Page 159 of Reaper's Claim

Her head dropped to my shoulder, and her body shook as she sobbed.

I glanced over Kim’s shoulder, watching the doctor who I had just shared a lift with running toward us.

I pulled Kim out of his way, and he didn’t give me a second glance. He went straight into the room. I could hear a lot of beeping, rushed voices, and then the door shut and then all I could hear was Kim’s sobbing.

I hugged her tightly, and tears slowly ran down my cheeks.

He wasn’t meant to die.

He can’t die.

I couldn’t face the world yet without a parent.

I couldn’t face this world without my strong dad behind me.

The doors burst open, and Dad’s bed was rushed out. I pulled Kim and me out of their way just in time.

“What’s happening?” I asked anyone, everyone who was rushing Dad’s bed down the hall. I let go of Kim and jogged after them. “Please don’t just take him, tell me what’s happening!”

“There has been a complication; he needs to go back into surgery. I’m sorry Abby, I don’t have time to explain it to you right now.” The young doctor spun me a quick reply just before the lift doors slid shut, leaving me standing there staring at the metal doors.

A complication.

My body went numb with fear.

“I’m sorry, Dad,” I whispered to myself as I let the tears fall freely; sometimes Harrisons do cry.

Chapter 66

Abby

Sometimes numbness can overcome you to the point you lose track of time and day, what is happening. Your grip on reality loosens. I stared out the hospital window, down at the busy street, watching the people live their lives while mine crumbled apart.

Kim was whimpering, sitting in the corner. We hadn’t called anyone. I couldn’t bring myself to say it. I knew as soon as I spoke on the phone my voice would crack and I would lose my self-control again.

I barely had a grip on the tears.

“Are you going to call the boys?” Kim wiped her nose and looked at me. “They should know.”

They should know what? That Dad was losing his fight? That he had been rushed to surgery and we had no fucking idea why apart from knowing there was a complication?

I pulled my phone out.

Staring at it.

I should have made more of an effort to make sure Dad had his heart medication. I should have stopped him smoking. I should have made him stop drinking so darn much.

I collapsed in a chair.

Who was I calling again?

My mind was flying from one thing to the next. Right. The boys needed to know.

Just as I was about to scroll down the list of names, a name popped up on the screen.

Brad.

I answered.