by C. A. Harms
He halted in the doorway and smirked at me. I had managed to wedge myself in the small opening between the kitchen table and the wall just to the left of the sliding doors leading out to the pool.
“Now, baby, you know you won’t be able to follow through with that threat. You can’t keep your hands off me,” he taunted.
She stopped struggling. “Try me, Jett Jameson. I’m never one to back down from a challenge. It’ll be a long, lonely twelve months for you that I guarantee.”
His smirk faltered, and he lowered her to the floor, where he took in her stern expression as she held his stare. “That shit’s not funny,” he said. “A day is too damn long. How the hell you expect me to last a year?”
Her mouth tilted up in a smile, and she rose onto the tips of her toes so her mouth hovered before his. “It’s a good thing you put me down, then.” She pressed her lips against his, and I had to turn away. The scene had just grown a little too intimate to watch, and it was making me regret the way I’d pushed Avery away even more.
The ringing of a phone broke their lust-filled trance. Quinn reached out and lifted her cell from the table. A smile graced her lips as she looked at the screen. After one quick swipe of her finger, she brought the phone to her ear. “Hey, Preggers, how’s my godchild?” My stomach tightened immediately as I realized she was talking to Avery.
“What? Slow down,” Quinn insisted, panic in her voice. Jett stepped up to her side and placed his hand on her lower back. “Sweetheart, take a deep breath.” She paused. “Where are you?” Another pause. “Who’s with you?”
My heart slammed against my ribs as I imagined Avery and my child being hurt.
“I’m on my way, Avery. Please stay calm, for you and the baby. I’ll be there in ten minutes.” Quinn waited for Avery to respond before she hung up and looked up into Jett’s eyes with tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Angela was in an accident,” she choked out. “She’s in surgery for bleeding in her brain.” Her lips trembled as Jett wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.
“Who’s Angela?” I asked, feeling completely lost. I was instantly relieved Avery and the baby were okay, but from the sound of it, the injured person was someone close to her.
“Avery’s mom,” Quinn whispered.
My stomach felt like it had hit the floor. I’d been working on getting myself sober and exorcising my inner demons so I could be a better person for Avery and my child. While I did, I’d made the choice to keep my distance from her, but right then, all I wanted to do was hold her and tell her I would always be there for her and she could count on me.
I slid around the edge of the table and walked toward the front door.
“Where are you going?” Quinn asked.
“To Avery,” I said without hesitation.
“Kade, I don’t know if now—”
“There isn’t a damn thing that’ll stop me from going to her, Quinn. Even if she only wants someone to take out her anger on, I’ll be that person.” I yanked open the front door and walked to my Tahoe. Just as I was about to climb inside, Jett and Quinn rushed to the passenger side.
“We’re riding with you,” Jett said as he helped Quinn into the truck.
As I started the engine, I was glad that argument was settled, because I would have hated to have Jett kick my ass for blowing off Quinn’s concerns. Avery was hurting and needed support, and damn it, I was going to offer her all I could.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Avery
I was emotionally and physically exhausted, and even breathing felt forced.
My mother was still in surgery as I sat in the family waiting room, feeling so alone despite being surrounded by family. My mother’s parents had died long ago, so I never knew them, but Robert’s parents were always so accepting of me and treated me as if I was their granddaughter by blood. His brother and wife sat across from us, but I rarely talked to them. Still, they were concerned and being supportive now, asking me if we needed anything. But they couldn’t get me the only people I needed—Quinn, Jett, and anyone who could offer me even a sliver of hope.
When the door creaked open and my head lifted, my chest begin to shake with the sobs I’d been holding in. Kade stood in the doorway with Jett and Quinn at his side, and all three looked back at me with concern.
Kade rushed toward me and fell to his knees in front of my chair. He bracketed my face with his hands as he stared directly into my eyes. “We’re here,” he said. “Everything’s gonna be okay. She’ll be all right.”
My lip trembled and I nodded. He slipped his arms around my waist, and without thinking twice I fell into him, taking all he had to offer. The security of his embrace gave me the comfort I so desperately needed. I let go of my hurt just for now and concentrated instead on the newfound strength his presence was giving me.
“I gotcha. I promise,” he whispered against my ear, and I let myself believe those words were true.
Kade held me for as long as I needed him to, and even when he took a seat in the chair next to me, he still held my hand. Quinn and Jett both stepped forward, once Kade allowed them room, and they both hugged me close and shared their words of support as well. Just having them near gave me the hope I was craving. I had to believe my mother would pull through. Anything else would just be unfair.
When the doctor entered the room, everyone went silent.
“Surgery went well,” he said. You could hear the sighs of relief as the tension that had been so thick only moments ago was now replaced with calm. “The swelling is extensive, and the rehabilitation team will monitor her once she regains consciousness for changes in her behavior or any loss of memory. Once we know the extent of her injury, we will start the proper procedures to help her on her way to recovery. Mrs. Archer has a long road ahead of her.”
We all remained silent, weighing out the information he’d just given us.
“I can’t offer you the guarantee of a full recovery. I apologize for that. I wish I could. I can tell you we’ve stopped the bleeding in her brain and do not expect any further complications. Yet her recovery remains in her hands. We have a well-trained staff on hand to observe her around the clock. We will offer any of you any answers we can provide.”
Silence still.
Kade pulled me against him a little tighter with his arm that lay stretched out across my shoulders. I could hear my heartbeat in my ears, and suddenly I felt light-headed. The information we’d just been given and the fear my mother would suffer long-term effects that would forever change her rushed through me like a tidal wave.
“Baby, look at me.” Kade’s words, laced with worry, sounded muffled in my ears. I felt his hands grip my face, but I couldn’t see anything as my vision blurred. “Avery.” His husky voice engulfed me. “Look at me, pretty girl,” he insisted. “Avery, we’re all here. Look at me, please. Breathe slow, in and out. Come back to me, baby.”
As I blinked past the tears, his face became clearer. The pain behind his eyes couldn’t be hidden. “There ya go, babe.” He wiped the tears from my cheeks with his thumbs and leaned forward to press his lips softly against mine. The gentle touch surprised me but woke my senses up.
When he pulled back, he rested his forehead against mine, breathing slowly. “Don’t scare me like that, sweetheart.” As he took in a deep breath and stepped back a bit, I noticed everyone was watching us closely. My fear was suddenly replaced with embarrassment, yet Kade didn’t seem to care who had witnessed our exchange. He only continued to stare at me, as if I was the only one in the room.
“Have you eaten today?” he asked, and I shook my head. “Let’s go get something,” he whispered. “Even if it’s small. You need food, and so does my baby.” He winked, and I couldn’t help the small smile that pulled at the corners of my mouth.
“Okay.” Part of me was a little hungry, but the other part just wanted to get away from our audience.
I wasn’t sure where we stood right now, but something was different abou
t Kade. He seemed lighter, calmer.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Kade
I have no idea what came over me. I had kept my distance from Avery in hope that when I saw her next, I could offer her and my baby more. But seeing her looking so lost and broken, I couldn’t help but rush to her and take her in my arms. The instinct to comfort her was almost automatic.
When she zoned out after the doctor updated us, it scared the shit out of me. I was so relieved when she finally looked into my eyes that I couldn’t contain the need to kiss her.
As we sat in the cafeteria while Avery nibbled on a sandwich I insisted she eat, Jett and Quinn were staring at me like I had two heads. But I sure as hell had nothing to explain to them. For once in the last ten years, I acted without regret. The need to protect Avery hit the moment I saw her sitting in the waiting area looking devastated. Even now as I sat there watching her barely eat a thing, I wanted to soothe her.
“Do you want something different?” I asked, reaching across the table to place my hand over hers.
Avery only gently shook her head as she picked at the bread that lay on the napkin in front of her. “No,” she whispered. “Thanks, but I’m not really all that hungry.” Her gaze shot up to meet mine, and I could tell she felt guilty.
“Well, hospital food isn’t that good,” I said. ”We’ll have to try again later. Maybe grab something on the way home.”
She looked up immediately with a panicked expression. “I’m not going home. I can’t leave her here.”
“Avery.” Quinn leaned against her side. “You’ve been here at the hospital since six a.m. You need to go home and get some rest, honey.”
“I can’t,” she whispered as her eyes filled with tears. “I’m scared.”
I felt as if someone had reached inside me and squeezed my heart. Her pain was that hard to endure.
“What if it was only for a few hours?” I asked. “I could take you home, and you can shower and change. Then after you rest for just a little bit, I’ll bring you back.”
“What if something happens and I’m not here?” Her lower lip trembled.
I stood up and walked around the table, then knelt at her side. I placed my hands on her thighs and pulled her to the edge of the bench, where I turned her to face me.
“Look at me,” I insisted. “Sweetheart, she is in good hands. And nothing—” I stared at her intently. “—nothing is gonna happen.”
The tear now rolling down her cheek made my chest feel tight.
“She would want you to take care of yourself, Avery. She wouldn’t want you to run yourself down and compromise the health of you or our baby.” I let my hand slide over her abdomen, and her lip trembled. “Please just let me take care of you. Even if it’s just for a short time, babe.”
When she nodded, a sense of relief washed over me. She was so exhausted that the fight in her had faded.
“Okay,” she whispered.
I lifted my thumb and brushed away the tear from her cheek.
***
Quinn had decided to stay with Robert until we returned. Avery was calmed by knowing that Quinn would call her if anything changed. Jett followed us out, looking like he had lost his best friend. For him, going home without his wife was like leaving behind one of his arms. If the situation had been different, I would have teased him and thrown some names his way. But now just wasn’t the time.
I walked to the Tahoe with Avery tucked securely against my side, my arm thrown over her shoulder, and helped her up into the passenger seat. After we dropped Jett off at his place, I drove to her apartment.
Now I was sitting on her couch, staring at some old-time black-and-white show on TV. I wasn’t even watching it, though. My entire focus was on Avery. She had been in the bathroom showering for close to thirty minutes, and I was growing more nervous with each passing moment. Finally, I stood from the couch and walked down the hall to the bathroom door, then leaned forward and placed my ear to it and listened quietly. I felt like a pervert until I heard the soft sobs hidden just under the sound of the water hitting the shower walls.
I tapped on the door. “Avery?”
When all I heard was heavier sobs, I placed my hand on the door handle and twisted. Relief washed over me when it opened, and I stepped inside. The steam had fogged up the mirror and filled the air with moisture, but I could still see through the hazy, closed shower doors. Inside, Avery was curled up on the floor of the tub.
“Baby, I don’t want to invade your privacy, but you’re scaring me,” I said
The shuddering breath she took hit me deep in the stomach. I slid open the door just enough to reach inside. The water that fell against my hand was ice-cold. I twisted the knob to turn it off. “Let’s get you out of there. You must be freezing.”
I reached for the folded towel on the countertop and shook it open. It was one of those huge, fluffy towels that I knew would cover her completely.
I slid the door open a little farther and held the towel out in front of me. “Come on, babe.”
She looked up and met my stare with red, swollen eyes. She looked so frail, and I wished I could just take her pain away.
Once she stepped out, I wrapped her in the towel and led her to her bedroom. It was an odd feeling to be sitting on the edge of the bed, drying her hair with a second towel. I had imagined a much different scenario for the next time we were alone together. Avery stared ahead without saying a word. Almost like she was in a world of her own.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Avery
For three long, exhausting days, I sat at the side of my mother’s bed, feeling empty as I prayed with everything inside me that she would just open her eyes. Her once-long and beautiful sandy-blonde hair was now piled on top her head, and a small spot had been shaved and bandaged. I smiled, thinking how pissed off she’d be if she knew they’d done that.
“Hey, Mama,” I heard from behind me. I turned around to find Callie, Quinn, and Harper standing in the doorway, holding up a bag from the ice cream shop just down the road.
“We brought the good stuff,” Callie announced, slightly dangling the bag, shaking it in a taunting manner.
I forced a smile. I knew I should eat, but it was so hard. My stomach was constantly in knots, and the idea of food only made it worse.
After they all came in and pulled the containers out of the bag, Quinn passed the smallest one to me. Leaning in, she whispered next to my ear, “Kade made me promise I would get you to eat at least a little bit. He said his baby loves hot fudge.”
I smiled, imagining him saying just that. “I’ll try.” The idea of even taking the first bite made me nauseous, but I had to at least make an attempt. I pulled the lid off the container, and my stomach lurched immediately. We all sat in silence as I forced in each bite, reminding myself I wasn’t just eating for one. Finally, I placed the spoon in the bowl and put the almost-empty container on the table at my side.
None of us spoke. The only sound was the beeping of the machines that monitored my mother’s vitals. The longer I sat at her side, imagining the worst, the more I felt like crying.
“What if she doesn’t wake up?” I asked, my voice coming out as more of a sob. “What if this accident damaged her ability to function? Eating, walking, talking, even the ability to smile, it could all be lost.” Tears began rolling down my cheeks.
I had spent the last three days being the strong one. My stepfather was barely able to get through each day without collapsing in tears, and I had to be careful not to trigger his emotions, which meant keeping my own in check. But right now, I could no longer pretend I was tough and resilient. Sitting here alone with my girls, I felt safe to let it all out.
“I’m so scared that the woman I knew as my mother no longer exists,” I sobbed. “I don’t know how to handle that. I don’t know if I’m strong enough.”
Harper stood and walked toward me with a determined look on her face. “Don’t you dare,” she said. “You are not weak, Avery. You a
re not a quitter.” She gripped my chin tightly, forcing me to look at her once more. “When, and I do mean when she wakes up, because she will wake up, she’ll still be the mother you adore. If she needs help relearning any of those things, we will all make sure she does.”
I bit my lower lip to stifle my whimper.
“Avery, you are the most caring person I know,” Harper continued. “You give all you can to anyone who needs it without even blinking an eye. Now it’s time to lean on all of us. Let us help for once, please.” She stared back at me, willing me to see all the support I had around me.
“I just want her to wake up,” I confessed. “I want her to hug me and tell me she’s okay. I’m selfish, because, damn it, I want her to help me decorate my baby’s room and pick out baby clothes. I want to be able to call her in the middle of the night and know she’ll rush right over to help me soothe my child when I just don’t have a clue how to.” I swiped the tear from my cheek. “I need her,” I whispered.
“She’ll wake up,” Harper insisted.
She and Callie stepped up and both placed their hands on my shoulders, giving me a reassuring squeeze. I did as they asked and used the strength they were offering me to rebuild my own. Harper was right; no matter what, I would help my mother with whatever she may need. I had to believe she would recover, because my heart couldn’t handle the alternative.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Kade
I got to the garage at four thirty this morning so I could get out of there by three p.m. When I was done with everything, I hurried home and took a quick shower before rushing to the hospital, where I climbed into the elevator and watched the numbers change as I rode up to the fourth floor. The moment the doors slid open and I stepped out, I stopped dead in my tracks. I had done so well at avoiding Robert these last few days, but that was now about to change.
