Chapter 16

Meredith’s plan had been to escape the complications of her life. Disfigurement aside, did she really want to end up involved with someone so troubled? The last thing she needed was to be the caretaker for her partner at this stage in her life. No, it wasn’t happening. So much for her simple little fling. 7

Meredith’s phone rang as soon as she unlocked her hotel room door. Damn. There were three voicemails from the nursing home. But this call was from a different number. Dropping her jacket on the bed, she frowned. Since when did her mother call her?

“Honey? I have some bad news.”

She sat down on the bed, bracing herself. “What’s going on, Mom?”

“It’s your dad. He had a massive stroke shortly after you left. He hasn’t regained consciousness and the doctors don’t think he’s going to.”

Meredith let out the breath she was holding. She never should have left, and now he was going to die alone.

“Tell the nurses I’ll be back as soon as I can get a flight—”