“Oh, honey, you sure you can go on?” she asked, leading me toward my chair.
I sniffled and nodded. Crystal had started out as an antagonist, an almost enemy, but over the last few weeks, she’d become more of a mentor. I’d hoped Hank would fill that roll, but I was really glad he hadn’t. I didn’t want to turn into a bitter has-been.
“Hey, Cam,” Heath said, pulling me in for a hug. “If you need anything, let me know.”
“Can you...” I hated to ask and bit my lip. Family helped family and these guys had become a surrogate for me. “Can you help Dylan with my brother? Jake watched as Dad... He’s always loved drums.”
Heath snapped his finger guns at me and strolled toward Dylan and my little brother. The rest of the band hugged me and offered condolences. It was almost too much. I plastered a fake smile, assured everyone I’d be okay, and finally sat down to get my makeup done. My hand shook as I picked up a brush.
“Let me.” Crystal took the brush.
She chatted about her two pit bulls, Rufus and Lucy, while she put on my stage look. I wasn’t really listening. The lull of the noise calmed me. I let it take over, and I just stopped thinking.
Then Hank shattered it.
“Oh, look, the princess finally decided to show.” Hank stepped into the dressing room in his faded jeans and a faded leather jacket, his usual concert wear. “Where you signing autographs outside the gas station? Or maybe you were outside some other theater showing off your review?”
“Dad –” Dylan put his hand on Hank’s shoulder.
“Shut up,” Hank snapped, jumping away from his son.
“I was at the hospital.” My soft voice echoed in the quiet room. “I’m sorry I missed rehearsal.”
“Hospital? For what? Cosmetic surgery?” His sneer ate at me.
I opened my mouth, but Jake beat me to the punch.
“Our dad had a stroke,” he said. Tears rolled down his cheeks unchecked. “So back off.”
Hank didn’t break his stare down with me, but his features softened. I nodded so he knew my little brother wasn’t lying.
“You’re walking a fine line,” Hank said in a menacing tone. His moment of humanity disappeared. “You upstage me again, you’re gone.” He spun on his heel and stopped by Jake. Hank knelt beside my little brother and shocked me with his words. “I’m sorry about your dad, kid. I hope he’s going to be okay.”
Hank stood and strode out of the room, leaving all of us confused.
Including his own son.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Dad’s stay in the hospital lasted another three days. He wasn’t too happy about it. Mom and I were always there. Jake couldn’t go. I didn’t blame him, but I did too. It was hard seeing our father like a shell of a human. It was even harder for him. He screamed at night. The nightmares were too much.
The worst part was his voice. It sounded like he’d eaten gravel. The second worst part was Mom crying quietly on the patio so no one would hear her. I could though. And I was never going to tell her.
While she cried alone, I cried in small bursts. Between the stress of Dad’s illness and the stress of the show, I was barely holding anything together. The only time I got to myself was the brief moments before I fell asleep.
“You need to get out of here,” Dylan said a few days after Dad got home. We stood in front of my house near his car. “Cam, you’ve been running yourself too hard. You’re taking care of your dad, singing five nights a week, and not sleeping enough.”
“I can’t leave him.” I ran my hands through my hair.
Dylan took my hands, holding them down. “You can’t stay either. All I’m asking for is a few hours. We’ll hang out in my hot tub or watch a really bad movie. You need to relax, babe.”
“What if...” I let the question fall away. There was no way I could think like that. If I did, I’d never breathe. I’d never live. Dad wasn’t going to die. I wasn’t ready.
“You need a break. I get why you don’t want to leave him. I really do, but you’re killing yourself.” He let go of my hands and pulled me into a hug. “He’s going to be okay. You can’t stand over him like a freak.”
I snorted a laugh. “You’re the freak.”
“Yeah, I know.” Dylan kissed the top of my head. “Go get your swimsuit. The hot tub is calling your name.”
“What about a movie?” I didn’t want to let go of him.
“Don’t worry. I got that covered too.” He pushed me away. “I’ll be right here.”
I ran into the house. Dad snored in his chair. His color had returned, but he still looked like he was halfway to the grave. I stopped beside him and pressed a quick kiss on his cheek. “I love you, Daddy.”
His lips quirked into a smile. It didn’t last long, but it was there. It was nice to see.
“You going out with Dylan?” Mom asked from the kitchen. She set a glass of tea on the Formica table and leaned on the back of a chair.
“Is that okay? I can stay if you want.” The cold stone of guilt sank in my chest.
“Of course it’s okay.” Her hands tightened on the back of the chair. “You can’t stop living your life, Cami. Your father’s going to be fine. I hired a nurse to help out for the next few weeks.”
“How... how much?” I asked. Mom worried about money all the time. There was no way it was going to be cheap. There was no way she could afford it.
She closed her eyes for a moment. “Enough. You let me worry about that, okay? Go. Have fun with your boyfriend. Be young.”
I nodded, but the stone in my stomach grew into a boulder. Mom had sacrificed so much for our family. Before
