Page 54 of Home Town Advantage (Fourth Quarter Fever #1)

TWENTY-FIVE

SULLEY

I ’m awakened by my phone ringing. I look at my clock.

It’s after eleven. We slept in. I suppose that’s not surprising given the hour and his mood when he arrived.

It was like he couldn’t get enough of me.

His thirst was never fully quenched, and we went at it over and over again.

There wasn’t an inch of my body that he didn’t worship.

Love oozed from every single pore in his body. I could physically feel it. The lines are getting so damn blurry I’m not sure I can see them anymore. I’m carrying so much guilt for letting things get this far. Am I officially past the point of no return?

I know the answer. If I lost him, I’d be shattered. Broken into a million little pieces, never to be made whole again. Something has to give, and I’m praying it’s not my heart.

Grabbing my phone, I see that it’s my mother. I’m hesitant to answer it with Vance beside me, but something is telling me that I should. I spoke with her last night after the big win. She wouldn’t call again this morning unless it was important.

I accept the call and quietly answer, “Hi, Momma. Is everything okay? ”

“No, Sulley, it’s not.” She sounds hysterical and frantic. “Do you know where Vance is? Jane has been trying to get in touch with him all morning. He’s not answering his phone.”

“I’m…umm…I’m not sure. What’s wrong?”

“Francesca has been in a terrible accident. She was airlifted to Helena Memorial. Can you help us get in touch with him? It’s urgent.”

I swallow at what I know needs to be done. “Of course. He’s…he’s right here. I’ll wake him.”

She’s silent, but I can’t worry about that right now.

I shake his arm. “Vance, wake up.”

His eyes blink open, and he smiles. In his crackly morning voice, he says, “Hey, sexy. You up for another round?”

I cover his mouth before this gets any worse. “My mother is on the phone.” His eyes widen. “Stay calm. Francesca has been injured. Your mother has been trying to get in touch with you. You should call her right away.”

He bolts his head up and reaches for his phone. After pressing the screen a few times, the phone is to his ear. “Mom, what happened?”

He stands, walks into my bathroom, and closes the door behind him. I can no longer hear what he’s saying. He doesn’t want me to.

“Momma, he’s talking to Jane now.”

“Thank god.” She’s quiet for a moment. “Sulley, are you two…together?”

“No,” I immediately respond, but then it sort of feels like a lie. “Well…I’m not sure,” I correct. “We spend time together. A little more than I let on. He wants more, but I don’t know that I can ever give it to him, considering everything that’s happened.”

I hear Vance screaming, “Listen, you selfish bitch. I’m coming.”

What the hell? He would never talk to his mother like that.

He yells, “No, Maddie. Too bad. I told you this would happen. How could you be so irresponsible? ”

Oh, Maddie. That makes more sense. He sounds mad. Really mad.

My mother starts talking, but I cut her off. “Momma, let me run. I need to help him. I’ll call you later.”

“Oh, okay. Pray for Francesca.”

“I will.”

Vance walks out of the bathroom looking stressed.

“What’s happening?” I ask.

He aggressively pulls on his boxer briefs like he’s angry with them.

“I told that dumb bitch not to let her ride the ATV, but she wouldn’t listen.

She never fucking listens.” Fear fills his eyes.

“It flipped, and her abdomen was impaled by the brake. She’s about to head into surgery. I need to get there.”

I slip out of bed. “Of course. I’ll go with you.” I’m not sure why, but I feel the need to be there for him.

His eyes meet mine. “It’s going to get ugly, Sulley. Maddie and I don’t exactly see eye to eye…on anything.”

I walk over to him and wrap my arms around his body. “Well then, you’ll need someone in your corner. Tell me what I can do to help.”

He relaxes his body into mine as he returns my embrace. “Thanks. Flights. I’m not sure how to handle that. I need to get there. Today. As soon as possible. Maybe we should check flights from Newark or Baltimore.”

It’s well known there’s only one flight from Philadelphia to Helena each day, and it’s in the morning, meaning we missed it. Newark, New Jersey, and Baltimore, Maryland, are both less than two hours away. Each has an airport, but I have a different idea.

Two hours later, we’re taking off. I called Reagan about using her private jet, and she agreed without hesitation.

I’ve never seen Vance so stressed, and he’s always stressed. Maddie stopped taking his calls, so he doesn’t have any updates on the surgery. He spoke with his parents, and they agreed to head to the hospital .

His fingers are intertwined with mine. His pained face turns to me. “I don’t know what’s going to happen or what’s going to be said. I just want to warn you. Things are…bad between Maddie and me. And if something happens to Francesca…” His voice trails off as emotions overcome him.

“She’s going to be fine,” I try to reassure him. After a few long beats, I can’t help but ask, “How bad?”

His tear-filled eyes meet mine. “We both know the kind of woman Maddie is. She hasn’t changed since we were kids. She was self-centered then, and she’s self-centered now. She’ll make this about her when the only thing that matters is Francesca.”

“That’s her daughter in surgery. She must be reeling.”

He briefly closes his eyes. “Whatever is said today, just know I love you.”

“What’s going to be said?”

He exhales a long breath and leans his head back on the chair. “Who knows what will come out of her mouth?”

Four hours later, we land in Helena. I see my parents there waiting at the landing strip.

Vance blows out a breath, almost in relief. “I’m so glad they’re here. I didn’t even think about how we were getting to the hospital.”

We approach their car, where he opens the door for me and pokes his head inside. “Thank you for coming, Frank. I really appreciate it.”

Dad nods. “Your parents didn’t want to leave the hospital. We offered. She’s still in surgery. We don’t know anything yet.”

We ride the short distance to the hospital in relative silence.

I don’t think my parents have been around Vance in over six years.

It’s awkward, but I sense no tension from them.

Even though my mother said she had forgiven him, I thought they would still carry anger toward him, but they seem more concerned about Francesca than being in the car with the man who betrayed my brother.

I don’t know if my mother said anything to my father about Vance being in my bed this morning. I doubt it, but I can’t look her in the eyes just yet.

Less than fifteen minutes later, the four of us run into the hospital. Vance goes directly to the front desk and spits out, “Francesa McCaffrey. Where can I find her?”

The woman looks at her computer, types away, and then glances back up at him. “There’s no one here by that name.”

His jaw tightens. “Huddle. Francesca Huddle.”

She types again and looks up. “Yes, I see her. And you are?”

“Her father.”

The woman pinches her eyebrows together. “Are you Curtis Huddle?”

“No, I’m Vance McCaffrey.”

She smiles innocently. “Oh, like the quarterback.” Her eyes suddenly widen in realization. “Oh. Well…I’m sorry, but Curtis Huddle is listed as her father. We can’t give out any information unless you’re a family member.”

“Check her fucking birth certificate,” Vance yells.

She shakes her head. “I don’t have access to that. I’m afraid I can’t give you any information. I’m sorry, sir.”

Vance is about to explode in anger. I grab his arm and smile at the unhelpful woman. “Where’s the surgical waiting room? Surely you can tell us that.”

She nods. “Third floor.”

“Thank you.”

The four of us make our way to the third floor.

As soon as we exit the elevator, I see Maddie and Curtis sitting at one end of the waiting area.

She’s in tears. I have a flood of emotions upon seeing her.

It’s been a long time since I’ve laid eyes on Maddie Wells.

Her parents are also with her. I haven’t seen them since Finn’s funeral.

This feels like a time warp. An unwelcome one.

On the complete opposite side of the waiting room are the McCaffreys. They stand as we approach. Vance’s mother runs to hug him. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

He nods before pulling back and asking, “Do we know anything yet?”

She shakes her head. “No. The nurse just came out and said the doctor was finishing the surgery and would be out in a few minutes to update us. Your timing is perfect.”

We sit there waiting. Vance and Maddie don’t exchange so much as a glance, let alone any words. It’s so weird. I don’t know what to make of it. Their daughter is in surgery. Surely they can come together for Francesca’s sake.

And Maddie’s parents and the McCaffreys don’t exchange any type of communication, acting like strangers. They’re the grandparents of this innocent little girl. Haven’t they found common ground at birthday parties and other life events? What is happening?

Eventually, the doctor walks out in full surgical scrubs. She removes her mask with a somber look on her face. Speaking only to Maddie, she says, “It was touch and go for a bit. The brake punctured her kidney. We tried everything, but it couldn’t be saved. She lost a kidney.”

Maddie lets out an audible sob while Curtis holds her as tears of his own trickle down his cheeks.

The doctor continues, “She can live a totally normal life with one kidney. The problem is that she’s lost a lot of blood and needs a transfusion.

We used every bit that we have on hand, but she still needs more.

Maddie, we have your blood type on record.

You’re not a match. Curtis, you must be.

We’ll need your blood. Let’s get you hooked up. Time is of the essence.”

Without thinking, and in light of the silence, I blurt out, “Curtis isn’t her biological father.”