Page 29 of Finding Hayes
“All right. I’ll pick you up in a few hours.” He put the truckin park and jumped out in the snow to come open my door.
I’d yet to date a man who did this. I’d been fine with it because I wasn’t some damsel in distress. But I’d be lying if I didn’t think it was sweet that he did it every time. Always had.
“I can meet you there,” I said.
“You don’t have a car, remember?”
Shit. I forgot about that. “I’ll get it towed, and hopefully, they can fix it soon.”
“I’ll call Warner; don’t worry about it,” he said, placing his hand on my lower back as I walked up the icy steps.
“I can call Warner.” I pulled out my keys.
“He owes me a favor. And it might look good that I’m taking care of your car for the sake of appearances.”
“You’re proving to be a very impressive boyfriend, Woody.” I pushed the door open.
He walked backward down the steps and held up a hand. “See you in a few hours, Shortcake.”
I stepped inside, taking in the monstrosity before me. I’d gotten the kitchen cleaned up, and I’d washed the linens and remade the bed at least. But there was so much work to do here that I didn’t know where to start.
I didn’t know if I should even start.
Would we seriously pull this off? Would anyone believe that Hayes and I were actually in love?
My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I pulled it out to see my favorite picture of my dad and me fill the screen.
“Hey, Dad. How are you feeling?”
“I’m doing okay, sweetheart. Missing my girl, that’s for sure. How was the funeral?” he asked.
“It was sad, but I knew it would be.”
“You loved him. That’s to be expected, honey.”
I went to sit in the only chair that wasn’t falling apart in thekitchen. I didn’t know how to approach the conversation. “Abe left me his farmhouse and some money.”
“That’s amazing. He and Lily loved you like you were their own. I’m not surprised.”
“I think it would be enough money to get you into that trial that Nadia and I have been looking into,” I said.
My father had hepatoblastoma, a rare liver cancer that not many doctors were familiar with. That’s why it would be so valuable to be able to fly him to Texas where they were doing this particular trial, which was having huge success.
The last decade had been brutal for my father. His marriage to my mother had fallen apart in the worst way. He’d survived his first bout with liver cancer and celebrated remission, only to find out the cancer had come back with a vengeance.
He was too sick to work anymore, so he was living on disability. His self-esteem had taken a hit so many times that it had become difficult for him to stay positive. He’d always been this big force in life, but the illness and the heartache had taken a toll on him physically and mentally.
“Savvy, I don’t need you worrying about me. I’m just fine.”
He was anything but fine. He was rail thin and could barely keep food down. I was so grateful for his girlfriend, Nadia, who’d been the best support system for him. I was doing my best to help him, as I lived in the same apartment building as they did, just in a different unit. Now that she was living with him, it had taken a lot of pressure off of me, and it was the only reason I could be here. I knew he was in good hands.
“Did Nadia talk to you about the trial?”
“You know Nadia. She’s always researching that stuff. I don’t want either of you to worry about that. I’ve been feeling good lately. I finally painted those bookshelves she’s been after me about for six months. They look great.”
My chest squeezed at the sound of his voice.
He sounded good.
