Stay- Book One The Full Circle

Time to Face the Music

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Chapter 30

Time to Face the Music

Trent

True to his word, my brother is stepping up. Harper has taken the responsibility of staying with Frankie at the hospital. The first night none of us went anywhere. We were all worried about our friend, our brother. We slept in the waiting room just to be there in case something changed while Mitch stayed asleep the entire time.

Frankie wouldn't leave his side. This whole thing has really rattled her. It's too much of a painful reminder of what happened with my parents. No one said anything about it though, but each of us thought about it. I could see it on all of our faces. The memories of that night, and how we huddled together waiting for word only to be heartbroken in the end.

Each of us took turns with her in the room sitting vigil on Mitch. We made sure she was with one of us, although Harper didn't want anyone else with Frankie, we forced him out to give him and Frankie breaks. The nurse made her rounds checking on us and Mitch. There wasn't another episode like that first night.

Maybe because none of us were talking to Jeremy. He may have been right about Frankie and Harper but the way he went about pushing the two of them was wrong. He isn't the best about how he says things even if he's trying to fix a problem.

He's just not that smooth

Jeremy learned that night we weren't going to put up with his blunt and somewhat harsh remarks. He left the hospital once we knew Mitch was out of the woods and has manned the bar while the rest of us have been taking turns sitting with Frankie waiting for Mitch to wake up. Jeremy hasn't been back yet but he's sent texts to each of us for updates.

I know it's hurt him to not be there but he's rubbed Frankie and the rest of us wrong with his comments. Keeping the bar going was best all around. The past few days we've been short handed around the bar but we're dealing with it. Longer hours, double shifts and less time with my girls have made the little time I do have with them more important. Unfortunately, it's resulted in the form of just watching them sleep.

This morning I promised Zoe I would take her with me to check out a new school to enroll her in. I have to plan that we're going to be able to keep her. Emerly is coming by in a bit to finish up the home study and final assessment before we go to the judge. We're in the final stages of the adoption, with Adrienne's parents help things have moved along at a faster, smoother pace.

Adrienne has miraculously been missing this week. Ever since Mitch was shot she hasn't been around. Convenient as it is, it's also very curious with the timing. I know the guys that did this were trouble from the first time they were in but still there's something nagging at me that Adrienne had a part in it.

Setting it aside for now, I finish putting my version of breakfast on the table for Zoe and call for her to come eat when there's a knock on the front door. Zoe rushes into the kitchen just as I pass her to get the door.

"Are you working today or what?" Jeremy comes in and brushes past me into the living room. "I've got the plumber coming to fix the sink in the second floor bar, the produce guy wants to raise our costs, and the fire marshal is doing an inspection. Which are you taking?"

"None. Not til later at least. Maggie isn't here and I've got an appointment for Zoe's school this morning, then we're meeting Emerly for our final inspection. I'll be over when we're done." I can just tell from the look on his face he doesn't like my answer.

Jeremy just looks at me like I've lost my mind. "You're blowing off your business to play daddy again? Why isn't blondie doing this? Isn't that why she's here? To babysit the kid."