46. Josie
FORTY-SIX
JOSIE
“Mouse, we’re back,” I call out as we walk through the front door of my grandfather’s Hamptons home.
We spent the afternoon wandering around Southampton Village, walking into one store after the next.
Tyson follows me inside, carrying our bags from the purchases we made.
It’s become a ritual of ours to explore the different areas down here, and it’s one of my favorite things we do together.
It’s a good motivator for me to get work done early in the day so I can spend the rest of the afternoon with him.
It’s been two weeks of us spending every second we can together.
The only time we’ve been apart is when I flew to Manhattan last week for my weekly dinner with Pop.
I’m supposed to go back in two days, and part of me wants to ask if Tyson will come too.
I want him to formally meet Pop and for them to get to know one another.
I want to know what Pop thinks of Tyson, because with each day that passes, my feelings for him grow.
We step into the house as Mouse bounds around the corner and runs right past me and into Tyson’s arms.
My jaw hangs open as I look behind me, finding Tyson setting the bags down by the door before he swipes Mouse off the ground and pulls him to his chest.
“My cat is a traitor,” I announce, shaking my head as Mouse lets out a loud, satisfied purr.
“He isn’t a traitor just because he loves me,” Tyson responds, his voice full of humor as he continues to pet Mouse.
I roll my eyes because my cat is definitely a traitor. Since I’ve been spending so much time with Tyson, Mouse has been with him a lot too. It’s becoming more and more obvious the more my cat is around Tyson that I’m no longer his favorite person.
Walking to the kitchen, I set my purse down on the island and search for my phone. Finally, I find it sitting at the bottom of my oversized bag. I pull it out and look at the screen, my heart immediately falling to my feet when I see all of the missed calls.
I think Tyson says something from behind me, but I can’t hear it. I don’t hear anything except for a ringing in my ears.
There are five missed calls from Pop.
Eleven missed calls from Beatrice—Pop’s house manager.
Fear courses through my veins as I call Pop back. It rings and rings, and he doesn’t answer.
I try again as Tyson comes to a stop next to me. Three more times, I try calling Pop, and he doesn’t answer. Dread settles deep into my bones as I call Beatrice back.
She answers after one ring.
“Josephine,” she begins, the tone of her voice making the blood drain from my face. “It’s your grandfather.” Her words trail off, and it feels like my entire body locks in place. “I’m so sorry.” The phone drops from my hand as the world seems to close in around me.
“What’s wrong?” Tyson asks, his fingers brushing softly against my face.
I can’t answer him. I can barely even gather my next breath.
My gaze stays locked on my phone on the floor. Beatrice’s voice still echoes in my head.
“I—” I begin, my voice shaking. “I don’t know.”
I’m too scared to find out.
My hands shake as I bend down and grab my phone from the floor. I almost drop it again before I press it back to my ear.
“Beatrice?” I manage to get out, my voice unsteady.
“I’m here, Josephine,” she says gently, concern still obvious in her tone.
“What happened?” I rush to get out. “Is he…” My voice cracks. “Is he okay?”
I want to ask if he’s alive, but I can’t even get the words out. I settle on “okay” instead.
There’s a long pause that seems like an eternity. It makes my stomach drop as it feels like my entire world closes in on me.
I can hear Tyson saying something, but the only thing I can focus on is waiting for whatever Beatrice is about to say.
“He collapsed this afternoon,” she gets out, her words slow and careful. “The paramedics were able to get him stable enough to get him to the hospital. We’re here now.”
My knees nearly give out.
I actually think they do.
The only thing that prevents me from falling to the ground is Tyson’s steady hand on my elbow.
“What happened?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper. “He was fine. I was just there at dinner with him last week, and he was—”
“I know,” Beatrice responds softly. “It was sudden. They’re running tests to find out what happened.”
“I’m coming,” I announce, my voice shaking. “I’m leaving right now.”
“Okay,” Beatrice responds. “I’ll be here with him. I’ll let you know if anything changes.”
The call ends, but I don’t lower the phone right away. I just stand there, staring at the ground as my thoughts move too fast—too loud—for me to gather any of them.
He collapsed.
He’s at the hospital.
What if he—
“Josie.” Tyson’s voice cuts through the noise.
I blink, my vision blurring as I meet his gaze. There’s concern written all over his face as he stares back at me.
“Pop’s in the hospital,” I manage to get out before my voice breaks. “He collapsed. The paramedics got him stable—whatever that means—but they don’t know what’s wrong yet.”
Saying it out loud makes it too real.
“I should’ve answered,” I whisper, the guilt of missing his calls hitting me all at once. “I had my phone in my bag. We were out and having fun, and I didn’t even hear it. He was calling me—he needed me—and I—”
“Hey,” Tyson interrupts gently. He reaches his hand up to cup my face, forcing me to look at him. “You didn’t know. This isn’t on you.” His words are firm but soft at the same time.
My breathing is uneven and shallow, like I can’t get enough air into my lungs.
“What if something’s really wrong?” I ask, barely holding it together.
His thumb brushes over my cheek, swiping away a tear I didn’t even realize had fallen. “Then we’ll handle it,” he begins, sounding confident and sure. “Together.”
Together.
The word settles in me just enough to keep me from completely unraveling. He’s here with me. I’m not completely alone in handling this.
I give him a nod despite the tightness in my chest.
Tyson pulls me to him and wraps me in an embrace.
I didn’t realize how badly I needed a hug from him until I feel his arms around me.
I don’t know how long we stand like that, but it’s long enough for my breathing to even out slightly.
I focus on the sound of his heartbeat against my ear as I take deep breaths.
Eventually, Tyson presses a kiss to my forehead before pulling away.
He grabs his phone from his pocket and starts to type something on it. He shifts into action in a way I can’t right now.
I can’t move from my spot in the kitchen.
Not as he asks me what he needs to pack for me.
Not when he asks what Mouse needs to travel.
Not when he tells me he’s found a jet ready at the airport now.
I don’t move until he comes to a stop in front of me. “Ready to head to the airport when you are,” he tells me, keeping his tone gentle.
I nod, grabbing my purse off the counter with shaking hands as my mind races ahead of me.
Pop.
Collapsed.
Hospital.
I close my eyes for a moment. Please let him be okay. He’s the only family I have left.
“Josie,” Tyson says as we start to leave.
I turn to face him, trying to ignore the dread that courses through my veins.
He lifts the hand that isn’t around Mouse’s cat carrier and runs his fingers along my cheek before it drops back to his side. “I’ve got you. I’m here.”
Something inside me gives way at his words. They hit home because I believe him.
I reach for his hand without even thinking, gripping it tightly as he leads me out of the house.
I don’t let go. Not in the car. Not on the plane. I don’t think I could let go of his hand if I tried, because right now, he’s the only thing keeping me from falling apart.