Page 123 of Playing for Keeps

“No, you go see her. I’ll collect Theo and take him back to my place so your mum can go to the hospital too. Then I’ll contact you, see if you think it’s appropriate for me to bring him in to see Char.”

“Okay.”

Ethan looked drained and exhausted. I didn’t care that we were standing in the middle of Christchurch airport—I pulled him into a hug, depositing a lightning quick kiss to his forehead.

He tried to smile as he pulled away, but didn’t quite manage it.

Driving to the hospital, my mind churned with everything.

I asked at reception for Char’s room and then strode as fast as I could down the hospital corridors without breaking into a run.

This was where the rugby thing sucked. Because I really could have done without the double takes and whispers following me.

I made it to room 235 and found my father sitting on a chair outside the room.

“Luke.” Dad stood up.

“Hey, Dad.”

He came forward, engulfing me in a hug. He clung to me with a vice-like grip, and his eyes were wet as he pulled back.

“How is she?” I asked.

“She’s stable. Her vitals are fine. It looks like nothing stayed in her system long enough to do any damage.”

“Has she woken up yet?”

“Yes, for a few minutes. She said it was an accident, that she’d had a few wines then couldn’t sleep so she took the pills to try to help her sleep.”

“Do you believe her?”

“I’m not sure.” My father took off his glasses and wiped his eyes. “I don’t think she’d have done this deliberately with Theo in the house. She broke down when she realized he’d been the one to find her. But she admitted she’s been taking pills for the last few months. So we need to deal with that.”

My lips felt numb. “How do we deal with that?”

“They want to transfer her to the mental health services to do an assessment. I’ll call around, see if we can find a space in a private facility rather than having to use the public health services.”

I blew out a breath. “Can I go in and see her?”

“Of course. You go in.” He looked at his watch. “I’ll start making those calls.”

I walked into the hospital room.

Char was asleep, lying curled on one side, her dark hair spread over the crisp white of the pillow. Her skin was pale, and I could see the veins in her forehead.

My twin sister.

Fuck, I had failed her.

I’d been determined to be a better brother when I came home from Japan, but had I done anything to achieve that goal?

I’d so quickly gotten caught up with rugby and Ethan. Just as I had growing up.

How much of my failure to reconnect with Char was because, deep down, I hadn’t forgiven everything that happened six years ago? At the time I’d lashed out at Ethan, but how much had I resented Char too? She’d bound the person I loved to her. She had a claim over Ethan that I didn’t have. She and Ethan would be Theo’s parents for the rest of their lives. Jealousy and resentment had been a major part of the hot mess inside me.

There was a noise at the door of the hospital room.

My mother.