voice cracked and I could sense her hesitation, like maybe I was some crazy person. But then I was put on hold. Soothing music played as a crisp voice began to tell me about the award-winning programs founded by Prestige.
“Taryn?” Landon answered.
“Landon.” My voice broke on that one word, and a sob wrenched free.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s my brother,” I gasped out. “I need…” I sniffled. “I need…”
“Meet me at my house in ten minutes,” he said.
Relief came swiftly. “Thank you.”
“And Taryn?”
“Yes?”
“Drive safe.”
And then the line went dead.
I dragged myself off the floor, wiping my nose with the back of my hand. I couldn’t even bring myself to care about the fact that I would arrive at Landon’s house a total mess.
My life was a total mess. What if Matty died? What if this all went the same way as last time, and he was gone, and it was just my dad and me? My mom’s passing had nearly ruined my father. This would finish the job.
I grabbed my purse and keys, rushing out the door as sobs threatened to overtake me. Maybe my brother and I weren’t as close as we were as kids, but I still loved him. I’d followed him everywhere, trailing after him to the arcades, to the ball fields, and down the halls at school. And he put up with it. He looked out for me.
I climbed into the car and buckled up, then sat there in silence for a moment, raking in shaky breaths and trying to blink away the tears. I could do this. I could hold it together long enough to get to Landon’s so he could help me figure out what the hell I was supposed to do with this news.
Landon would know what to do. He always did. When we were younger, he was the one who knew how to handle a car accident we witnessed. How to check for injuries, stabilize a broken arm, and call the authorities all at once. He would do that here… he would perform a triage so I could calm the hell down and figure out a plan.
I finally put the car in drive and set out for Landon’s, the radio off as I stared ahead, in a zombie-like trance. I wasn’t even sure how I made it there, except by autopilot. The trees and the road streamed by, and then I was pulling into the stamped-concrete driveway, stopping in front of one of the big stained-wood garage doors. My car probably looked like it should be towed away, sitting in his too-fancy driveway.
I’d beaten him there, so I walked up to the porch and thunked down, hard, on the steps, pulling my knees up to my chest and resting my forehead on my knees. The tears came in full then, as if a dam had broken lose, and I must’ve been a sad sight, sobbing into my jeans, wracked with sobs.
I didn’t hear his car pull up, but a door slammed and then he was puling me into his lap, wrapping his arms around me.
It was the most comforting thing in the world, to be wrapped up by him, held and rocked as I cried, as he rubbed my back and whispered shhhh, under his breath. He rested his lips against my temple, his breath warm against my skin.
I calmed slowly, leaning into him, my panicked heart slowing.
“I can’t breathe,” I said finally, gasping out a jagged breath.
“Come inside,” he said, pulling us up to our feet. But he didn’t let go of me, held me against him as if he was afraid I’d collapse if he let go.
And maybe I would.
He led me to the kitchen, handing me a tissue box. I blew my nose but it didn’t seem to matter. I was falling apart, unraveling. And he could see that. But he didn’t push. Didn’t ask what had turned me into this mess.
Eventually, I could breathe again.
“It’s my brother.”
His eyes darkened, and he reached over, resting a hand over mine. “Is he okay? Did something happen this morning?”
“He has cancer,” I said, the words coming out on a shaky breath.
Landon didn’t flinch. Didn’t react at all.
I yanked my hand away. “You knew?”
He remained stoic, nodding. “Yes. I knew.”
“He told you and not me? How long have you known?”
“Awhile. It’s why I came back.”
“You told me you came back for me,” I said. “Not that I believed you. You had your center.”
“I opened the center because I knew it was the right place for