So Much More(20)

When we part, perhaps a minute has passed, and Faith smiles at me through teary eyes. “Thank you. You might need your own sign.” She sniffles through the smile and points at me. “People are definitely missing out. You’re good.”

That makes me smile. “Oh yeah?”

“I’ve hugged a lot of people, Seamus. You may have just dethroned and taken over the top spot.” Her eyes tell me that was both truth and compliment.

I nod, and I want to tell her that aside from my kids, because their hugs are some of the most cherished things in my life, her hug was the best hug I’ve ever experienced.

The best.

I didn’t know people could hug your soul with their soul.

Faith can.





He’s not perfect anymore





past





“Mrs. McIntyre, there’s an urgent call from Seamus’s school. I think you should take it,” Justine, my assistant, says from the doorway of my office. Her voice sounds urgent and concerned.

I don’t have time for urgent or concerned. “Take a message,” I command.

“It’s Seamus. They’ve taken him to the hospital.” I look up, and she’s piercing me with her eyes. She’s always direct.

I sigh. The first thing that runs through my mind is, I’m going to have to leave work early and pick up the boys from daycare. And I don’t even remember where their daycare is. Goddammit, I don’t have time for this. “Put the call through,” I huff.

“Mrs. McIntyre? This is Janet.” She says it like I’m supposed to know who Janet is.

“I don’t have time for chit chat. What happened?” I say while reading through an email on my laptop screen at the same time.

I hear her stunned irritation through the receiver before she answers, “It’s Seamus. He’s been taken to the hospital. He says he can’t feel his legs from the waist down. He said it started this morning. He’s scared and asked that I call you because he’s left several messages on your cell phone today and you hadn’t answered him.”

I pick up my cell phone from my desk and look at the missed calls and voicemails. Twelve. All from Seamus. I toss my phone back on my desk. “I’ve been busy. Meetings. Trying to run a company,” I offer flatly. How dare she try to call me out.

“He’s at Mercy General,” she adds.

I hang up without acknowledging the information and glance at the time on my laptop. Four o’clock. Daycare is open until seven o’clock I’m guessing. I tap the button on my phone for Justine.

“Yes?” Justine answers. She still sounds concerned.

“Find out what daycare the boys are at. And what time they close,” I order before tapping the disconnect button.

Ten minutes later Justine calls. I pick up the receiver, and she immediately starts talking because she knows I don’t like to waste time with greetings. “They’re at Big Hearts Daycare. I have the address and phone number for you. They close at five-thirty.”

“Five-thirty?” I question incredulously. “That can’t be right. Call them back, there must be some mistake.”

“I’ve just confirmed with them that they close at five-thirty,” she challenges. Justine is feisty and outspoken, which I usually appreciate because she’s using it on others in my favor. I don’t appreciate it being turned on me.

“Confirm. Again,” I grit out.

Justine confirms with the daycare again. And then confirms with me again. Five-thirty. Fuck. I don’t have time for this. I have emails to answer and a report to complete and get to Loren by midnight tonight.

I leave the office at five-thirty to pick up the boys.

It’s six o’clock when I walk into Big Hearts Daycare. The woman seated in a chair holding a sleeping Rory in her lap greets me. “Can I help you?” She looks exhausted, but with a patience that only a loving heart can display to a stranger. What a sap, I think.

I point to Rory and say, “You’re holding my son.”

When I say it, Kai walks out of a door with signage that reads Boys, I’m assuming the bathroom, and looks at me with mild shock racing across his features. “Where’s Daddy?”

“He’s at the hospital. Get your stuff. Hurry up. We need to go.” I know I probably should’ve softened that so I don’t scare him, but I’m too irritated to censor.

“The hospital?” he questions timidly. Kai has always been softhearted. He’s so much like his father, not an ounce of me in him.

“Yes. Hurry up,” I repeat.

The woman holding Rory looks as if she’s driving by the scene of a horrendous car accident, mouth gaping, eyes wide with alarm. “Oh my goodness, is Seamus okay?” she asks with a tremble in her voice. “I’ve been trying to call his cell, and he didn’t answer, which is so unlike him. I tried the back-up emergency number, too—your cell number, Mrs. McIntyre—but there was no answer.”

I think back on my phone ringing from my purse as I drove here. I ignored it. So, I lie, “My phone didn’t ring. Must have a bad number.”

“Is he okay?” she repeats.

“I don’t know. I’m sure he’s fine. It’s nothing life threatening if that’s what you’re asking.” Numbness hardly indicates he’s on the precipice of death.