The Strongest Stone

Chapter Fourteen

Hey Lucas.

I just thought I'd send another weekly update on the kids.

Tom got an A on his science test and Ana is getting ready for prom. The two younger kids miss you, and I thought maybe you could organise a skype call to say hey.

I hope you're well.

Charlie.

I had sent four emails, one every week since he'd left. He hadn't replied to any, but the kids would mention hearing from him, so I knew he read them.

I looked around the office that had been Lucas' and sighed. I had hurt him so much he didn't even want to speak to me. Maybe my hope he'd come home was completely in vain.

There was a knock at the door, I closed the laptop lid and looked up. "Come in."

Hannah opened the door, her face was white. "It's Ana. She sounds real worried."

I frowned and picked up my cell, my heart dropped. I'd set it to vibrate so I could focus and I had five missed calls.

I stood up and walked over to the very pregnant hannah and took the cordless phone she closed the door behind her and I held the phone to my ear.

"Ana?" I questioned.

"It's Tom. You have to come quick." Her voice was barely a whisper.

My brother, there was something wrong with my brother.

"What... what's happened?"

"He was riding his bike to school...." ana stopped and started to cry. I grabbed the keys for the car we'd bought with the inheritance and phone and ran from the office. I gave Hannah the phone and sprinted from the store.

I sat in the car and plugged the bluetooth in, my mind was frazzled. Without thinking I called the one person who had always been there for me, the one person who also wasn't speaking to me. I didn't expect an answer, I just needed to hear his voice and if the voicemail was a close as I got to it, then I was prepared to live with that.

I started driving as the phone began to ring. Tears of fear were rolling down my face. I didn't know the severity of Tom's injuries, I just knew we couldn't do anymore tragedy.

"Hello." Lucas' voice cut through my worry like a sharpened knife. He had answered.

"Lucas." I mumbled. "Tom... he's been in an accident."

"I know. Ana just called. Take a deep breath. It'll be okay." He assured me, and for a moment it was like he hadn't left. Like he was next to me, like this was all a bad dream.

"I'm scared." I whispered. I had been since I had come back. Losing our parents had been one thing, but now I really was a parent, the thought of losing the kids killed me. I swallowed the ball of emotion in my throat. I had basically done the same to Lucas by shutting him out.

"It's okay to be scared. Just don't let your fear control you." He replied. "Tom needs you."

And I needed Lucas. And the kids.

"I'm sorry Lucas."

"This isn't about us Charlotte." He whispered sadly. "How far from the hospital are you."

"Uh... five minutes." I said.

"Good. just keep breathing okay."

"Breath. Right." I mumbled, I felt like I wasn't capable of anything anymore.least of all breathing.

Somehow I made it to the hospital. I unclipped the phone from hands free and I ran through the carpark. "I'm here."

"Good. I'll let you get in there. Call me as soon as you know anything."