The Way Home

by Belle Calhoune

  “Enough about Blue,” she said, her voice sounding a bit shrill to her own ears.

  As they rounded the corner, Sarah stopped short. Blue was standing by the door of the conference room, in clear earshot of their conversation. His arms were crossed in front of him, his back propped up against the wall. He locked gazes with her, his hazel eyes so intense it felt as if he was boring a hole through her.

  “My ears were burning. What did you mean when you said enough about Blue?” A look of irritation was stamped on his face as his gaze swung back and forth between the two of them. “So, what exactly were the two of you saying about me behind my back?”

  *

  Blue couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so disgusted with his brother. As far as he was concerned, Ryder had broken the bro code. He’d been talking with his ex-fiancée about him behind his back. He knew this for a fact since he’d overheard Sarah say his name in a not-so- flattering tone. It was bad enough he had to think about Sarah talking about him, but with Ryder of all people. His own brother. At least if she’d been talking with one of her friends he could have dismissed it as girl talk. When Sarah refused to answer his question, and instead walked into the conference room and planted herself right next to his mother, Blue felt his annoyance growing. Instead of allaying his suspicions, Ryder began to toy with him.

  “Mighty nice weather we’re having today isn’t it?” His brother began whistling a happy tune. “They say it might reach sixty-five degrees.”

  Blue frowned. Was Ryder serious? “So, what were you talking about with Sarah?” The question tumbled past his lips.

  Ryder couldn’t hide the smirk on his face. “Oh, this and that.”

  Blue counted to ten as his brother calmly walked into the conference room to join the rest of the family. Not a single word of explanation. Not one ‘I’m sorry you overheard us talking about you’. Blue clenched his teeth and said a prayer to the big guy upstairs. He was a firm believer in the power of prayer, whether it was for the purpose of reaching out to God for guidance or asking for healing. As a youngster he’d given up on prayer after coming to the conclusion that he wasn’t one of God’s chosen ones. Life had shown him how wrong he’d been about being in God’s favor.

  Dr. Crenshaw hurried down the hall towards the conference room, her steps efficient and brisk. After giving her a warm greeting, Blue ushered her into the room, then walked in behind her. His mother was talking amiably with Sarah. At the moment she looked at ease, even though there were telltale signs of stress on her face. His heart was breaking for her. She was so worried about Dad, so completely lost without him at her side. Even though she was doing her best to hide it, Mom was scared to death. As all eyes turned to the doctor, Blue found yet another reason to pray.

  Dear Lord, please let this be good news for my family. We already lost so much when we lost Lena. Not again, Lord. Please. Not again.

  He went over and sat down in the only seat available, which was right next to Sarah. He wasn’t oblivious to the elbow jabs and the smirks planted on his brothers’ faces. They were having a field day with the situation, and he suspected they’d deliberately left that particular seat available for him. Some things never changed.

  Things got quiet as soon as the doctor stood before them and cleared her throat. She looked directly at his mother as she spoke, her eyes brimming with compassion. “We ran a few tests last night. It was important to take a brain scan so we could make some determinations about any possible brain damage due to the stroke. The CT scan shows no bleeding in the brain. And this morning his vital signs have shown some improvement. The medically-induced coma seems to have done him a world of good. While he’s still in critical condition, the news is encouraging. We’re cautiously optimistic.”

  Everyone in the room had been holding their breath during the update. For a moment a hush fell over them. Suddenly, the noise level in the room became deafening as shouts of praise were offered up. His mother let out a, “Praise the Lord!” as several of the brothers hugged each other or clapped each other on the back. Mac placed his arm around Ryder, who had his head cradled in his hands, clearly overcome with emotion.

  Instinctively, Blue turned towards Sarah, wrapping her in a tight hug. The smell of her perfume—a light floral scent—invaded his senses as he buried his face in her hair. Being so close to her felt unbelievably good. He felt as if she was right where she belonged...in his arms. After a moment’s hesitation she hugged him back, and he felt her body sag against him, a reflection of her own relief and joy upon hearing the news. When he finally released her, he couldn’t help but see the tears shimmering in her eyes. As one slid down her face he reached out and brushed it away with his finger. Her eyes widened in surprise and she let out a startled sound, her lips opening ever so slightly in the process. Again, he found himself toying with the idea of kissing her. Those lips of hers were so sweetly, wonderfully kissable. But, if he was going to kiss her, it wasn’t going to be in a room jam packed with his six brothers, his mother and Dr. Crenshaw.

  “He’s not out of the woods yet,” Dr. Crenshaw cautioned as everyone continued to celebrate. “But things are looking up.”

  Look upward. It was an expression their Dad used all the time. Whenever one of the brothers had a problem or an issue that needed to be sorted out, he would always advise them to look upward. He always wanted them to know they could look to the Lord for guidance. And now, Dr. Crenshaw was telling them the same thing, in a manner of speaking. Blue knew some might say he was looking for signs. Perhaps he was. As a man of faith he was open to all the possibilities, and he knew with a deep certainty that with God by your side all things were possible.

  As Dr. Crenshaw excused herself, Sarah reached out and squeezed his mother’s hand. Blue bent down and placed a kiss on his mother’s cheek. He could see the sparkle had returned to her eyes. Even though he was one of the most devout women he’d ever known, this crisis had tested her faith. And it wasn’t over yet. Even though there was a flickering light at the end of the tunnel, there were no promises. The very sight of Sarah holding his mother’s hand filled him with a warm, tender feeling.

  Every time he was in Sarah’s presence, he couldn’t help but think about the past and the horrible mistakes he’d made. Those mistakes had cost him his relationship with Sarah and the blissful future they’d dreamed about. He couldn’t stop thinking about her comment this morning about confronting his past by seeking out his birth parents. The simple truth was...he had. After hiring a private investigator, he’d tracked his father down in Florida. After learning he was on his deathbed in hospice, he’d flown out there to see him. It hadn’t been an easy decision. He’d made the trip days before his wedding. As achingly painful as it had been, he’d sat by his father’s bedside and told him all the things he’d bottled up inside him since he was a child. He’d gotten his closure.

  And even though he desperately wanted to come clean with her about the reason he’d been late for their wedding, he’d choked on the words. Four years ago she hadn’t wanted to listen to a word he had to say. And like a fool, he’d left Breeze Point—broken, alone and desperate to outrun the pain. But the time had come to tell the truth. Because if there was even a slight chance of Sarah being a part of his future, he needed to seize the opportunity with both hands.

  *

  Get a grip, Sarah! If you stare any harder at Blue you’re going to draw attention to yourself. She’d already caught Maggie glancing none too subtly back and forth between her and Blue. She’d had to remind herself not to gape at him. The good news about Alec Donahue had been emotional and soul-stirring. She hadn’t even realized how much she’d missed being part of the large, dynamic Donahue clan until this very moment. Being included as an honorary member of the family during this crisis reminded her that she was still connected to them. And she always would be. She still felt drawn to Blue, and that feeling scared her because she didn’t know how to sever those ties. Although she’d thought they were over four y
ears ago, she wasn’t so certain anymore.

  The way she’d felt when she first laid eyes on him yesterday still lingered in her mind. She’d been bowled over by the sight of him. Awestruck. He was so ruggedly handsome with his muscular build and unforgettable face. She’d felt a deep stirring within her soul, something she hadn’t felt in years. And when he’d turned to her earlier and pulled her into his arms, she’d felt more alive than she had in ages. Wildly, thrillingly alive. Even now, after Dr. Crenshaw had delivered her good news to the family, she still couldn’t manage to pull herself away from their orbit.

  “Oh, my goodness,” Maggie suddenly cried out. She raised a hand to her mouth, her eyes as wide as saucers.

  “What’s wrong, Mom?” Wyatt asked, using his crutches to move himself closer to her.

  “I forgot all about the bakery.” The Donahues owned a popular bakery in Breeze Point called Sweet Treats. Maggie and Alec ran it together, with a small number of part-time employees who helped out on occasion. Some of the part-timers were high school students who were only available after school and on weekends. In all the excitement about Alec, the business had been all but forgotten.

  “We’ve been open for thirty-eight years and this is the first time the doors have been closed.” She was wringing her hands and biting her lip.

  “Don’t beat yourself up,” Blue said. “None of the rest of us remembered either.”

  “Don’t worry, Ma. I took care of things.” Remy was standing there with a broad grin on his face, looking very pleased with himself.

  Mac frowned. “When you say took care of things, what exactly do you mean?”

  “I went by the bakery and called some of the employees to come in and take care of things.” He scratched his chin. “Mr. Difazio. A woman named Gabrielle.”

  “Isn’t Gabrielle your new hire?” Ryder asked.

  “Yes, she’s a sweetheart. She’s fallen on some hard times and came to Breeze Point to get her life together. She showed up at the shop and your father hired her on the spot.”

  Maggie let out a low chuckle. “Your father never could resist a sweet smile and a hard luck story.”

  “That’s Dad,” Nick said. “A softie down to his core. How many people has he helped when they were down on their luck?”

  “Too many to count,” Maggie added. “He’d give his last dollar if it would help someone.”

  “And now it’s our turn to help him. Whatever it takes,” Mac said, a fierce look of determination etched on his face.

  “Thank you, Remy, for being so thoughtful,” Maggie said as she drew Remy’s face down to plant a kiss on his cheek.

  “Vince DiFazio has been working for us for over ten years. With Gabrielle’s help, he’ll be able to keep the shop up and running for us.”

  “Nice save,” Ryder said as he pound fisted Remy.

  Sarah had dearly missed being in the presence of the Donahues. The easy camaraderie between the brothers made her feel warm and fuzzy inside, despite the somber circumstances. Their love for one another resonated in every word and interaction between them. There wasn’t a false note in any of it. It was pure and genuine. Even when they were at odds, their tight bonds were on full display. A noise in the doorway drew Sarah’s attention away from the conversation. Jessie stood in the entrance, her eyes betraying her hero worship as she gazed from one Donahue to the next. She was practically drooling, for heaven’s sake. She sincerely hoped Jessie was here for a work-related reason. She didn’t have time to indulge Jessie in her crushes.

  “Jessie, did you need something?” Her voice rang out a little sharper than she’d intended. At some point if she didn’t reign in her unprofessional behavior, Sarah was going to have to take action. Jessie looked at her with a startled expression. “D-Dr Crenshaw told me to come and tell you that—.”

  “Tell me what?” she asked with a hint of annoyance. Would Jessie just spit it out instead of eyeballing Blue and his brothers? Her behavior was downright unprofessional.

  “It’s Mr. Donahue. He’s awake.”

  “Don’t ever underestimate the power of prayer.” Maggie Donahue

  Chapter Five

  Being at his father’s bedside was one of the most powerful moments of Blue Donahue’s life. Doctor Crenshaw had warned the family not to overwhelm or overstimulate his father, since he hadn’t yet spoken a word and needed to get his bearings. They’d chosen straws to see which two of the brothers would be allowed into the room along with their mother. He, along with Brandon, chose the short straws. This was the one instance he could remember where getting the short straw was a good thing. Right before going into the room he’d made a request of Sarah.

  “Will you come in with me?”

  She cocked her head to the side, not seeming to understand him. “I’m not the nurse in charge of your father’s care.”

  “I know, Sarah. It’s just that...” He shifted from one foot to the other. “I need you. For whatever it’s worth, it will help me get through this if you’re in the room with me. And I know you don’t owe me a thing. I have no right to ask this of you. Matter of fact, it would serve me right if you never spoke to me again or laughed right in my face. But I need you.” He could hear the pleading tone in his voice and he wished he was strong enough not to beg her.

  Sarah’s eyes scanned his face and he watched as her expression softened. She nodded. “Yes, I’ll come in with you for moral support. But I’m going to be standing in the far corner of the room so I don’t get in the way.”

  He gripped her hand and squeezed it tightly, knowing no words could adequately express his gratitude. As they walked into the hospital room he felt gratitude swell over him for Sarah’s presence. Although he hadn’t said it out loud to her, he was scared to death. He was scared he wouldn’t be strong enough, frightened of what might be triggered inside him at the sight of his father lying helpless in a hospital bed. Terrified of what he might see in his father’s eyes. And even though he didn’t necessarily want Sarah to see him falter, he believed having her there would give him strength, something he dearly needed at the moment.

  His mother led the way, with Blue and Brandon behind her. Even though he’d braced himself for the worst, the sight of his father left him reeling. Overnight, he’d seemed to shrink down into a smaller, paler, weaker version of himself. IVs were attached to his arm and a flashing monitor was recording his vital signs. Once his father saw them his eyes widened to the point of bulging. He opened his mouth, emitting a strangled, garbled sound. He closed his mouth, and then reopened it. A guttural sound came out. He couldn’t seem to get a word out.

  “It’s okay, Alec. It’s okay,” his mother crooned as she leaned over his bed and began stroking his forehead. “We’re here with you. Blue. Brandon. Sarah. And Dr. Crenshaw.

  He began fiercely nodding his head back and forth, and then opened up his mouth again. Another strangled sound emerged. A look of frustration passed over his face.

  Dr. Crenshaw stepped forward. “Mr. Donahue. I’m Doctor Crenshaw. You’re in the hospital because you’ve had a stroke. Loss of speech is very common after a stroke. Please, don’t get upset. It doesn’t mean your speech won’t come back to you. It may just take some time to make it happen.”

  Blue watched as his mother reached out for his father’s hand. Instead of squeezing her back, his hand lay limply on the bed. With an abundance of tenderness, she reached out and smoothed his hair back from his forehead. His eyes full of despair, he made another sound that came from deep within him. It was a keening sound that echoed in the stillness of the hospital room and painfully twisted his insides. Blue moved to the edge of the bed and reached out to his father, his knuckles grazing his weathered cheek. Brandon made his way to the other side of the bed and placed a kiss on their father’s forehead. In response, Dad looked around at them, appearing confused and agitated. He tried to raise his arm up, but it fell back to the bed. His frustration level was growing by the second.

  Blue turned towards Doctor Cre
nshaw. “What’s happening, Doc?”

  “His speech and mobility were clearly affected by the stroke,” she answered in a low voice. “Not uncommon side effects.”

  Blue swung his gaze back towards the hospital bed, noticing for the first time the ashen complexion and the sagging on one side of his face. His father tried to talk again, but nothing intelligible came out.

  “Take your time,” Brandon advised in a soothing tone.

  Dr. Crenshaw moved towards the bed. “Perhaps you should come back at another time. He’s getting a little overly excited. We’re trying to keep his blood pressure down to prevent any further complications.”

  “I’m staying,” Maggie insisted. “Blue. Brandon. Why don’t the two of you go get a soda or something.”

  Blue looked over at his mother, his eyes flashing a silent message. With a nod she indicated that he and Brandon should listen to her. Although he would never dream of disobeying her, he felt a little conflicted. As someone who’d dealt with abandonment in his early childhood, he didn’t want his father to think his sons were walking away from him. He needed to know they would be by his side for however long he needed them.

  “We’ll be back, Dad,” he said, somehow managing to speak past the lump in his throat. With a heavy heart he bent down and kissed his father on the forehead. Their gazes locked, and the look of despair he saw in his father’s eyes made his knees almost give out. The squeezing sensation inside his chest intensified until he felt it might burst wide open.

  Before he could change his mind, he turned around and made a quick exit out the door. Sweat began to break out on his forehead.