“I got it,” Gus said. “Just go for now,” he said and Mara hurried out of the room.
Holly coughed and gasped for air.
Jake bent down over of her. Tears strolled down his face and he just hugged her. Her mother was thanking God in a mumble and Amelia was sobbing in the corner.
Holly grabbed Jake, and relief coursed through him.
She took deep, raspy breathes.
“Don’t ever scare me like that again.” He kissed her on the head.
She was awake. She was alive and she wasn’t going to leave him. Not this time and not for a long time.
Everyone was happy to see her. Jamie and Jake the most.
She didn’t looked so tired anymore, the yellow tinge in her skin was gone and she had hair again.
Jamie climbed on the bed and lay in Holly’s arms.
“Hey peanut.” Holly sighed and kissed Jamie’s temple.
“How is Romy, Mommy?”
Holly shifted Jamie in her arms and looked down at her.
“You went to visit her, didn’t you?”
She chuckled. “Yes, I did, and she gave me something to give you.”
“She did?” Jamie asked and Holly nodded as tears filled in her eyes.
She closed her eyes and gave Jamie the longest kiss on her cheek.
“A kiss?” Jamie frowned in disappointment. “I bought a bear.”
“Oh baby, the bears in heaven can talk, she wasn’t allowed to give you one. She wanted to, she had so many but they were very heavy and because they talk, Mommy couldn’t bring them. Sorry, sweetheart. She loves you so much.”
“I love her too.”
“Of course you do and one day, far, far from now, we will see her again.”
“Okay.” Jamie sulked and Holly grabbed her again.
“I love you, baby girl, so much. Daddy needs to buy a big gun.”
Everyone laughed including Jake.
“A gun, what for?” Jamie looked at her mother.
“Cause you are going to be one hell of a hottie one day.”
“I’m not.” Jamie giggled and closed her eyes.
Of course she would be a hottie but from the way Holly just stared at Jamie, it was as if she knew what she would look like. Jake wondered what she’d experienced while she’d been in the coma. Was there some truth to the lie he told Jamie to put her heart at ease whenever she came to visit Holly?
Jake caught Holly staring at him.
“What?”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For your kindness.” She smiled. “And for your strength.”
“I don’t know so much about that one,” he whispered to her and kissed her on the forehead.
He wish he could tell her what his mother did for her, but he was afraid that she would not accept it and the kidney would fail again.
But one day she would know.
She stayed in hospital for another few weeks and then they finally released her.
He was going to take her home and he couldn’t believe how lucky he was. It had been so close.
He kept wondering. Holly was slightly different when she came back. She was more at peace with everything.
She never asked about the donor was, which was weird. Usually patients always wanted to know about the donor.
Then again, she hadn’t asked him about his mother either.
She was just a walking mystery, as if she hadn’t been enough of a mystery before.
He parked the car and they got out. Everyone was in that house. Including his mother.
“Holly,” Jake said. She smiled at him. “There is something I need to ask?” He stopped right in front of the front door.
“Go for it.” She smiled.
“I forgave my mother and before—”
“Finally,” she said with a grin.
He frowned. “It’s all you are going to say?”
“Yeah, I asked you so many times to think about it. I’m glad you forgave her.”
He nodded.
He needed to tell her the that his mother was here.
“Sweetheart,” he spoke again as she went to open the door. “She’s inside. If you want—”
Holly didn’t let him finish. She just turned around and walked into the house.
He took a deep breath. He knew she needed to get it off her chest. His mother told him whatever she needs to do to get rid of her anger and her resentment, he needed to let her.
He followed her and found her just staring at his mother, who was sitting next to Jamie, reading her a story.
She looked up at Holly.
An awkward silence filled the room. Jamie paged through the book, oblivious to the tension.
“Please, say something,” Mara asked and got up.
“Come, Jamie,” Amelia spoke and Jamie saw her mother.
“Mommy!”
Holly smiled at Jamie went on her haunches and kissed Jamie.
“You’re back!”
“Forever and ever.” Holly laid it on thick. Jake loved every word.
“Can we have Chinese tonight?”
Holly laughed. “We’ll see, go with Auntie Amelia.”
She nodded and ran up the stairs behind her aunt.
Mara got up from the couch as Holly stood up straight.
Mara already had her handbag around her shoulder. “Look, I know what you said that time…”
Holly grabbed Mara around her neck. None of them expected it. Not even his mom.
She looked at Jake with confusion filling her face.
“Thank you,” Holly said.
“For what?” Mara asked.
Holly pushed her away and chuckled. “Your kidney and liver.”
They all gasped.
“Jake,” Mara scolded.
“Mom, I swear I didn’t tell her.”
She looked at Holly. “Then how do you know.”
“I know more than you guys think I do. And thank you for not giving up. I now know who to rely on if my heart gives up.”
“You what?”
She laughed. “It was a real journey. For a moment, I didn’t want to leave. But I saw her. And I don’t know why I still remember it, it was so weird.”
“Saw who, sweetheart?” Jake asked and she turned around.
“I wasn’t lying when I gave that kiss to Jamie, saying it was from her sister. It was real, Jake. And you really do need to get a gun, because our daughter is going to grow up to be one stunning woman.”
Everyone laughed except Jake.
“You really saw her?”
“Yeah, and she wasn’t small. It was so weird.” Holly sat down and start telling them of how she found herself in a hospital after she must have slipped into her coma.
“I should’ve known that something was not right. The hospital was so beautiful.”
They all listened attentively as she described the hospital. It sounded like heaven. “But something was horribly wrong. It didn’t matter if I saved a life or lost it, the loved ones were always happy. It frustrated me so much and I didn’t understand how anyone could be so happy for a loved one to pass on. I lost more and more every day, and one day I just couldn’t handle it anymore.”
She went on and relayed everything about her experience there and about the one doctor who helped Holly back.
Holly looked at them with shining eyes. “When she touched me, I remembered. It all just came back and her name tag changed to Romalia. She told me that I had to go back. She said that you wouldn’t understand Jamie,” she looked at Jake. “She said that Jamie was so much like me and you were the person Romy reminded me off.” Holly cried.
Jake felt the tears in his eyes.
“She is just like you. Adamant when she should be, and gentle when she needs to be. Her ways are set and she knows everything. I didn’t want to come back,” she admitted and Jake went to hug her.
“It’s okay.”
“No it’s not, because I had so much to live for and she made me
see it.” She sniffed as she pulled out of his arms.
“I asked her where my sister was and she told me that she couldn’t come because she’d already helped me to fight. I can’t remember that, but something tells me that it wasn’t the first time that I needed a push. I wish I could remember it.”
“I’m sorry that you had to let her go again.”
She shook her head. “She was right, though. She didn’t need me, she was happy and I just had to let her go. When the hospital vanished, I found myself at Downsend, but it was deserted. Still, I could hear the activity, I just couldn’t see it. I didn’t know what it was but went up to my room. It’s a really scary place. Then I heard Aggie speaking to Sue, and went into my room. I only saw myself, and silence. I really thought all of you abandoned me, but then Rodney,” she looked at him and smiled. “spoke. He said wouldn’t it be nice if she could wake up now and say What’s up bitches.”
Jake smiled.
“I wanted to, so badly. Then you spoke and you begged me to wake up. I didn’t know how. Amelia came and I only realized then that Mara was there,” she touched Mara’s leg. His mother smiled at her.
“They went out and I followed them. I wanted to know what she was doing there. And that was when I heard that she gave me her kidney and liver. I didn’t know what it was, whether the reality dawned onto me in why I let go, but right then my heart stopped.” She closed her eyes. “Don’t ever freak out like that again, please.” She looked at Jake.
“I’m sorry .”
“I felt this heaviness on my chest and I felt this ache everywhere. I thought I was losing it, but it turns out I was fighting harder and harder and the rest, you all know.”
Everyone just stared at her.
“I know it’s very farfetched and something doctors never believe, but there is something amazing out there.”
“You didn’t by any chance hug me when you discovered the truth?” Mara asked.
Holly laughed. “I couldn’t see you but I wanted to hug you. There was this current whenever I walked through things, things I couldn’t see and must have realized what it was. So I moved into the direction where you stood and just imagined that I was thanking you.”
Mara huffed and smiled.
“What is it, Mom?”
“I can’t explain it. It was the most peaceful feeling I ever felt. Afterward, I thought it was the calm before the storm, a sixth sense, a higher power that warned me what was to come, but I know now that it wasn’t that at all.”
Holly hugged her again. “Thank you for giving me you kidney and a piece of your liver.”
“It’s the least I could’ve done. I’m so sorry and I will never be able to tell you that enough.”
She pulled away. “Well, if you ever want to say it, just remember the missing kidney and the missing part of you liver.”
Their laughter rippled through the room.
Jake was beyond happy. She was alive, even more than just alive. She was perfect. The girl he always knew she was, even better and he knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her..
Twenty-Four
Holly.
* * *
Jamie was talking about some sort of dance thing that she was participating in and that it was going to be so much fun as Holly tucked her into bed one night.
“Am I going to see this?” Holly asked.
“Yip, just ask Daddy.”
“Okay,” she laughed and Holly kissed her on the nose. She hadn’t been able to tuck Jamie in for such a long time.
Jake was adamant that he wanted to tuck her in, but Holly had refused.
“Love you, baby girl.”
“Love you too, Mommy,” she said and they kissed goodnight.
She put off her light and then went to her room.
Jake was busy on his laptop.
It had been three months since she woke up. She went to the bathroom and looked at her hair. She missed her long hair, but Amelia said that she had a surprise for her tomorrow and she was going to need her the whole day.
Robin and Mara had become her heroes.
She’d never thought that Mara and her would become friends the way they had the past couple of months.
Mara was really doing more than she should. She only had one kidney now and was supposed to take it easy.
Doctor and friend’s orders.
She washed her hands and put on her night cream.
She went back to her room and climbed into bed.
“What is this dance Jamie is talking about?”
Jake stopped typing and stared at the screen. He smiled as he looked down at Holly.
“It’s her recital.”
“At school?”
“Yes, I can’t believe that she told you. It was supposed to be a surprise. Guess she can’t keep secrets that well.” He put the laptop down and grabbed Holly.
She laughed. “Stop that, Jamie’s not asleep yet.”
“Then maybe we can practice to be really quiet.”
“No. She could walk in here any minute, and I’m not going to explain that to her. Finish your work, we can play later.” She kissed him softly on the lips.
“Fine, party pooper.” He sulked and picked up his laptop again as Holly turned around and closed her eyes.
She didn’t feel as beautiful as she used to.
She was still struggling to pick up weight, and felt like a skeleton.
But Jake still looked at her as if she was the most beautiful thing in this world.
She still wondered what she did to deserve him.
She fell asleep and woke up the next morning when Jamie rushed into the room.
Jake was still asleep.
“Shhh, let Daddy sleep.”
“No, I’m up. I’m up,” Jake mumbled and stretched.
“Go back to bed, I got this.”
“No, go take a shower, Amelia is going to be here soon.”
“Don’t remind me.”
“C’mon, it can’t be that bad. I thought women liked shopping.”
“Not this one. My finances are really bad.”
“Then it’s on me. I’ll give you my credit card. Ooooh,” he raised his eyes and kissed Holly fast on her lips as he picked up Jamie and threw her over his shoulder, tickling her.
She laughed and it was like angels singing in Holly’s ears.
The twins had spent the night at Mara and Gus. Jamie had wanted to stay and Holly had smiled as she saw the disappointment on Jake’s face. She’d slapped him.
He complained. “My balls are turning blue,” he mouthed and she blushed.
They hadn’t had sex in ages, and she knew it would happen soon, she just didn’t want to feel like a skeleton when it did.
Amelia told her she was overreacting, that yes, she was skinny, but not skeletal.
She guessed that today’s outing had something to do with making Holly feel like a thousand bucks again, or in her case, closer to a million.
She hoped that one of those stops would be a fat house where they could put more fat on her hips and thighs.
Soon, she promised herself. Soon.
The diet didn’t help. It was all healthy meals as she needed to take care of her kidney. Doctor Jake’s orders, and there was no way around that one as he was like a hawk.
Amelia finally arrived as she put on a pair of shorts and a yellow top that used to fit her like a glove but now hung on her like a sack. She combed the short hair with her fingers and went downstairs.
“You ready?” Amelia asked.
“Yip,” Holly said.
“Here,” Jake had his credit card in his hands.
“I’m not taking it.” Holly walked passed him.
“Then I will.” Amelia grabbed it. “We are going to need loads more money for this, than what I have in my account.”
“Thank you,” Jake said as they left.
The drive to the first stop was a quiet one as it was only ten to seven.
“Where are you taking me?”
<
br /> “You’ll see.” Amelia smiled and Holly rolled her eyes.
Amelia’s phone rang and she pressed a button on the steering to answer it.
“Hey baby, did you pick up Holly yet?” Mara asked.
“Yes, Mom, she’s with me.”
“Morning Holly.”
“Good morning,” Holly sang and smiled as Amelia just shook her head.
“The twins just had breakfast and we are going to take them to the park soon.”
“You don’t have to tell me everything you do with them.”
“Just letting you know where they are.”
“Jeez Mom, you never did that with us when we were little,” Amelia said
“It was different back then.”
“Okay, bye.” Amelia laughed.
“Enjoy your day.”
“Bye,” Holly said before the phone cut out.
They pulled up to huge gates.
“What’s this.”
“It’s a spa,” Amelia said and Holly laughed at how her face pulled and she did a little surprise reveal with her arms.
“Fine, spa it is.”
“So, you and my brother done it yet?”
“Amelia!”
“Holly, he is a guy and a gorgeous one at that.”
“He’s your brother.”
“Just saying. His balls are going to get blue.”
“Then he can help himself out. I happen to know that he is really good at that.”
“Eww, okay that I didn’t want to know,” she said and drove through the gates as they opened.
Holly giggled.
“Still the way you feel thing?”
“I don’t feel pretty.”
“That is why we are here.” She smiled.
“Did Jake put you up to this?”
“No, I did because of our last convo. You are beautiful even though you don’t see it. I just want you to feel it again.”
“Okay fine. It’s a spa,” Holly mimicked Amelia.
“Yay,” Amelia jiggled in her seat and she parked the car.
It wasn’t just a spa day.
Holly got hair. They gave her curly, strawberry blonde extensions. It looked and felt natural. It hung down her back. The boys were going to love it, she just knew it.
They even did her makeup and nails while the stylist did her hair.
Amelia did the same with hers.
Endless Love: The 4Ever series #3 Page 23
