We enter the hospital’s parking lot, and my nerves start to rise. I don’t know how he’s doing or if he’s okay, and I want nothing more than to run into that building and find him. Yet, when I reach for the door handle, I pause, turning back to Cooper.

He shakes his head and gives me an encouraging smile. “Go to him,” he instructs.

I lean over, kiss his cheek, and rush out of the truck.

The hospital isn’t hard to navigate, but with how many times I get lost, you’d think I’ve never been here. The white walls all look the same. I called Presley and Trent again, but got no answer. I decide to ask a nurse where Rhett is, when she refuses to release the information, I lie and tell her I’m his daughter.

Now knowing where to head, I follow the red line to the intensive care wing. My heart is heavy with worry. The Henningtons are a strong unit, with Rhett being the head of them all. I can’t imagine what the boys or Mrs. Hennington are going through.

I round the corner and stop dead in my tracks when I see Cooper standing there.

“Hey. What are you doing here?”

“You forgot your purse,” he explains as he holds out my bag.

“Thank you! I didn’t even realize. I’ve been walkin’ around this place for what feels like forever and I still haven’t seen any of them. I don’t know if he’s all right or . . .” I say as my eyes mist over. “I can’t get ahold of anyone either.”

“If something happened we’d know. My mama and yours would’ve called.” Cooper’s hand touches my shoulder in a comforting way.

He’s right. I can’t imagine our parents wouldn’t let us know. Okay. I feel a little better.

I look up and Cooper’s entire body goes still. When I turn to see what has him on edge, relief fills me before flickering away, causing my heart to plummet.

Trent is standing there with a murderous expression on his face. His hands clench into fists and he stomps forward. I’ve seen him like this two times in my life. The first was when he found William after he killed Scarlett and the second was when he heard someone beat their infant to death a town over.

He wanted to tear them both limb from limb.

And it looks like Cooper is the object of his rage right now.

Cooper’s arm drops, and I rush toward Trent, hoping to diffuse a situation before it happens. “Trent, I came as soon as I heard. Is your dad okay?” He doesn’t look at me. He keeps moving toward Cooper. “Trent!”

His gait halts, and he turns to me. His face is hard and his jaw clenched. His deep blue eyes lock on mine, allowing me to see the emotions playing out: confusion, surprise, anger, and lastly, resentment. “Why the hell are either of you here?”

“What?” I ask with shock. “Why would you ask me that? Why wouldn’t I be here?”

“I’ll let you two handle this.” Cooper puts his hands in the air and retreats.

Trent turns his head toward Cooper and the vein in his neck pops. “How noble of you.”

Cooper bristles and shakes his head. “Look, I didn’t come to start anything.”

“Then maybe you shouldn’t have come here.” His voice is hard as his eyes slice to mine and he adds, “Either of you.”

I thought coming here was the right thing to do. I wanted to offer him support, but he’s being an ass.

I take a step back and try to hide my hurt. “I wanted to be here. I wanted to be here for you.”

Trent laughs. “You and your boyfriend? How nice of you. So, not only do I have to deal with the fact that my father is dying but also I get the added benefit of seeing you with another man.”

Cooper jumps in before I can. “You need to calm down and listen to what she’s sayin’. All I did was I drive her here.”

“Sure you did. You couldn’t help but be her knight in shining armor. Here comes perfect Cooper and his white horse.”

“This is your problem, Trent,” Cooper says. “You act like this. She heard about your dad and couldn’t get here fast enough. She was too upset to drive, so I gave her a ride. So, if anyone should be pissed off, it’s me. I drove her to you.”

“Was that after you worked on her farm all day? Or after dinner?” Trent sneers and then looks at me. “Your house okay? I would hate to see you without a place to live. But then again, maybe you can move in with Cooper.”

Tears flood my eyes and start to fall. He has this all wrong. I’m not here with Cooper. I’m here because Cooper was kind enough to drive me. I’m here for Trent, and he’s treating me as if I’m a heartless bitch who wants to rub Cooper in his face.

“Stop it.” I put my hand on his arm and he tears it back. “Cooper and I had dinner, but I’m here for you because I wanted to make sure you were all right and your dad was okay. You would know that if you would just listen.” I wipe my face and try again. “We’re not . . .”

He puts his hand up. “I don’t want to fucking hear it. I’m dealin’ with enough right now. My father is lying in a hospital bed, dyin’ of cancer, and I don’t need to add this on top of it.”

Cooper scoffs and shakes his head. “I’m going to check on Presley and Wyatt. If you need me, Grace, you know where to find me.”

I nod and watch him walk away.

“You can go with him,” Trent says with hostility. “I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.”

“If you’d—”

“Just go, Grace.”

I get that he’s hurting. I understand completely that he’s in pain and angry at the situation he’s dealing with, but if he’d stop lashing out at me, I could explain.

“No.” I shake my head, digging my heels in. “I’m not leavin’.”

“I don’t want you here.”

I hear the slight tremor in his voice. He may say he doesn’t want me here, but I think he’s scared. This family has been through a lot in the last two years. Losing his father is going to be a major blow.

When I step closer to him, my voice is low and comforting. “I think you do.”

Trent’s eyes go hard and his voice is ice. “I tell you I love you. I lay it all out, and you fucking ask me to leave and then spend the day with him. What do I get to do? I get to spend the entire day thinkin’ about you. I have to wonder if he’s touchin’ you, kissin’ you, or makin’ you smile, and then you come here with him. I don’t fucking care what you think you know, because you’re wrong. I don’t want you here. I don’t want to see you or him anywhere.”