Without You

Chapter Nineteen

March 12th

I cursed under my breath as the all too familiar ringtone sounded from the other room, I knew I wouldn't get there in time to answer it but I still jolted up and ran to get it. Pressing the answer button just in time, I held my mobile to my ear.

"Hello?" I said down the speaker, I was far too focused on answering the call to check caller ID.

"Summer it's Simon" Simon? He never called me directly unless it was important and even then it was either Jane or Janet who passed on the message. "I've got some urgent news, you're going to have to come in immediately" His stern voice told me, my mind filling with all the possibilities of what the news could be.

"I'll be there as soon as I can".

Swinging my handbag over my shoulder I rushed down to the garage, starting the engine before I'd even closed the door. Simon wouldn't just call me up and ask me to come in as soon as I could out of the blue. This was something big and I had a gut feeling it wouldn't be good.

Office workers threw me weird looks when I rushed past them as I literally ran to Simon's office.

"You can go in" Janet gave me a sympathetic look.

"Summer, you may want to take a seat" Simon said as soon as I entered his office, he nodded his head at the seats that were in front of his desk. I didn't say a word, I just sat twiddling my thumbs waiting anxiously as he thought , I'm guessing, of the best way to word the news.

"I received a phone call from your father moments before I called you. Your mother has been rushed into hospital after having a heart attack earlier this morning" What? Was this some kind of sick joke? Was Mum okay? Why was I hearing this from Simon and not from my Dad?

"The doctors have checked her over Destiny is perfectly fine but they re keeping her in hospital for a precaution. There is a car downstairs waiting to take you to the hospital your mother is at. You are welcome to take as much time as you need off" I nodded my head going over everything he'd just said.

Don't cry Summer, Mum's fine stop being pathetic.

"Thank you" I bit my lip as my voice cracked.

"Give your mother my love" Simon said just before I walked out of the office.

I ignored everyone else as I walked back out of the offices and into the car, which as Simon said, would take me to hospital.

The car journey gave me time to think.

If I talked to my parents more I wouldn't have had to hear that from Simon. And I would've heard it earlier, I would be there now, sat by Mum's bed. Holding her hand and telling her it would all be ok. We would sit and remember the good times when we actually acted like a family. When we actually spent quality time together instead of ignoring each other and focusing on our own careers.

As far as I knew Mum had never had anything wrong with her so how could she have a heart attack? She was young and healthy. If I was there right now I would've known the answered to questions that had formed in my head.

My phone beeped in my bag. I blinked away the tears that were forming in my eyes so I could read the message.

2 New Messages

Claire Young; I've just heard the news, hope you're okay. I'm cancelling your schedule for the next few days. Let me know if you need anything x

Frankkk Looloo; Babe :( You know I'm here for you, I'm just a phone call away. Love you loads Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I ignored them both leaning my head back against the head rest, trying to clear my mind of all the negative things that kept popping up in my head.

I didn't need sympathy right now. I needed to hug my Mum and never let her go