Garrett stood there. “What do you mean, something happened?”
I grabbed Garrett’s hand and began running out of the gym, pulling him behind me. I yelled back at Billy, “Who drove?”
“Garrett did.”
We ran to Garrett’s truck as Pete, Wayne, and Raymond ran over and jumped into what I guessed was Pete’s truck.
I turned to Garrett. “Garrett, Billy needs your keys.”
He looked back and forth between Billy and me. Garrett reached into his pocket and handed Billy the keys. I opened the passenger door and jumped in. Garrett followed behind me. Billy ran around and got into the driver’s seat. As Billy started driving to my house, I grabbed Garrett’s hand. He looked at me and gave me a weak smile.
He leaned down and said, “I’m going to give you that kiss…soon.”
I smiled and nodded my head. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
His smile faded, and he whispered, “Promise me.”
“I promise.”
Garrett looked out the window and didn’t say another word. I had the most terrible feeling in my stomach. As soon as his Uncle Pete had mentioned Mr. Mathews holding his chest, I knew he must have had a heart attack. I closed my eyes and silently prayed for him to be okay.
Billy pulled up to my house, and Garrett jumped out of the truck before Billy even came to a stop. I started crying when I saw my father stepping out onto the porch. He stopped Garrett from going any farther.
I threw my hands up to my mouth and started saying, “No. Oh, please, God, no.”
“Emma?” Billy grabbed my hand. “What’s going on?”
I knew from the look on my father’s face that something bad had happened.
“Billy…Garrett is going to need you. Go! Get out of the truck, and go!” I slid over and jumped out of the truck.
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I quickly walked up to Garrett and my father. I looked through our front window and saw Mrs. Mathews. My mother was holding her while she cried.
“Garrett, your father had a heart attack,” my daddy said.
I tried not to, but I started crying.
“Is he okay, Dr. Birk? Is he going to be okay?” Garrett asked, his voice breaking up.
My heart was breaking for Garrett, and I felt so incredibly helpless.
My father stepped closer to Garrett. “Garrett, I need you to listen to me, okay?”
Garrett nodded his head as he looked at my father.
“I’m sorry, son, but your father passed away. I tried everything I could to bring him back, but I just couldn’t do it.”
I slowly felt my body falling, and then two arms wrapped around me. When I looked up, I saw Raymond was holding me.
“No,” Garrett whispered. “No. He can’t leave us, Dr. Birk. He can’t leave me alone like that.”
My father closed his eyes and shook his head. When he opened his eyes, he looked directly at me and then back at Garrett. “Garrett, your mother needs you to be strong right now. I know what I’m asking from you is a lot. I know what it is like to lose your father at such a young age. But your mother in there has just lost the love of her life, her soul mate, and she needs you, son. She needs you. Now, I want you to walk around to the side of the house. Let it out before you go in there to see your mother.”
I was taken aback by what my father had said. He was giving Garrett mere minutes to grieve the loss of his father.
Garrett nodded his head, and then he turned to me. He walked up to me and grabbed my hand. I looked back at my father, and he simply nodded at me. Garrett and I began making our way around to the side of the house. On the way, he grabbed Billy by the shirt, and Billy followed us. My heart was beating so loudly that I was sure Garrett could hear it. I tried to calm myself down.