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She shied from the thought.
But if it was the vet, she couldn’t afford to miss the call. Flipping it face up as if it were a striking scorpion, she half-hoped for someone else, half-feared it might be.
Seeing the screen, she squeezed her eyes closed and pulled it toward her. The weight of it, like lead instead of glass and plastic, dragged at her hand.
“Hello?”
Why did people still answer their phones this way, even with caller ID? The observation, though stupid, anchored her into the moment.
“Abby, this is Deanna at Dr. Stevens’ office.”
“Hey, hi.” Abby swallowed. “Is Gen...?”
“She made it through the night, but she’s pretty weak. You’re coming in today?”
“Yes, as soon as I can.”
“Okay, I’ll let Dr. Stevens know. The panels should be back soon, so we’ll have a better idea of what we’re facing.”
“Okay, thanks.”
Abby hung up, swallowed hard. Arms encircled her from behind and she allowed herself to melt into them. Turning, she forced herself to meet Scott’s eyes. The previous night, all bits and pieces and jagged, broken edges, haunted her memory.
Cheeks reddening, she dropped her chin, her gaze sliding away from his. “Sorry. About last night.”
Scott’s arms around her squeezed, hugging her close. “I’m not. I wish you would have called me. Would have told me.”
Her throat closed, a lump threatening to cut off breath along with words, but she nodded.
“What happened to Gen?”
Abby didn’t answer for a long time, swallowing back the tears threatening to erupt again. “She’s really sick. Dr. Stevens thinks... He thinks it might be cancer.”
“Thinks?”
“He needed to run some tests, but he’s pretty sure. I’m going in today to meet with him.”
Scott released her, checked his watch, then swore under his breath. “I can’t... I’m taking too much time off, already, for the hearings...”
“I know.” She pressed herself into the safety of his embrace and he obliged by wrapping his free arm around her again. “You have to go.”
“Call me when you know more?”
She nodded.
“Promise?”
“Yeah. I will.”
She went with him to the door, hated the way her body yearned after the comfort of his touch, even as it slipped away.
“Scott?” It came out a little wildly, her fear and abandonment filling her voice. “Thank you. For coming over. I should have called.”
Turning, he nodded and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Always.”
Thirty
SHE TOOK THE time to shower before going into the vet’s office, knowing she hadn’t in... well, she didn’t know the day, never mind how many had passed. Fresh clothes helped, but her eyes would betray her grief with even the most cursory inspection.