A Rose and A Kiss in the Rain

Lilibeth

I look at the video on my laptop as I follow the instructions to do brownie cookies. Her craving. Not mine.

Plus. When I move around, she has little chance of poking me. I'm so sorry, little lady, but that really hurts mommy. But this girl is so sneaky! Whenever I stop to take a drink of water or rest my feet, there she takes her chance to jab me.

I nearly choked at one strong movement when I was drinking water and winced with pain. "Ow! Seriously?!" I groaned as she angrily moved under my hand and I rubbed at her jerking movements.

But I know how she works now. It's like she stretches from the lack of space in there. So it takes only a minute or thirty seconds of this painful feeling.

But then she does it again ten minutes later or whenever I stop moving. I hang on the counter and let out a breath as she tumbles in there.

"Geez, little lady..." I rub my moving belly and she slowly falls silent. I let out a relieved sigh and say, "Thank you. Back to baking!" I happily grab the bowl and continue stirring against my large belly.

I stop at the sound of my phone ringing. It must be Micheal again forgetting his clothes for practice. The number on my phone tells me that it's Luke and a smile starts at my lips.

"Hey, mechanic boy—"

"Lili! It's the boss. I'm at the hospital. He—"

"Wait. What? What's going on? Are you okay?"

"Yes! It's the boss! He's sick! I-I don't know what happened! He just fell and—"

"Okay okay," I gently say. "Hold on a bit longer. I'll get there."

"Wait. No. I don't want you to do any strength and—"

"Baby. I'll be there. Don't worry about me. You're at New Mercy?"

"Yes."

"Okay. I'm on my way." I quickly hang up and but the batter to the side. Seems like these cookies will be for later. I leave a quick note to my mother and drive out.

The moment I enter the Emergency Room, my brother and Luke both stand to greet me. Other mechanic workers respectfully nod at my arrival.

"What happened?" I gently say to them.

"I-I don't know!" Luke frantically says. "I was just changing some tires and then he fell! He died in my arms, Lili!"

I put a comforting hand on his shoulder and he takes a hold of me. Soft tears slowly fall on my shoulder and I gently rub his back. "Everything is going to be okay, Luke."

My brother sits back down with a worried expression. I sit next to him and take a hold of his hand. He gives it a light squeeze and I say, "Do you want me to call Charity?"

"No. She's studying for one of her finals right now. I don't want to bother her."

After I give my brother's cheek a kiss, we all look up at the sound of footsteps. My brother helps me get up and Luke is the first to approach the doctor.

"Doc?" His voice is a shaky whisper and his eyes glimmer with tears ready to fall out.

The doctor does a sad sigh and my heart falls. Oh no...

"Are you his son?"

"Yes," Luke says without hesitation.

The doctor gives him a sad look and gently says, "I'm sorry. We tried everything we could, but it was bound to happen. Metastasis does this to folks at his age."

"Metastasis?" my brother now says with a furrowed brow. "Do you mean cancer?"

"Yes," the doctor now says with confusion. "You didn't know he had cancer? He was battling it for months. Unfortunately, we caught it too late and it was already all over his lymphatic system. I'm very sorry for your loss."

This side of the room falls silent as all the men find themselves a little confused. Others seem lost and Luke...he slowly turns around and sits at a chair. My brother and I sit by his side in silence.

I can't believe it. He's gone and he never said anything about his cancer.

I turn to see Luke slowly letting out a sob. So I hold him. I hold him tighter than ever before loneliness takes the best of him. My brother also lets out a few tears as he puts a hand on Luke's back and looks out at the room filled with people in pain.

But no one hurts as much as Luke right now. No one will understand the love he had for that man.

No one will ever replace him.