s a guy on the phone? So, is he like, your boyfriend?”

“Go back to work,” I instruct.

When she walks out of the room, I close my eyes and hear Milo chuckling.

“I hate you.”

He smirks. “No, you don’t.”

“Fine, but I want to, and I should.”

He laughs and then it turns into a yawn. “I’m sorry to cut you off, sweetheart, but I can’t keep my eyes open. Can we talk tomorrow? I can ring you around seven before work.”

“Okay. Get some sleep.”

“I will,” Milo promises.

Four days done, God only know how many more to go.





Chapter Twenty-Eight





Milo





“You have to eat, Mum.”

“I don’t take orders from you, of all people,” she huffs.

Indignant as ever.

I’ve been in London a fortnight and I’m ready to gouge my bloody eyes out. Mum is finally feeling slightly better, but then we have a night where we go backwards.

God forbid the doctor do his fucking job properly and get her the medication she needs.

“Just eat before my temper comes out.”

She doesn’t seem the slightest bit concerned. “When are you going back to America?”

“When you stop being a pain in my arse and eat your food.”

Mum crosses her arms over her chest. “Then I will die of starvation.”

“Dramatic as ever.”

“I miss my sons.” Her lip trembles and my cold heart starts to melt.

I don’t like seeing her upset. No matter how much trouble I like to cause, my Mum is a wonderful woman who has suffered too much.

“Don’t cry,” I beg her.

“Don’t leave.”

“Mum, you know why I want to return to America.”

She nods. “I wanted to meet her.”

We’ve spent a lot of time together these past two weeks, and she has not held back on her opinions. Of course, she wants me to be happy, just in London. My hope is that she’ll realize that’s not likely and she’ll come with us to America where her family is now.

“Why can’t you meet her?”

“I’m not going there now, Milo. I’m dying.”

I roll my eyes. “You’re not dying. You are going to fight and win because you’re too stubborn to die.”

She pins me with a stare. “I wondered where you got it from.”

“Look in the mirror,” I laugh.

“Oh, Milo, what am I going to do about you?”

I shrug. “Get better so you can travel and see your grandson and hopefully meet the woman I’m in love with.”

Her hand lifts, touching my cheek. “I don’t know if that’s reality, my darling. I may not get better or be strong enough. I have lung cancer. I can’t fly or do much of anything.”

This is what worries me as well. She looks frail and tired. As much as I want to believe she’ll recover, I don’t know that she can.

Then there’s the worry of her being in another continent without any help.

“You will be because I can’t lose you, not yet. There’s children to meet and love.”

Her eyes brighten and her lips lift. I know how happy that makes her. “Tell me more about Parker. He reminds me of the boy you were.”

I lean back in my chair. “You eat and I’ll talk. Deal?”

She nods, lifting the biscuit and I begin to tell her about his love of Thor.





“What can I do for you, Cal?” I say into the receiver as I grab my jacket.

I’m already late to get Mum to the hospital for her treatment. I’ll never hear the end of it at this rate.