Hopelessly Devoted {ManxMan} [Book II]

Chapter 12

Song: Make It Rain by Sofia Karlberg

B A S I L E

I woke up to Zachary laying across from me, looking at me with red rimmed eyes.

I blinked a few times and wiped the sleep from my eyes, "What time is it?"

"Six in the morning." He said then sniffled and wiped his nose.

I sat up and stretched, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sleep that long." 

"It's okay," he said sitting up.

"Did you get any sleep?"

He nodded, "How's your dad doing?"

"He's as good as he can be." He said leaning against me.

I wrapped my arm around him and he started crying again.

I pulled him away and took his head in my hands, "Look at me," I said gently, "No more tears, your dads not dead, there's still memories to be made."

"But he's dying." He sobbed.

"But he's not dead, Zachary."

I wiped his tears away and he hugged me, "I think I fall in love with you more and more each day."

That caused me to smile.

Just then there was a knock on the door.

Sarah, his mom, walked in, "I knew you would be up. Are y'all hungry?" She asked.

Zachary nodded so I walked with him to the dinning room where she had coffee and some waffles on the table.

I just poured myself a cup of coffee, I wasn't too hungry.

When Aspen came down Sarah announced, "Today your dad gets to go outside. He's been wanting to go out for a while now but the doctors haven't found a good time until now. He's doing fairly well so we're going to have a picnic in the pasture."

Zachary smiled and so did Aspen.

"Basile, you're more than welcome to join us today." Sarah offered kindly but I declined.

"That's very sweet of you, but I think this should just be a moment shared with the family."

She gave me a smile, I knew that's what she wanted.

While they were out in the pasture, I would get some work done.

Z A C H A R Y

"I really wish you'd go out there with us." I tried once again.

And he shook his head, "You need to spend some time with him with just family." 

I nodded and I buried myself in his arms.

When I pulled away he gave me a kiss on the lips, "Thank you." I mumbled, my eyes still closed.

I walked out of the room and met everyone downstairs. My dad was in a wheel chair, his oxygen tank hanging on the back.

I pushed down my tears and smiled. I kissed my dad on the cheek, "You ready?" 

He smiled up at me and nodded. Aspen wheeled him out while I helped mom carry some stuff.

When we got far enough in the pasture I turned and saw Basile smiling through the window then he turned and disappeared into the room.

I turned and started helping my mom set up. We laid out a blanket and mom got the food out.

We started talking and laughing.

"So how did you meet Basile?" Aspen asked.

I looked at her and smiled, "Well in France I had a job at a cafe and Basile stopped by one day and then he just kept stopping by. Eventually he asked my out for lunch and we just kept going out. He even invited me to his brothers wedding and he invited me to lunch with Jean and Grayson."

"That's sweet." Aspen smiled.

"So he makes you happy?" My dad spoke up.

"So happy." I smiled.

"That's good, I'm so happy for you." He smiled taking my hand weakly.

We talked more until my dad got tired and it was time to go inside.

I wheeled him in this time and when we got in I instantly heard the piano. Basile was playing.

I started to wheel my dad to his room, figuring he wanted to sleep but he stopped me, "Is that Basile?"

"Yes." 

"Take me to the piano." He said.

By then Aspen and mom were inside and we were all headed for the piano. It was in the living room against the wall across from us so his back was to us.

"Closer." My dad insisted, he always loved watching people play, like I did.

Basile sat there with perfect posture and fingers gliding across the keys as he played the song he wrote.

Basile seemed to just realize we were there and stopped, "I'm sorry, I hope you don't mind." 

My dad smiled, "No, please keep playing." He sounded so weak and tired but I couldn't argue.

Basile continued playing the song he had wrote and showed me the first time he played the piano for me.

When he finished my dad clapped the best that he could and we all joined in, "You're very talented, that was a beautiful song."

"Thank you." Basile smiled.

"I think it's time for you to get some rest." My mom suggested.

"Not yet, one more song, Basile can you play Make It Rain?"

Basile thought for a moment before nodding, "Aspen, sing for me please." 

I smiled as Aspen slowly walked to stand beside our dad.

Aspen cleared her throat and then began singing as Basile played the song. It was truly beautiful, I had forgotten how good Aspen was at singing.

When they finished dad had the happiest smiled on his face. He took Aspen's hand and patted Basile's back, "Thank you two. It was beautiful. Sarah, I'm ready for bed now." 

She walked over, tears in her eyes as she wheeled him to his room.

I turned to Basile and wrapped my arms around him, "Thank you." I whispered. Then I turned to Aspen and wrapped my arms around her, "That was so beautiful." 

"Thank you, it's been a while since I've sung like that." She smiled.

We talked for a while until our mom came back out and we made Basile play a little more.

It was perfect.

*Sorry for the wait*