Page 61 of Find Me in the Rain

Mom panic begins kicking in, speeding my descent off the stairs. “Jack, where are you?”

When I step off the stairs and into the living room, my eyes begin assessing everything, checking to see if anything is out of place. I scan the rest of the living room, passing over the kitchen. Then, I look down the hallway toward the front door.

My breath hitches. The door is wide open.

My feet are moving me before I realize it, taking off for the opening. “Jack! Where are—”

Two bodies jump out of the coat closet, barreling into me. Jack’s shaggy brown hair catches my eye.

I’m going to kill them.

Jack bursts into laughter. “Gotcha, Mom!”

He immediately turns to Alec, eyes twinkling. Alec shuts the front door, barely containing his laughter. These boys are going to be the death of me.

My expression hasn’t changed, still frozen with fear that something worse was happening.

Alec straightens up, running his hands up my arms. “Come on, Lu. It was a prank. Everything’s okay.”

I take a deep breath in, calming my racing heart. “I know, you jerk. It was just one you should never pull on a mom!” I smack his shoulder.

And when he smiles again, I’m unable to resist my own from taking over.

Wait, we’re still missing a person.

“Where’s Josh?”

Footsteps behind me grab my attention.

“Right here.” He has his hand in the air. “I was told to stay in my room until you screamed.” He laughs, walking up and throwing his arm over my shoulders. “You two heading out?”

A sigh leaves my lips without a thought. I love seeing my mom, but I don’t love seeing her in a hospital bed.

I step out of Josh’s grasp and grab my coat. “Yeah, we’d better go. I don’t want to be gone too long. There’s so much laundry calling my name.” I bend down and kiss the top of Jack’s head. “I love you, buddy. I’ll be home soon.”

Alec opens the door for me, gesturing for me to walk through. Once he shuts the door behind him, he wraps his hand around mine. “You ready?”

I raise my eyebrows at him. “Are you? It’s a lot to take in.”

His lips tilt up in a half-smile. “I’ll be okay, promise.”

I offer a reassuring smile. “Okay. Thanks for coming with me, Alec.”

He opens the car door for me. “Of course, Lu. I do have practice at seven tonight, but I am yours every moment until then.” He chuckles. “And after too.” He winks.

I settle into my driver’s seat, and he walks around, getting in the passenger side. The drive to the hospital is pretty quiet. I don’t have anything to talk about, and he doesn’t try to force conversation.

When we pull into the parking lot, it begins to rain.

Alec looks outside. “Great, even though I’m sure you’re happy about it.”

I smile at him, shocked he remembers. Rain has always been calming to me. I like to think that it’s the universe crying, that even the universe can be so overwhelmed that it needs to let it out.

But most of all, I love the feeling of the raindrops hitting my skin. It’s so refreshing, and it makes me feel at peace.

And when I step out of the car, that’s exactly what I feel. And maybe exactly what I need before this.

Alec takes my hand the second he can, letting me guide him through the hospital that I now know like the back of my hand.