Chapter 14
fourteen
. . .
Ronan
Ifollowed Rachel to her apartment building.
She ran up the stairs, and I followed behind.
She was shaking so badly she couldn't get her key in the lock.
I took hold of the keys and opened the door.
A woman with the same brown eyes as Rachel was sitting on the couch looking pale and in pain.
Rachel threw her stuff down and ran to her mom.
"I'll call an ambulance," Rachel said.
"No, not necessary," her mom said through clenched teeth. "Well, maybe that's for the best."
I had my phone ready. "Address?"
"Uh"—Rachel rubbed her forehead—"Uh, 218 Lincoln Street apartment 203.
" She sat on the floor in front of her mom holding her hand.
It brought back the scare we'd had with Dad.
Heart attacks were scary shit. They usually happened without warning, and they always carried with them the threat that the person you were used to having in your life might suddenly be taken away.
Dad's heart attack had proven to me that no matter how much I tried to hate him, I knew my life wouldn't be the same without him.
And the anguish on Rachel's face assured me that she'd be lost without her mom.
"Ambulance is on its way. What can I get you?" I asked her mom. "A glass of water?"
Even through her fear and pain she smiled at her daughter. "You weren't kidding about him being handsome. A glass of water, dear, please."
I hurried into the kitchen. It was the kind of space where you could cook food and set the table without moving your feet. There was a dinosaur clock on the wall and a basket of plastic dinosaurs sitting on a booster seat. I filled a glass with water and walked out to the front room.
I spotted the small figure standing in the hallway before anyone else. He smiled at me and hurried forward with his stuffed dinosaur. "How did you know Bronty was firsty?"
"Because I know dinosaurs love water," I replied. I took the toy and pretended to give it a sip of water. "Now, let's give your grandma a sip, too." Sirens sounded in the distance.
Rachel looked up at me. "I don't want him to freak out when he sees them come in with all their equipment."
I nodded. "I've got this. Hey, Jack, my name is Ronan, and I know a lot about dinosaurs. I'd love to see your collection."
Jack paused and his little face scrunched up with worry as he looked at his mom and grandma. "What are they doing?" he asked warily.
"They're just talking." The sirens grew louder. "What about those dinosaurs? I'll bet you don't have a triceratops."
Jack had his mom's big brown eyes. He opened them wide. "Of course I do." He grabbed my hand. "Come with me."
We reached a bedroom with a twin bed and a small toddler bed.
I knew instantly by the faint smell of perfume that it was Rachel's bedroom.
We'd only had one slow dance, and all I could think while I was holding her was that I was in big fucking trouble.
I'd met her. I'd met the woman that Indiana was always teasing me was out there waiting to snatch me from the wild world of Wilde and throw me into relationship bliss.
I'd always replied with a laugh, letting her know relationship bliss was for my sappy older brothers.
Voices and heavy footsteps paused Jack's parade of dinosaurs. He looked up at me. "Who is that?"
"Just some people here to help your grandma." He accepted that answer and continued reciting the names and the actual scientific names of each of his dinosaurs. It was pretty damn impressive.
"Which one is your favrit?" Jack asked.
"Well, I don't know if there are any dinosaurs as cool as triceratops."
He picked up his triceratops and leaned his head in thought. "You might be right."
A light knock on the doorway pulled our attention. Rachel looked calmer but still shaken. "Mommy, this is Ronan, and he likes triceratops the best. Just like you."
She smiled weakly. "Guess we have that in common. They don't think it's a heart attack, but we're going to the hospital as a precaution."
"How's your mom feeling?"
"Better. I think sometimes the terror that a possible heart attack evokes causes panic and the domino effect makes the whole thing more frightening.
I'm going to ride along with her." She scrunched up her face.
"I hate to ask you this favor, but do you think you could take my car and follow?
Jack's car seat is in the back. You can just drop him off with me and then leave. I'm sorry the date ended like this."
"No, hey, I'm just glad I was here to help. Hey, buddy, want to take a trip in Mom's car?" I asked.
"At night? In the dark? Yes, yes, yes." He hopped around clapping.
Rachel smiled down at him with so much love it practically hurt to see.
"Let's get your coat on, Jack." She turned to leave, but I took hold of her hand.
She paused and let me hold it for a long moment, then I released her and she walked out.
Holy crap, one date and I was in deep. Zander was going to have a fucking field day.