Chapter 15 #2
I’ll stay and take care of her. I’m a good friend. That’s what she said. I would do this for any of my friends, so of course I can help Beck. But it feels different—bigger.
Sitting down on the couch, I place my elbows on my knees and drop my head. I take several cleansing breaths to help calm down. She’s fine. It’s just a cold.
I continue watching Beck sleep while contemplating my next steps. It may be extreme, but what good is having money if I don’t use it?
Bringing up my text threads on my phone, I quickly find Vaughan and type a message. His response comes instantly.
Is Finn still on your payroll?
Vaughan
Hello to you too
You know he is.
I need some things.
Vaughan
What kinds of things are we talking about?
Beck’s sick.
The phone in my hand rings before I can send another message.
“Hey,” I answer, watching the rise and fall of Beck’s chest.
“What’s going on? Are you okay?” he asks.
“Beck is sick, and she hardly has anything here,” I say in a rush. “Beyond the convenience store, everything in Emerley is closed for the night. I can’t leave her. I can’t go get what she needs.”
“Okay, tell me what’s wrong with her?” he asks in a calm voice.
“She has a cold with a fever, and Claire said it needs to come down…”
“Take a breath, man. I’ll help you get what you need so you can help your girl.”
Standing, I pace the tight quarters again. “Good. Good. I’ll text you a list. Tell Finn I will double his salary if he can get it to me in the next two hours.”
“I promise he will get there as fast as he can.” He pauses for a moment before saying quietly, “It’s not the same, Ryan. You know that, right? She’s not Lily.”
“I know that!” I snap. Biting my lip, I close my eyes and take another deep breath. “I just want to help her.”
“You are helping her. Send me a list and her address, and I’ll make sure you get everything you need, okay?” He pauses before asking, “Do you want me to come myself? You know I will.”
“No, just send Finn. Thanks. I owe you.”
Around ten, a black Escalade pulls up the driveway and parks behind my truck.
I quickly jog down the steps and meet Finn as he rounds the back of his truck. Dressed in a black tailored suit, with his auburn hair styled neatly, he looks like a proper gentleman.
“Nice to see you, Ryan. It has been a long time.” Smiling, he reaches out to shake my hand.
Finn is Vaughan’s first cousin and has been working for him for over a decade.
I’m not sure he has an actual job title, but he’s much more than a personal assistant.
If Vaughan needs anything done, he calls Finn—including emergency shopping trips.
“Thanks for doing this. You have no idea how much I appreciate it,” I say as he opens the back door.
“No problem. I got everything on the list, and Vaughan added a few things that you may need as well,” he says, pulling bags out. “Can I help you bring it all inside?”
“No, that’s okay. You must want to get back to the city. Set them on the picnic table and I’ll do it.” Beck is still asleep, and I’m not okay with letting anyone see her that vulnerable.
After removing the last bag, he pulls a business card out of his inner jacket pocket and hands it to me. “Please feel free to reach out to me directly if you need anything else. If I can’t make the trip personally, I have someone else who can.”
Gratefully, I take the card and put it in my wallet just in case.
It takes a few minutes to carry everything inside.
Bags from the pharmacy and grocery store cover the entire table and surrounding floor.
Vaughan had Finn pick me up a toiletry bag, sweatpants, and a hoodie.
There is even underwear, socks, and a pair of running shoes.
Perceptive fucker. He knows I’m not going anywhere.
Once I get this all put away, I’ll wake her up and have her drink something.
It will be time to give her more acetaminophen as well.
Maybe she will eat something. I’m feeling marginally better now that I have more resources.
I tried not to Google all of Beck’s symptoms while I was waiting for Finn and failed miserably.
By the time I forced myself to put my phone away, I thought I was going to be sick with worry.
Quickly, I fill her fridge with fresh fruit and vegetables. Yogurt and cheese. I wanted popsicles, but knew they wouldn’t survive the trip. Next, I load her cupboards full of cans of soup, pasta, more ramen, and a variety of crackers.
I unpack the pharmacy haul and place it all on the table. Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, a vapor rub, day and night decongestants, and cough syrup. A variety of vitamins and herbal products. The last and most important thing is at the bottom of the bag—an infrared thermometer. Thank fuck.
Grabbing everything I need, I place it on her nightstand. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I gently push her damp hair away from her face.
“Beck.” I try to rouse her from sleep. “Beck, Baby, I need you to wake up.”
“Mmmm,” she groans, burying her face farther into her pillow. “Shhh, I’m tired,” she says before breaking into a coughing fit.