But I didn’t recognize the number.
“Hello?”
“Hello, is this Xander?”
“Yes, who’s this?”
I didn’t recognize the voice. The man’s voice sounded shaky. “Um, it’s Steve… Steve Patterson. I run Bear Trodden Acres.”
I stiffened. There was only one reason he could be calling me.
“What happened? Is my aunt okay?”
“Xander, I’m sorry, there was an accident.”
I felt my throat close up. Heat washed over me as I leaned hard against the counter to keep myself upright.
“Is she…”
I couldn’t even say it.
“She’s still alive, son, but they had to use Flight for Life to get her out of here.”
I barely registered him telling me that a car had sideswiped the van she and some of the other residents had been riding in. “Where… where is she?”
“They took her to St. Elizabeth’s in Denver. I tried calling there before I called you, but they wouldn’t tell me anything over the phone. I’m so sorry, Xander.”
I didn’t even remember responding to him before I hung up. With shaky fingers, I pulled up the browser on my phone. It seemed to take forever to find the number. My knees felt weak, so I stumbled to one of the kitchen chairs as I hit the dial button.
Please god, don’t let me lose her too.
It took forever for someone to answer on the other end, and I was immediately put on hold. When a young woman came on the line, I didn’t even let her finish her greeting. “Yes, I need some information on a patient. Lois Reed. She was brought there by Flight for Life… she was in a car accident. I’m her nephew.”
“One moment, please.”
As the seconds dragged on, I could feel the tears coursing down my cheeks.
She was alive. She had to be.
“Sir, what’s your name?” came a man’s voice over the line.
“Xander Reed,” I croaked. “Lolly is my aunt.”
“Mr. Reed, your aunt arrived twenty minutes ago and was rushed directly to surgery. I’m sorry, but I don’t have an update for you at this time.”
“But… she’s alive?”
“She’s alive.”
“I’m in New York… I’ll catch the next flight out. Can you call me if you hear something? I’ll use the Wi-Fi on the plane to check my email.”
“Of course. Give me your number and your email address.”
My tongue felt thick as I gave him the information and hung up.
Bennett. I needed Bennett. I began dialing, but stopped before hitting the send button. I knew that he’d drop everything to be by my side, but the cost was just too high. From everything he’d said, his presentation was a one-shot deal. It had taken months to get all these people together in one room. The kids who benefited from all the hard work Bennett had done were counting on him to make this happen. As badly as I needed him, they needed him more.
“Lucky!” I called as I wiped at my eyes and stood. I turned off the stove and hurried to Bennett’s and my room, making plans in my head as I went.
Mostly so I wouldn’t have to think what it would mean if I lost the only woman who’d ever been a real mother to me.
Chapter 38
Bennett
Kiss their asses, then come home and take mine.
I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks as I re-read Xander’s text. I was going to have fun punishing him for sending me such a provocative message. It had been on the forefront of my mind for the last two hours as I’d prepared my speech. And the image of Xander lying face down on our bed, his gorgeous backside waiting for me, was all I could think about even as my father introduced me to various men and women in the room.
I still had a few minutes before I had to get up on the raised platform in front of the room and tell these people why they should help me build an organization to do good on a greater scale. The fact that it was also the key to getting me away from the man next to me for good was an added benefit. But regardless of how my pitch went, I’d find another way to make sure the kids weren’t left in the lurch. Even if it meant finding other organizations to carry the load.
Because I had no doubt my father would pull the foundation from my control as soon as he found out Xander and I were building a future together.
“Bennett, pay attention,” my father snapped. In the past, his irritation would have left me scrambling to get back on his good side, but tonight, it just pissed me the fuck off. How the hell had I spent so many years falling all over myself to be who this man wanted me to be?
“Gerald, this is my son, Bennett. Bennett, this is Gerald Mulvaney, head of—”
“Mulvaney Communications,” I interjected. “Thank you so much for coming.”