CHAPTER 6
“Dad’s in the hospital,” Aubrey said. “Where are you?”
“Patagonia.” Adrienne glanced around at the windswept, barren landscape. “Literally the middle of nowhere, but I think Puerto Natales must be close because we have reception. Tell me what happened.”
“They think he had a stroke.”
“Is he going to be okay?”
“They don’t know. My flight leaves tomorrow, but I can’t stay for more than a few days.” Aubrey’s unuttered question hung in the air. “Mom is…well, she shouldn’t be alone.”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can,” Adrienne promised.
The sound of a clicking keyboard came through the phone. “I found you a flight from Punta Arenas to Seattle.” She softly swore. “The fastest flight is more than twenty-four hours. Want me to book it?”
“What’s going on?” Nick sat beside her, his breath tickling the back of her neck.
“My dad has had a stroke,” Adrienne told him.
Aubrey swore again. “The cheapest flight is thousands of dollars.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Nick said. “I’ll pay for it.”
“No,” Adrienne protested.
“You’re here because of me,” Nick said. “Let me get you out of here.”
“I’m here because I want to be here.”
“And now you want to be home.”
“I’m not arguing with you,” Adrienne said.
Aubrey laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Adrienne demanded.
“You sound just like Mom and Dad,” Aubrey told her.
Aubrey made the arrangements using Adrienne’s credit card, but Adrienne only half-listened to the particulars. Her thoughts were already with her parents.
#
“This time with you has been amazing,” Adrienne said to Nick as they stood on the curb of the Punta Arenas airport. She leaned in to kiss his cheek. “But this is goodbye.”
“For now,” Nick put in.
She had so much more to say, but she had no time. He drew her in for a quick hug. Briefly, she allowed herself to sag against him.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Keep to the plan. Sing your songs. You never really needed me, you know? Get yourself a tripod—”
“I can’t replace you with a tripod,” Nick told her. “You were my cheerleader. No, more than that. You were my catalyst. You made everything happen for me.”
“And I can still do that, but from a distance. I need to be with my parents.”
Nick nodded, hugged her again, and turned away. Adrienne’s heart twisted as she watched him walk through the airport . He looked naked without his guitar bumping at his side. She felt torn between wanting to stay with him and burning anxiousness for her mom and dad.
