Page 10 of The Parent Trap

“I’mdying, sweetheart. I’ve been hanging on for months, and I’m about ready to let go.” A sigh. “I just want to see you and your brother getting along, first. I want…I want Dell to step up.”

“If you want me to face up to the fact that you’re… that you’re dying, then you have to face up to the fact that Dell isn’t going to step up.”

“He has to.”

“He won’t.” I blink hard. “He knows you’re…” I can’t say the words again. “Heknows, Daddy. And he’s visited you, what? Once? Twice in the last six months? He’s too busy spending money and collecting sluts.”

“I want to talk to him. Get him here. Say whatever you need to, do whatever. Just get him here.” A pause, a slow breath. “I have one last plan.”

I sigh. “Okay, Daddy. I’ll get him here.”

His eyes meet mine. “I know you’ve been expecting me to turn over the reins to you, make you president and CEO.”

I have been. I don’t know what he’s waiting for—I’ve been de facto CEO for a year and a half, now.

He sighs. “Just…just let me talk to Dell, first.”

I kiss his forehead. “I’ll go call him.”

He nods. “Okay, sweetheart. Thanks.”

“You rest. I’ll bring him in when he gets here.”

I close the door behind me and head out to the back deck. It’s evening, and the sun is setting onto the tops of the trees. I call Dell.

It goes to voicemail.

“Fine, cocksucker,” I mutter. “I’ll just spam you until you answer.”

So, I call him again. Voicemail.

I send him a text:Call me. NOW.

Copy the text, paste it, send it again, and again, and again.

Call him.

Text him.

Call him. Text him.

Finally, after twenty-two voicemails, each one saying “CALL ME, DELL MCKENNA,” and forty-one repetitions of the same text message, my phone finally, finally rings.

“WhatDelia? Jesus fucking Christ.”

“Don’t speak to me that way, one. Two, you need to get home. And I meannow.”

“But, I’m—”

“I don’t give two shits what you’re doing. I don’t care if you’re having dinner with the fucking Pope—GET…HOME…NOW.”

“Is Dad…?”

“Still alive…for now. But get here.”

“I’m in Miami, so It’ll take a while.”

“Charter a private jet, then. Use the family account for all I care. Just get here.”