“I don’t know. They won’t tell us anything, just that head injuries are hard to predict. He looks awful. You need to prepare yourself.”

“Aw, baby, who prepared you?”

A sob erupted from her chest, and she clung to him. “Seeing him in that bed. . .” She shuddered. “I’ve never been more afraid in my life.” The scent of the ocean and Joe’s favorite clove cigarettes comforted her as much as his strong embrace. “We’ll have to put off the wedding.” Saying it out loud seemed to make it real.

“We don’t have to worry about that today. Let’s see what the next few days bring.”

Janey drew back so she could see his face. “I can’t get married without him. I just can’t.”

“Neither can I. He’s been a father to me, too.”

Relieved that he agreed, Janey kissed his cheek and then his lips. “I should’ve known you’d get it. Don’t you always?”

“We’ll still get married, honey, but if we have to wait a bit longer so he can be there with us, then we’ll wait.”

“Thanks for understanding.”

“I love you love you, Janey,” he said as he always did. “No matter what happens, I’ll be right there with you, okay?”

Nodding, she said, “Put me down so I can take you to see Dad.”

“I will.” He pressed his lips to her neck. “In a minute.”

Grant’s pounding head woke him from a sound sleep. Rolling over, he moaned at the shaft of pain that sliced through his skull. He’d awoken in this condition far too often lately. In fact, nearly every day since his mother called to tell him about Abby’s engagement.

Since no one had bothered to tell him she’d been dating, the news had caught him completely off guard and totally unprepared. How could she even think about marrying someone else? There was no way she could possibly love that guy. Not as much as she loved him.

He sat up and fought back a swell of nausea. The drinking had to stop. It wasn’t making anything better. His career and life had gone to shit, and no amount of booze was ever going to change that.

Dragging his aching head into the shower, Grant set the temperature to freezing and was only slightly more alive after five minutes under the icy water. He added some hot water and washed his hair. I need a plan, he thought. Something to get Abby’s attention. Something that will convince her to give me another chance. He’d talk to Janey who was close friends with Abby. She’d know what he needed to do to win Abby back.