Suddenly, he was wide awake, gazing at his sleeping wife, wishing he didn’t have to dump this on her like a bucket of icy water. But she’d said that if the old man made it until after the election, she’d decide then. It was time. So he whispered, “I’ll let her know. Text me the information about where he is.”

Almost as soon as they hung up, his cell vibrated with the name and address of the hospital, along with the room number. Bracing himself, he went to wake her, but her eyes opened on their own, and she lay staring up at him, her eyes too bright. She reached up to touch his cheek as if he was the one who needed comforting.

“Looks like I’m destined to do this, huh?”

“Do what?”

“Play out the sad goodbye scene for a father I don’t even know.”

“That’s up to you. If you choose not to go, I get it.”

“No, let me shower, and then we’ll take off. How far is it?”

Quickly, he checked as she got out of bed. “Looks like a couple of hours, the other side of Chicago in the northern suburbs.”

“Okay. Will you drive?”

“Absolutely. I showered last night, so I just need to get dressed.”

He did that in a hurry while she went to the bathroom, and then he went to the kitchen to make her an omelet and toast. The coffee was ready by the time she came out, looking preternaturally perfect as always. Though he’d only lived with Sarah for a short time, he knew it wasn’t normal how fast Leanne got ready. Her makeup always looked flawless, and it should’ve taken at least half an hour to do her hair. As ever, he didn’t mention it, except to say:

“You look beautiful. Hungry?”

“Maybe I shouldn’t be under the circumstances, but I am. Thanks, hon.”

Frankly, he envied her a little. If something happened to Wade, he doubted Tanner would even call him. His mom probably wouldn’t either. For them, it was so easy to write him off, glad Leanne had shown up to take Trev off their hands. Now they could focus on the good son. He forced himself to let go of that bitterness. Sometimes a tree had to be pruned to live, and that was how he felt about putting his family behind him. Trying to earn their approval might have eventually killed him.

“I’ll head down first and start the car, get it warmed up for you,” he said since he’d finished eating first.

She stood abruptly and clutched him in a worryingly tight hug. “I don’t deserve you.”

“What?”