Chapter 8 #2
She turned into his embrace, and sobs shook her entire body.
“I’m so sorry,” he said. His lips brushed over her hair. He wished now he’d been less of a gentleman earlier. If he’d taken her home rather than heading for town, the wound on her soul wouldn’t have been ripped open again.
Her gasping sobs broke his heart, and her tears wet his shirt.
“It’s okay, honey.” He wondered if he said it often enough she might actually hear him.
They sat there for a long time, Luke’s mind racing with thoughts about what he should do.
He was afraid to let her go long enough to drive them home.
Fishing the phone out of his pocket, he continued to speak softly to Sydney while he used one hand to send a text to Mac, asking him to come.
While he waited and hoped Mac hadn’t shut off his phone, Luke rubbed Sydney’s back and told her over and over again that they were okay, that everything was okay.
Mac appeared out of the darkness ten minutes later.
Moving closer to Sydney, Luke signaled for Mac to stay quiet and drive the truck. Luke could see the questions in his friend’s eyes, but thankfully Mac didn’t ask as he slid into the driver’s seat.
“My place,” Luke whispered to Mac because it was closest. Returning his focus to Sydney, Luke held her against him on the short ride home.
When they got there, Luke freed her from the seat belt and scooped her up to walk inside.
He sat on the sofa with her on his lap and kept his arms tight around her.
She clung to him, crying softly and shaking with sobs.
Looking helpless and uncertain, Mac watched over them.
Luke closed his eyes and tightened his hold on Sydney, rocking her the way he would a small child who’d had a bad dream. His poor Syd had been through a nightmare, and their close call had clearly triggered horrifying memories.
After a long while, he felt her sag against him when sleep claimed her. He stood and carried her into his bedroom, settling her into bed and waiting to be sure she would stay asleep before he pressed a kiss to her forehead and went to talk to Mac.
“What the hell happened, man?” Mac asked when Luke joined him in the kitchen.
“A near collision with an asshole who was driving too fast on the curves. Brought it all back for her.”
“Shit,” Mac muttered.
“Thanks for coming. I was afraid to let go of her for even the few minutes it would’ve taken to get here.”
“No problem at all. Do you think it would help to have Maddie talk to her? They go way back.”
“Maybe. She needs to sleep for a while.”
“What about you? You have to be freaked out. What can I do for you?”
“Can you go to her place and get her dog? He’s a golden named Buddy. She wouldn’t want him to be alone all night.”
“Will he come with me?”
“I hope so. If you call him by name, he’ll know you’re a friend.”
“Do you have her keys?”
Luke walked with Mac to the truck to get Sydney’s keys from her purse. “I’m not sure which one it is.”
“I’ll figure it out.”
“Thanks, Mac.”
Luke stood in the driveway and watched his truck disappear from view.
Turning back to the house, he headed straight for the kitchen to unearth a bottle of whisky he kept for an occasional indulgence.
The burn of the liquor coursing through him settled his nerves.
Now if he could just do something about the trembling in his hands.
He put down the glass and walked down the hallway to the bedroom, turning the hall light on so he could check on her. She was curled up on her side in the middle of the bed, still asleep. The poor thing had worn herself out.
A flurry of doors closing in the driveway drew Luke back to the living room fifteen minutes later. He wasn’t surprised to see Mac and Maddie returning in two vehicles. When Luke opened the door, Buddy seemed to know where he was needed and disappeared into the bedroom.
Mac handed Luke a bag of dog food and a leash.
“Thanks,” Luke said.
“Is she okay?” Maddie asked. “What happened?”
“She’s asleep,” Luke said. Once again, he related the story of the near miss on the road. His hands grew damp as he remembered the heart-stopping moment when he’d been certain they were going to crash or roll over or worse.
“Oh God,” Maddie said. “Poor Syd—and you. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just a little rattled by the whole thing. She was doing so well.”
“Until something brought it all back again,” Maddie said. “Do you want me to stay? In case she wakes up?”
Luke shook his head. “You need to get home to Thomas.”
“Janey and Joe are with him. They were at our house when Mac got your text.” Maddie rested her hand on Luke’s arm. “I can stay if you think you might need some help tonight.”
As much as Luke feared Sydney waking up and remembering what’d nearly happened, he had a feeling she might not want extra people around for that, even her close friend.
He wondered if she’d want him around for that.
Well, she was stuck with him, and somehow he’d get her through it.
“I’ll have her call you in the morning, okay? ”
Maddie nodded. “If you’re sure.”
He was sure of nothing. “Thanks for the offer.”
“Call me in the middle of the night if need be. I’ll come.” She gave Luke a quick hug that caught him off guard for a moment before he returned the embrace.
Mac reached out to squeeze his shoulder. “We’re a phone call away if you need us.”
Overcome by their support and friendship, Luke nodded. “I might not be in tomorrow. If that’s okay.”
“You certainly don’t have to ask. Remember that whole ‘make you a partner in the business’ thing last year?”
“I still forget sometimes,” Luke said with a small smile. “Old habits die hard.”
“Business owners come and go as they please. Don’t worry about tomorrow. I’ll be there all day.”
“Thanks again for coming earlier and for getting Buddy for me.”
“Anytime.”
While he and Mac had known each other all their lives and had always been friendly, they’d never been friends until they started working together every day.
With a new wife and young family, Mac had been hesitant to take on the responsibility of running the marina on his own.
So Big Mac offered to make Luke a partner.
After Luke had been assured that none of the other four McCarthy siblings had any interest in the business, he’d accepted Big Mac’s offer of forty percent.
Luke and Mac each had forty, and Big Mac retained twenty in case one of his other kids changed their mind and wanted in.
Luke still had to remind himself every now and then that he actually owned a big chunk of the profitable marina where he’d worked since he was fourteen. Flipping off the porch light, he closed and locked the door, leaning against it for a moment to collect himself.
Sydney Donovan was in his bed. Too bad it had to happen this way.