Falling into Place - Forbidden Heart Series

48| I'm not ready

I used to believe there was a reason for everything. But now it seemed like that saying was complete bullshit. Used to give people false acceptance for the bad stuff that happened in their lives.

I used to believe that I met Harper and did that whole arranged wedding thing just to end up getting close to my brother again, to meet Danielle, and to actually have my brother grow up and become a man. I thought all of that happened for a reason.

But if that was true, then what was the reason for this? Why did my daughter wake up after surgery, and Cherise, the woman who saved her life, didn't? That didn't make sense at all. Not one fucking little bit.

Everyone had a hard time hearing and processing that news when it was delivered. Nate nearly lost his shit right here in the hospital. Karma had to take him home to get him to settle down. Gwen called her boyfriend to come and sit with her. Jackson and I didn't say a damn thing about it this time.

Fuck. Speaking of Jackson. . . My little brother was having a hard time keeping it together, too. Harper as well. They both haven't left the hospital since this all went down. They offered to help with Jamie and Cherise, but Jamie didn't really want anyone here. The only reason Danielle and I were getting away with it, was because we weren't really giving her a chance. We refused to leave her here alone. None of us wanted her to go through this by herself.

Lanie and Ayden had to go home because of little Nate, but they took turns coming up here every day and would bring changes of clothes and food and stuff. Coffee, especially. Everyone was helping where they could. But it still didn't change the fact that Cherise Lovette was not coming back to us.

I tried talking to Ayden and the doctors about her situation. Tried pleading with them to somehow get her back. But it was useless. There was nothing they could do. And today was the goddamn seventh day that she was brain dead. That meant Jamie was going to have to watch while they pulled the plug on Cherise.

I couldn't imagine what that would be like. I didn't take Everly death that well, and I knew she was sick. This was different. And fucked up.

"Here's your order, Sir."

I took the coffee and muffin from the barista. "Thanks."

When I started heading back to Cherise's room, I saw Ayden and Lanie waking up to me. And they weren't alone. Everyone was here.

"Hey," I said to him when he stopped in front of me. "What's going on? What's everyone doing here?"

Ayden was holding little Nate with one arm and had the other wrapped around Lanie. "It's almost time for. . . you know. Everyone wanted to be here. Even if she wants us to just stay out here. It didn't feel right sitting at home while she goes through this."

"Thanks, guys. I really appreciate it. I'll let her know you guys are here for her." I held up her coffee and muffin. "I should get back. She's hungry."

When I started to turn away from my friends and head back towards Cherise's room, Lanie stopped me.

"Um, Ryan?"

"Yeah?"

"Did Jamie ask you to get her food?"

Okay. . . that was a weird question. "Well, kinda. I asked if she was hungry. She said no at first. Then she changed her mind and asked for -- why are you two looking at me like that?"

Lanie winced and shrugged a shoulder. "Pretty sure her sending you down here was just a distraction so she could either run away, or she needed some privacy."

"No, she wouldn't. . ." Mother. Fucker. She totally would. I shoved the muffin and coffee into Lanie's hands before taking off at a dead run for the elevators.