I turn, shoving out of bed. “I’m coming, right now. I’m coming.”

“I’ve booked a flight; I’ll text you the details. It was the earliest I could get.”

“I’m coming,” I say again, frantically. “Dad, please.”

“Baby,” he murmurs, and I close my eyes. “Hurry.”

I hang up and ring Dusty right away.

“Katia, what’s wrong? It’s like, four a.m.?”

“Mom has had a stroke,” I say, my voice a monotone, emotionless mess. “She’s in hospital and I need to go to her.”

“Jesus.”

“I need . . . God, I don’t know what I need.”

“Penny, let Candy and I take her.”

“No,” I say sharply.

“Katia, it’s a long flight and you’re going to be sitting in a hospital. It’s not fair.”

My emotions blur into a big mess, a mess I can’t sift through. “I can’t leave her,” I croak.

“This is for the best. We’ll take care of her; you know we will. Katia, your mom needs you.”

I close my eyes, clenching them, trying to ease the pain.

“Okay. I’ll be gone for a few days then I’ll come back.”

“Take your time. I promise you Penny will be okay.”

“I’m leaving soon. Can you come over?”

“I’m on my way.”

I hang up and turn to Penny. My heart burns. I want to take her. I can’t bear the thought of being away from her, but Dusty is right. It’s not fair to put her back on a plane and then expect her to sit in a hospital quietly. I crawl into the bed beside her, and I burst into a fit of uncontrollable tears.

I can’t lose my mom.

CHAPTER TWELVE

KATIA

“She’s going to be okay,” Candy soothes, holding me close as I climb into the cab.

“Please text me all the time. I need to know Penny is doing all right,” I whisper.

“I promise.”

I stare at Dusty, who is playing happily with Penny. He looks up at me, blows a kiss and gives me a thumbs up. He’s trying to reassure me, but nothing feels right at the moment. Nothing. The cab driver starts off and I can’t even bring myself to wave at my friends. If I look back I’ll break down, and I can’t deal with that right now.

The ride to the airport is dull and slow, so slow that by the time we get there, I’m late. I pay the cab driver and step out. I’m about to step inside the building when arms go around my waist. I scream, thrashing as I’m dragged towards a car. When I’m thrown in, I turn and lunge, only to see Marcus blocking the doorway.

“You won’t talk to me. I’ll make sure you do. You’re not leaving, Katia.”

I open my mouth to scream that he’s got it all wrong, but he climbs into the car, pressing a hand over my mouth. He’s angry, his eyes gone far and beyond compassion. He leans forward and starts talking. “I’m not hurting you; I’d never hurt you. I’m doing this because you need to listen to me. You need to understand. You need to hear me out. What happened last night shouldn’t have, I know that, but I won’t deny how fucking good it felt to be with you again.”

Mom.

My plane.

I squirm but Marcus wraps his arm around me, holding me close. How did he know I was here? How did he find me? He needs to let me go. He needs to let me get on my plane. I thrash. I try to bite his hand. I try to scream words at him. He takes no notice of anything.

“Jesus, Katia, just listen.”

I close my eyes and thrash my head. I was already late when I got here; the longer he holds me, the more chance I have of missing my plane. That can’t happen.

“Katia,” he growls. “Just listen.”

I kick out and he presses his body to mine. “Did you think you could just leave? You can’t go without resolving this; I won’t lose you again. Please, baby, listen to me.”

My body jerks at his words. They hurt. They find somewhere deep in my soul I’ve kept hidden, and jerk at it.

“I can’t fix what I’ve done,” he says softly. “I can only try and make it better. You want me to give it all up to prove to you that you mean everything? I’ll fucking do it.”

I shake my head from side to side. Minutes have passed. I was late. I’m going to miss my plane. I take a breath and then kick out, hard. Marcus finally lets me go, and I scramble towards the door.

“Do my words mean nothing?” he barks.

I turn angry eyes to him. “My mother had a stroke last night.”

His eyes widen and his jaw goes slack. I shove the car door open, gather my luggage and run towards the doors. Marcus is behind me, keeping my pace. I run through security. I skid to my gate, only to find one woman there. My heart pounds.

“I need to get on this flight,” I cry.

“I’m sorry, ma’am. The doors have just closed.”

“Then open them!” I scream. “Please.”

“I’m sorry, I’m unable to do that. If you go and talk to reception, they might be able to reschedule for no fee.”

“My mother is dying,” I screech. “I need to be there now.”

“Katia,” Marcus says, putting his hands on my shoulder. “We’ll find you another flight. Come on.”

“She’s dying,” I wail. “She’s dying and because you held me up, I might not make it.”