His Only Savior | #Wattys2019

Chapter 36

6 Years Later

The Harry Potter theme song blared through the darkness of my room, waking me up.  I groaned as unwrapped myself from Katie in search of my phone.  "Hello?" I grumbled.

"Emily?"  A familiar voice came through the phone, causing me to shoot up in bed.

"Isaac?"  My heart sank, I hadn't heard his voice since the day I gave birth to our daughter.  My mind raced through the possibilities of why he would be calling at such a late hour.  I knew he was in town visiting Matt, but he had done that several times and never attempted to reach out.  Which I didn't mind because it made it easier to hide the truth from him.

"My dad is at the hospital, he keeps asking for you."

"Is he okay?"

"No.  I'm sure you're aware his liver was failing, and he was in need of a transplant."

My heart dropped.  There was a long pause before I finally spoke again.  "I'm aware, but the doctors said he should be fine for several more years since he was no longer drinking."

"Well, they were wrong.  I'll text you the room number."

I went to respond but before I could the line clicked dead.  "Katie, sweetie wake up."  She moaned as she curled into the blankets further.  "Mommy has to go see Grandpa Holland, wake up."

"I'm still tired," she mumbled into the pillow.

"I know sweetie, I'll take you to Uncle Sean's."  I climbed out of bed before throwing on my jeans and sweatshirt from the previous day.  "Come on little one," I laughed as I scooped her up in my arms.  "Let's go," I kissed her face repeatedly until she erupted in giggles.

"Mommy stop," she begged.

"Fine, only because I love you.  We are in a hurry, but do you want to bring anything to your Uncle's?"

"No, Mr. Snuggles is with him," she frowned.

"Is that where he's been hiding?"  I raised my brow at her while grabbing my purse to head out the front door.

"Yeah, I left him last time we were there," she stuck her bottom lip out to pout.

"Well, when we get there, I'm sure Uncle Sean will help you find him."  I loaded Katie into her car seat before climbing into the front seat.  The morning sun still sat below the horizon as we drove.  When we arrived at Sean's she had already fallen back to sleep.  With a smile I cautiously removed her from the car to carry her to the front door.  I rang the doorbell twice and waited patiently for him to answer.

"Hey," his eyes were wide with shock when he noticed it was me.  "What are you doing here?  It's like three in the morning."

"Isaac called, Matt's at the hospital and it doesn't sound good.  Can you take her?"

"Of course, her and I finished painting her room a few weeks ago so it's set back up."  We had agreed to set a room up for Katie at his place since he watched her frequently for me while I worked.  The two of them had built a strong connection and she relied on him for that fatherly bond that she so desperately craved.

"Okay, sweet.  Thank you," I smiled as I carefully handed her over to him.  He stroked her hair while pressing a kiss to her cheek.  "I'll come get her as soon as I'm done at the hospital."

"No rush, just let me know what's going on."

"I will," we reached out in unison to reassuringly squeeze each other's hand.  "I love you Sean."