Thawed Out (Merry Everything #4)

Chapter 17

17

F lynn pulled into a parking lot of the City Market and killed the engine. Then he called his dad, his fingers shaking so hard he almost missed the contact on the screen.

“Hey, you, what’s?—”

“Dad, I—” Suddenly Flynn couldn’t breathe.

“What’s wrong? Where are you? Are the kids okay?”

“Uh-huh. Fine. They’re fine. I just… I fell asleep driving home, and for a second, I didn’t know where I was!” He’d been burning the candle at both ends and in the middle, and he was starting to crack.

“Okay. Where are you right now? Are you pulled over somewhere safe?” Dad was speaking slowly, words measured and careful.

“Yeah. Yeah, I’m at the grocery store. I just had to stop. I scared myself.” And he couldn’t scare Kiren.

“Good. You did the right thing. Do you want me to come pick you up? Or I can stay on the phone with you until you get home…”

“Just…can we just talk a minute? I just need to know I can do this.”

“Can you do it?”

“What?” He couldn’t follow.

“Working and interning and being a dad and husband. Can you do all of that?”

“I have to.” He didn’t have a choice.

“That wasn’t my question, kiddo. You just fell asleep at the wheel and could have killed someone. So honestly. Can you do this?”

“What am I supposed to do? I’m so fucking close! I have to pay the damn bills and not kill anybody—no mistakes at the office, at the hospital, at home, on the road! What the fuck am I supposed to do?” He couldn’t breathe. He just couldn’t.

“Flynn. I want you to listen to me and breathe, kiddo. Listen. You are a good father. Those kids adore you. You’re also working very hard for a career that will eventually support your family, and you’re good at that too from what I’ve seen. You’re succeeding. You hear me? But no one is a superhero. Not even you. You’re human like the rest of us. Sit and breathe and know that you’re doing your best. Everyone sees that.”

“I don’t. I don’t see much. I need sleep, Dad. I’m going to lose my mind.” He couldn’t tell that to Kiren, but his dad? Sure.

“Can we take the kids for the weekend? Your mother would love that. She heard that Kiren’s parents had them a couple of weeks ago, and she’s jealous. I’ll pick them up tomorrow afternoon. Sound good?”

“Let me check with Kiren, but he’ll say yes. He’s tired too. He could use a break.” Oh, thank God. “That would be amazing.”

“Okay. Good. I’m glad we could help. Now, I need you to get home safely, so how are you going to do that?”

“I—Can you talk to me? It’s ten minutes. That’s it.” He hated to ask, but he needed to be home safe, more.

“I would be happy to. I love you, and I always have ten minutes for you.”

“Thank you. I can’t wait to be able to take my test, you know? To be able to do the eight to five thing and bring paperwork home.”

“You’re going to do great on your test; your mother and I talk about you all the time. We’re proud of you, you know. It’s in May, you said?”

“Yes, sir. Two months. I can do this. I can. Two months.”

“Two months is nothing. You absolutely can manage. You can call me any time, if I can help I will. We say a little prayer for you and Kiren every night, and we know it’s working because you two are keeping it together.”

“I’m glad. I appreciate it. I love you guys, more than I can say.” He sat at the light, waiting for it to change.

“So, did you get those squirrels taken care of? You remember that time we had a whole nest of Steller’s jays in our attic?”

“I did. They had to plug up a ton of holes.” He chuckled softly, shook his head. “I hadn’t thought about those evil jays.”

“Those things were homicidal. Remember your uncle Jed and I went up there in football helmets? We still almost lost our eyes.” Dad chuckled. “Good times.”

“Yeah. The squirrels had Cassie convinced there were monsters in her bedroom.” He turned right into their street.

“Poor thing. You need to get her that puppy. Dogs eat monsters. It worked for you and your sister.”

“As soon as I’m not working two jobs, Dad. I promise.” He pulled into the driveway. “I’m home.”

“Good news. I hope you can get some sleep tonight. We’ll pick the kids up tomorrow afternoon.”

“If Kiren has a problem, I’ll text, fair?”

“Of course. I love you, kiddo. Thank you for calling, that was wise. You’re a good man.” Dad’s voice was deep and quiet, and from experience, Flynn understood that meant he was worried.

“I’m trying to be like this amazing guy I know. He’ll talk his grown son through an exhausted moment.”

“Hmm. My dad was like that.” He could hear the smile in Dad’s voice. “Goodnight, kiddo.”

“Night, Dad. Love you.”

“Ditto.” He turned the engine off and took a deep breath. It was time to see his family. He could be tired later.