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Candace dropped me off, and raised an eyebrow when I thanked her.
“For letting you treat my patient and waste my only break? My pleasure.” She flashed a smile that softened the sarcasm. I had to learn how to do that. “Make sure he doesn’t need my services again soon. Finishing my surgical rotation is exhausting enough, without moonlighting on top of it. And take care with your arm—it’s far from healed.”
I stared at her. She was observant. “Okay. Thanks again.”
“Any time—just make that any time after the holidays.” She touched my shoulder. “Keep me in the loop. Sam is a mystery, and I do love mysteries. Now shoo.”
I got out of the car, dragging by the time I reached the front door. Thank heaven my parents were in L.A. for a design thing. I could be miserable and in pain without an audience.
Just as I closed the front door a voice filtered out from the kitchen. Dad’s voice. So much for private misery time. “Sweetheart, is that you?”
“Yes, Dad.”
He appeared in the doorway, smiling. Dad smiled most of the time, counteracting Mom’s constant worrying. They were the perfect yin yang couple. “Do anything special today?”
No demands of where I’d been, why I was late, no threat of grounding. I had earned their trust a long time ago by telling them the truth, and sharing my life. Most of it, anyway.
It may sound geeky, but my parents are beyond cool, and actually fun to hang out with. I could tell them anything, which made this whole scenario a nightmare for me. Because I was forced, again, to do what I’ve almost never done: lie to them.
“Hey, Dad.” I smiled. At least it felt like a smile. “What are you doing home?”
“The convention was all design this year. Your mom is in heaven, so I left her there with her cohorts, figuring we could have a father-daughter night.”
“Okay.” I tried to sound upbeat. But even I knew I failed miserably.
“Alex.” Dad proved me right. He moved forward, rubbed my back, and I could tell by his frown that he felt the vibes coming off me. “Let’s go sit down.”
He slipped his arm around my waist as we headed into the living room, still holding on when we sat on the sofa, so I ended up almost in his lap. Like I was still his little girl, he gathered me up and hugged me, his strong arms a safe haven. And I finally let go, every muscle unclenching.
“Dad...”
“I know something is going on, Alex.” He tucked my head under his chin, and I pressed my face against his chest, fighting the tears that burned my eyes. He always made me feel so loved, without being overbearing or weird. “I’m here if you want to talk about it.”
“Dad—I don’t—”
“It has to do with Sam Emmett, doesn’t it?” I pulled back, looked into his eyes. I inherited the clear, dark blue eyes and unruly brown hair, but not his height. Since both my parents are tall, and all my relatives, I obviously got the short gene from some ancestor.
“How—”
“Your mom told me about him bringing you home after your accident. I was surprised you were friendly with him. He’s a good kid, but his family has always kept themselves apart, especially since the boiler accident.”
“The one at the school?” He nodded. Ten years ago—it happened ten years ago. I did a mental head slap. Why didn’t I see the connection before? It happened not long after the attack on Jake and Sam. On Halloween. There had to be a reason. I let out a sigh, and added the question to my ever growing list. “Dad, can I ask you something?”
“Always, twinkle toes.” I smiled at the old nickname. He used it when I was down like this, and only used it in private. Unlike Mom—who would shout my full name across a crowded mall if she thought it would get my attention. “Ask away.”
“If there was something you had to do—in your job, or on a site,” I added, trying to make it more about him and less about me. “If that something meant helping other people, even if you might get hurt, would you do it?”
He studied me, so long I could feel a blush spreading over my cheeks. “Is this life or death help?”
I swallowed. “It could be.”
Big, work hardened hands closed over my shoulders. “What have you stepped in, Alex?”
“I can’t—” God, this was so hard. I wanted to blurt it out, to get his input, his level headed reasoning. “I can’t tell you. I made a promise.”
“Okay.” Letting me go, he leaned back against the sofa. “My instinct is to protect you, sweetheart, because I’m your dad and that’s my job. My most important job.” He took my hand. “Your mom would lock you in your room and hire an armed guard.” I choked out a laugh, fighting off the tears his words pushed closer to the surface. “I just want you to be safe, whatever you decide. You’re growing up so fast, Alex. I want to keep making choices for you, but this one is your own to make.”
I sighed. I so wanted him to make this for me, or forbid me to do anything. I wanted him as the fall guy when I tried to justify not helping Sam find Jake before he hurt someone else. None of it was working the way I’d hoped.
“I don’t know what to do,” I whispered.
“Just promise me you won’t let anyone force you into making a choice.” He cradled my cheek. “And come home to us Alex. Always come home.”
That was when I finally lost it. I crawled into his lap, letting his strength hold me up when I wanted to fall apart. It was one promise I couldn’t make.
Because if I said yes to Sam, I didn’t know if I would come home.