Jett
Age 63
November
Kickingmybootsagainstthe step to clear them of the remnants of the early-season snowfall, I stepped through the back door, ready for an afternoon off where I did nothing but watch Sawyer and Ellie play while their older siblings and cousins were still at school.
I hung up my hat and coat before moving into the kitchen, but frowned when I found Ellie in the room all alone, standing in a puddle. At two and a half, she was in the midst of potty training, and it would seem she’d had an accident.
“I wet, Grampa.” The toddler’s lower lip trembled, and her blue eyes filled with tears.
“It’s all right, El Belle.” I lifted her off the ground. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”
When I crossed the threshold to the living room, I paused. Sawyer was building a tower out of magnetic tiles, but Daisy was nowhere to be seen.
“Where’s Gramma, bud?” I asked him.
The little boy didn’t bother looking up. “Nap time.”
I blinked at my grandson. “She’s sleeping?”
It wasn’t like Daisy at all to leave the children unsupervised. Hell, she hated to take her eyes off them long enough to use the bathroom.
Something wasn’t right.
Heart rate kicking into high gear, I didn’t give a damn that tucking Ellie into my side had wetness seeping through the fabric of my flannel. I extended my free hand for Sawyer to take. “Come on, let’s go upstairs.”
For a second, it looked like he might refuse, but he must’ve sensed my urgency, because he rose to his feet and let me take hold of his tiny palm.
The trek up the steps took forever while I kept pace with the three-year-old, and I considered just hauling him into my arms and rushing to the top, but thought better of it. I didn’t want to scare either of them when I wasn’t sure what I would be walking into when I got to Daisy.
Terrified out of my mind, I pushed into the master suite. Daisy was flat on her back in the center of the bed, still as a statue. My lungs seized, and my knees threatened to buckle as my mind automatically went to the darkest place possible.
“Daze?” I croaked out.
No answer. No movement.
Setting Ellie down next to Sawyer, I commanded softly, “Stay here with your brother.”
Heart in my throat, I padded across the room to where my wife lay. Raising a trembling hand, I brought it beneath her nose and nearly wept in relief when I felt the warm breaths fanning across my skin.
Gently, I nudged her shoulder, this time calling her name louder.
Dark eyelashes fluttered, and a groggy moan spilled from Daisy’s lips.
“Baby, open your eyes,” I begged. “Please.”
A wrinkle formed between her brows. “Jett?”
“Yeah, I’m right here.” I caressed the side of her face.
Slowly, her eyelids lifted, but my tight chest still struggled to expand.
Eyes glassy and unfocused, Daisy asked, “Wh-what happened?”
“I was kinda hoping you could tell me, honey. Came home to find the kids on their own downstairs, and Sawyer told me you were taking a nap.”
“Oh, um.” She placed a hand to the side of her head. “Yes, I put them down for a nap a little while ago. They should be up soon. Can you go check on them?”
