You Can't Run by Hope Davis (pdf e book reader .TXT) 📕

“No problem. And if, in the future you decide you need overnight care, just give us a call back. Okay?”

She cringed. “I will thank you.”

She hung up the phone, it pained her to think of overnight care, but she was sure it would be their reality at some point. But hopefully not anytime soon.

Time for the next call, she wasn’t looking forward to this anymore than the last, but for different reasons. She glanced at her watch and realized it was a bit early for her parents, but she didn’t have another option. The phone rang five times before her mother picked up.

“Naya.” It sounded like she had just woken up and Naya was sure she had, unfortunately she didn’t have time to feel guilty.

“Hey mom.”

Her mom would definitely be able to tell something was up, even though she was overdue for a call, Naya knew her tone would give her away.

“What’s wrong?” She sounded more alert already.

Naya took a deep breath. “I think you and dad should come visit. Soon.” She couldn’t bring herself to say it any harsher than that.

“What’s going on?”

“It’s Vance, he’s…well, he’s much worse than he led us to believe. He asked me to call you last night.” She could hear rustling in the background, and she figured her mom was shaking her father to wake him up.

“How long do you think?” Her mother’s voice was the one to crack this time.

“He’s still lucid. But I’ve hired round-the-clock care. And after I hang up I’m going to order him a wheelchair. I think he wants you to see him before…before it gets worse.” Naya knew that even though he was as accepting of his condition as someone could be, Vance did not want his parents to see him helpless. He had always prided himself on his strength and independence and he wanted to maintain that image in their memories.

“Your father is awake now, let me see what he has planned for the week, but we will be up in the next few days.”

“And mom? The house is very small.”

Vance had always come home to visit their parents, they had never been up to visit him in Denver, and she knew they had grander expectations of his house, since homes in La Junta were much cheaper.

“I think you and dad should get a hotel, there’s an inexpensive one not too far. It’s nothing fancy, but for a few nights I think it’ll do.”

“Send me a link and we’ll book it.” She could hear her mom’s voice shaking. “Is there anything you want us to bring you? What about Vance, does he want anything.”

She pinched the bridge of her nose and squeezed her eyes shut. Why was this so damn hard?

“Can you bring some pictures of Vance as a kid? And maybe anything else you think would be important to him from our childhood?”

“No problem.” She could hear her mom sniffle, she was definitely crying now. “I’ll—I’ll have your dad look through some of the boxes in the attic.”

Naya glanced at her watch, she had to hurry if she wanted to order the wheelchair and get dressed before Atlas showed up.

“Listen mom, I gotta go to work, but text me the days you will be here when you know, okay? And Vance had a late night but maybe give him a call and let him know when you’re coming as well?”

“We will. Hang in there, honey. We will be there as soon as we can.”

“Thanks mom. Love you, give dad my love too please.” After quick goodbyes she hung up and hurried to step into her pants and slide her shirt on. She could always order the wheelchair during the drive to work, but she wanted to at least be dressed and ready to go when Atlas showed up.

She ran a brush through her hair, deciding she didn’t have time to blow dry it and it would have to air dry; she could pull it back if it got to be too much. They had a decent drive ahead of them, plenty of time for it to dry naturally.

Her phone buzzed. Atlas was here. Good thing she had gotten dressed.

She sent a text to Kevin, asking him to check in on Vance in a few hours if he could. She felt bad relying on him so much, but he didn’t seem to mind, and she hadn’t expected her job to be this demanding from day one.

She rushed to grab her credentials and weapon and jogged down the stairs and out the door.

“Morning.” She greeted as she slid into the passenger seat.

“You look chipper.” He commented. “I’m guessing that means you didn’t spend the night at the hospital?”

“Nope, got off easy, he just has a minor concussion. They gave him an IV and sent him home with instructions to rest and be more careful. It was still a late night, but nothing I can’t handle.” Her phone blinked with a response from Kevin and she opened it. What she saw made her blush.

Kevin: Of course. Anything for you beautiful. How would you feel about dinner tomorrow night while Trevor and Sebastian are with Vance for the game?

She smiled as she texted back.

Naya: Yes. It’s about time you asked me on a proper date.

His response was immediate..

Kevin: Better late than never. Be ready at 4.

The smile didn’t leave her face even as she opened her internet browser to finally finish ordering the wheelchair for Vance.

“Must be good news with that smile.”

“Well kind of I guess.” She tried to play it off so she wouldn’t have to explain, but Atlas wouldn’t let her off that easy.

“Come on, after last night you should be able to talk to me a little.”