“Right again.”
Bill offered up a grin. “I’m always right, kid.”
Drew clasped Bill’s hands in both of his. “I love you, old man.”
“I know. Love you, too. And don’t think that after I’m gone I won’t still be watching over you, because I will. Be happy.”
Drew’s eyes filled with tears. “I hope you will.”
He didn’t want to think about how much he was going to miss Bill. They’d talked on the phone often. Bill would call him after his games and either congratulate him or chew him out when he screwed something up. In college, he’d kept him on the straight and narrow. After, they’d become lifelong friends. But he’d always counted on Bill to give him the best advice.
What was he going to do without him?
Bill drifted off to sleep and Drew sat there with him until Ginger and Haven came back in.
“Did you two get a chance to visit?” Ginger asked.
“Yeah, we did. A nice long chat.”
Ginger put her arm around him. “I’m glad.”
“I guess I should go.”
“I’ll walk you out.”
Haven gave him a hug and Ginger stepped outside with him to walk him to the elevator.
“He’s so strong, Miss Ginger.”
She nodded. “He has his moments. He’s fightin’ it to the very end. But he’s very aware that this is the end. He’s accepted it.”
“Well, he has you by his side, and I’ve never known a stronger woman.”
Tears glimmered in her eyes. “We’ll be fine. Now you go home and don’t worry about us.”
He hugged her. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, honey.”
When he pulled back, he took her hands. “If you need anything, call me.”
“I will.”
He started to leave, but then found himself unable to. He ended up sitting in a chair by the lobby. That’s where Haven found him a half hour later.
“Hey. I didn’t know you were still here.”
He lifted his gaze to hers. “I can’t go yet.”
She nodded and took a seat next to him. “I know the feeling. I should get back to work. Mom said she’d call me when—well when it gets closer. But these are his last days. I can’t not be here.”
He took her hand and squeezed it between his. “I’m sorry, Haven.”
“Me, too. Thanks for coming. It’s meant a lot to my mom and me having you and all the guys come by. And it’s been wonderful for Dad to know that he’s that important to all of you that you’d take the time out of what I know are busy lives for all of you.”
“None of us are too busy for your dad. He’s important to all of us and always was.”
She tilted her head and smiled up at him. “We all had good times together in college, didn’t we?”
“Yeah, we did.”
“Though all of you gave me a hard time.”
“What? I never gave you a hard time. That was Trevor.”
“Please. You teased me mercilessly. And especially Trevor, who tried to bribe me to do his schoolwork for him.”
“Yeah, well, school definitely wasn’t his thing.”
She laughed. “Clearly. And look at him now. The superstud superstar.”
“A legend in his own mind.”
She laughed at that. “My hope is to someday be in a position to shove a microphone in his face and make him as uncomfortable as humanly possible.”
“Well, you are in broadcasting. And he’s in sports. It could happen.”
“If things go well with this new national job I’m in line for, it could definitely happen.”
“Oh, yeah? What new job?”
“National sportscaster.”
“No shit?”
She grinned. “No shit. I don’t want to talk too much about it in case it doesn’t happen, but my fingers are crossed.”
Haven was gorgeous. Tall, curvy in all the right places, short raven hair, the most amazing blue eyes he’d ever seen, and just about the smartest and savviest woman he’d ever known. She was on-topic on any subject, and she knew sports as well as any guy. “You’d be perfect for the job, Haven. I hope you get it.”
“Thanks. Me, too.”
“Have you told your dad about the opportunity?”
“Yes. He’s very excited for me, but also sad he won’t get to see me make the big time as a sportscaster.”
He squeezed her hand again. “He’ll be there watching over you, honey.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “I know he will.”
Not wanting to monopolize her time, and knowing he had a plane to catch, Drew finally stood. “I guess I should head out.”
Haven hugged him. “Thanks again for coming today.”
“Stay in touch, okay?” he asked as he hugged her back.
“I will.”
He went down to the parking lot and climbed into his rental, but found himself staring up at the hospital, still unable to leave, to make that final break from Bill. He finally just dropped the keys in his lap and released the tears he’d held in check.
TWENTY-EIGHT
“I CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S HERE, CAROLINA. YOUR DAY HAS finally arrived.”
Carolina took in a deep breath, knowing it was probably the last time today she’d be able to breathe. She turned to her assistants and nodded. “It is. I couldn’t have done this without your help.”
Edward pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “You made this happen, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited as hell to be here.”
“You’re going to knock them dead out there, Carolina,” Tierra said. “And like Edward, I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”
“Thank you. Both of you. Now let’s go get everyone dressed. Is makeup here?”
Tierra nodded. “Just arrived. Hair people are here, too. And Jessica is checking in the models.”
At least something was going right.
“Hey, gorgeous.”
She turned and gave a quick hug to her brother. “You made it.”
“Of course I did.”
“Are Mom and Evelyn here?”
“Yes. Mom’s so excited she couldn’t stop talking.”
Carolina grinned. “That’s great. I’ll go check on her.”
“Don’t worry about her. You have enough to do. Between Evelyn and everyone else fawning over her, she’s in heaven. She gets to meet big designers and magazine people today. And watch her daughter’s big debut.”
Just the thought of who would be out in the audience today made her stomach do somersaults. Other designers, along with the editors of some major fashion magazines.
She grabbed Gray’s arm. “I think I need to go lie down.”
He laughed. “You’re going to kill it. Now, where do you need me?”
“See that cute brunette over there? Just tell her who you are and she’ll tell you what to do and where to go.”
“Okay.” He kissed her cheek and wandered off.
Carolina took a moment to center herself before dashing off to see to the rack of clothes currently being guarded by one of her staffers. She and a few of her staff removed the clothes from the bags and began steaming any wrinkles while the models were busy in makeup and hair.
“All the models are checked in,” Jessica said. “Except for Drew Hogan.”
Carolina squeezed her eyes closed and counted to ten. She tossed Jessica her phone. “His number’s in there. Call him and ask him where the hell he is.”
This fashion show would be a nightmare without Drew. He was supposed to wear three of her menswear outfits. He’d promised her he’d be here. He’d already bailed on the print ad—surely he wouldn’t drop the ball on this, too, would he?
“No answer,” Jessica said, handing her phone back. “I called twice.”
Dammit. “Okay. Thanks, Jessica.”
Dread dropped a lead ball into the pit of her stomach. What was she going to do if he didn’t show up? She looked at the time on her phone. An hour until the show started. There was hair and makeup and coordinating the models into the lineups.