The Deadline (The Friessens: A New Beginning) by Lorhainne Eckhart Read Free Book Online

and she got me the job at your parents’ mansion.”
    Andy just held her. He had heard the last part of her story from Aida, and he knew it was worse than she was saying. He couldn’t imagine how tough it had been for her to feed Gabriel, let alone herself. She had been forced to work and find someone else to look after her son. Andy lowered his head as he remembered Aida, that sweet old woman, who had put up with no crap from him and had called him out on every dumb-ass thing he’d done. Aida had killed herself and left him a tape recording so he’d know just how horrible his mother was. Caroline Friessen had discovered Aida’s past, the fact that she’d been in prison and had jumped parole, and she was blackmailing the old woman to secure her help in getting rid of Laura. In the end, Aida hadn’t been able to live with the threat, and she had taken her life instead, leaving the evidence for Andy. He still didn’t know what he’d do with it. If Laura knew the truth, if she found out that Aida hadn’t simply died in her sleep, it would destroy her.
    “It’s okay . You know I’m never going to let anyone hurt you or Gabriel, or our babies,” he said.
    She nodded again , turning in his arms and pressing her face against his chest. “I love you so much, Andy,” she said, and he held her as he whispered, “I love you, too.”

Chapter 9
    “Andy , can you grab the phone while I get dinner on the table?” Laura called out. The babies were in their swing, going back and forth, and Gabriel was propped on the sofa. The TV was on, and he was watching Spiderman , although Laura wondered whether he was actually watching, considering he kept closing his eyes and nodding off. She set her hand on his forehead, and he barely responded. “Are you feeling any better?” she asked. “Do you think you can eat some dinner?”
    “No ,” he grumbled in a sleepy voice.
    W hen Laura looked up, Andy was standing in the archway between the kitchen and living room, wiping his scruffy face with his hand. His expression was grim, and he was still holding the phone when he gestured her over.
    “ Andy, what’s wrong?” she asked.
    H e set his hand on her shoulder and guided her just inside the kitchen. “That was the doctor. Gabriel’s white blood cell count is too high, and we have to bring him in to the hospital now,” Andy said. He had to clear his throat. “Laura, he has leukemia.”
    Laura couldn’t form a thought . She felt the floor soften beneath her even though she was standing there with Andy. She felt cold and numb. For a moment, all she could do was breathe. She couldn’t understand what he was saying. Maybe he realized that was exactly what was happening, as he set his hand on her shoulder and squeezed, leaning in and really looking at her. She could see the glassy look in his eyes, as if he was fighting back tears, and she knew it was bad. She threw her arms around his neck and just held on. “Andy…” She choked, and a tear slipped down her cheek, then another. She didn’t let go of him.
    She could feel him tighten his hold on her , rubbing her back as he breathed her in. “We have to go now, Laura. The doctor’s going to meet us at the hospital.”
    She was shaking when she pulled away . She glanced at the chicken she’d just taken out of the oven, sitting on the table. It was only a momentary thought: Dinner was ready, they couldn’t go yet. It was so surreal. Suddenly, she was with Andy, bundling up the twins, and they were out the door and into the truck. Andy simply scooped up Gabriel and buckled him in the back with the twins, and the boy continued to sleep as they drove to Columbia Falls, to the new children’s hospital.
    ****
    Doctor Bruce Siegel had been waiting for them when Andy carried Gabriel in, Laura following with both babies in their carrier, side by side. Gabriel was settled into a bed in a private room, and a nurse helped him into a hospital gown. A hospital ID bracelet was fastened