Making My Way to You

Chapter 24

TIME JUMP**** sorry guys...  Warning the next couple of chapters are sad and gorey. *based on actual fact.*

DECEMBER 2013

BREAKING NEWS OUT OF NASHVILLE....*

DELILAH SWINDELL WAS SPOTTED HAVING LUNCH  TODAY IN MUSIC CITY WITH A FRIEND AND HER SISTER IN LAW CAROLINE BRYAN. IT IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE BRUNETTE BEAUTY HAS BEEN SEEN OUT AND ABOUT IN A FEW WEEKS. DELILAH WHO IS MARRIED TO COUNTRY MUSIC SUPERSTAR, COLE SWINDELL, WAS DRESSED FOR THE COOLER WEATHER, LOOKING CHIC IN BLACK LEGGING, AN OVERSIZED ZEBRA PRINT TOP THAT SHE PAIRED WITH A SHORT BLACK LEATHER JACKET AND BLACK RIDING BOOTS.

LUKE BRYAN'S BABY SISTER SEEMED TO BE IN BETTER SPIRITS TODAY. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RUMORS SINCE THE "CHILLIN' IT" SINGER CANCELLED AN APPEARANCE AT A CHICAGO VENUE SEVERAL WEEKS AGO SIGHTING PERSONAL REASONS. MOST OF THEM HAVE STATED THE COUPLE IS DIVORCING, TO LILA HAD A MENTAL BREAKDOWN BUT THREE DAYS LATER HE WAS SPOTTED LEAVING A NASHVILLE HOSPITAL WITH HIS ARMS FIRMLY AROUND HIS WIFE. A SOURCE CLOSE TO THE COUPLE TELLS US THAT "LILA HAD A MISCARRIAGE. SHE WAS ABOUT ELEVEN WEEKS ALONG AND NOT MANY PEOPLE KNEW FOR THE SIMPLE FACT OF MISCARRIAGE BEING HIGHER IN EARLY PREGNANCY. IT WAS HEARTBREAKING FOR HER AND COLE. THEY ARE DEVASTATED. SHE IS UTTERLY HEARTBROKEN. SHE STARTED CRAMPING AND BLEEDING WHILE OUT TO LUNCH WITH CAROLINE. HER SISTER IN LAW RUSHED HER TO THE HOSPITAL AND CALLED COLE. HE FLEW OUT ON A PRIVATE JET AND DID NOT LEAVE HER SIDE THE ENTIRE TIME SHE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL. IT'S KILLING HIM TO SEE HER SO HEARTBROKEN. HE FEELS HELPLESS WHEN SHE CRIES. ALL HE CAN DO IS HOLD HER AND TELL HER HOW MUCH HE LOVES HER. THE PAST FEW MONTHS  HAVEN'T BEEN EASY FOR THEM. BUT THEY WILL TRY AGAIN WHEN LILA IS READY. COLE ISN'T GOING TO PRESSURE HER INTO TRYING FOR ANOTHER RIGHT AWAY. HE LOVES HER WAY TO MUCH TO DO THAT. HE WILL LEAVE IT IN HER HANDS AND WHEN SHE IS READY HE WILL BE RIGHT THERE. THIS PREGNANCY WAS A HAPPY SURPRISE FOR THEM ESPECIALLY AFTER LOSING HIS DAD SO SUDDENLY."

THE SOURCE IS CORRECT. COLE SUDDENLY LOST HIS FATHER IN SEPTEMBER. NO THE PAST YEAR HAS NOT BEEN EASY ON THE YOUNG COUPLE WHO WILL BE MARRIED TWO YEARS IN MARCH. WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, WE HERE AT COUNTRY WORLD DAILY, SEND OUR PRAYERS AND CONDOLENCES TO THE COUPLE IF THE RUMOR IS TRUE. NEITHER OF THE COUPLES REPS COULD BE REACHED FOR COMMENTS.

Tears spilled down Delilah's face as she finished reading the article. The vibrating of her phone was constant. It hadn't stopped since the news broke. Cole's face appeared on the screen. She wiped her eyes before answering. "Hi."

"Hey. How are you doin?" The southern drawl came across the line.

"I'm ok." She said brightly. She knew her words sounded forced.

"Bullshit. I know you saw the article, Lils." He said gently. "I'm sorry, baby."

She swallowed. "I just didn't know someone saw us leavin the hospital, Cole. But really I'm..."

"Stop, Lila. I know you. You are putting on a front because you don't think I can tell when you are upset, but, darlin, I hear the tears in your voice."

"I just didn't know this was news worthy. I thought we'd get to grieve in private. It's only been seven weeks. I wanted time...." Tears spilled over again.

"Oh, baby..." Cole's heart constricted at the sound of her cracking voice. "Me too. But you know now that there's a rumor that Kerri's gonna have to release a statement."

"I know." She said softly.

"I'll have her keep it simple. The fans will respect that. They will give us space."

"Ok."

"I'm headed home tonight. Why don't we lock ourselves away for a few days? How does that sound?"

"Like a plan."

"I'll see you in a couple of hours, Mrs. Swindell. I love you." He knew calling her that would usually make her smile.

"Ok. I love you too, Colden."

"Bye, darlin."

"Bye."

He hung up and looked at his manager who glanced up from her laptop. "How's she holdin up?"

"As well as can be expected. What's on the schedule for the next week?"

"You have studio time but it can be rescheduled if you want to spend it with Lila."

"She needs me." His heart was heavy.

"Done. I'll release a simple statement, something along the lines of 'Cole and Lila appreciate everyone's thoughts and prayers at this time and they ask that you give them space to grieve in private.' How does that sound?"

"Perfect." He scrolled through his phone and dialed his mom's number. "Hey, mama."

"Hey baby, how's Lil? I saw the article."

"She's upset. Listen I was thinkin about takin her away for a few days. Can we come down? Just hang out at the cabin?"

"Of course. I'll go over tonight and make sure there's food and clean towels."

"Thanks."

"Give Lila our love."

"I will."

Delilah was staring out at the backyard when she heard the bus pull into the driveway. A few seconds later the front door opened and she felt him before she saw him. She heard him drop his duffle bag and his arms closed around her. She closed her eyes to keep the tears from falling. "I love you so much." He whispered against her hair.

"I know." She said softly. "I love you too."

"Look at me." He turned her in his arms. He saw the unshed tears. His heart broke all over again. The woman he loved was hurting and there was nothing he could do to take away her pain. He thumbed away the wetness from her cheeks. "Let's get out of here for a few days. Let's go down to the cabin. Just you and me. I called mama and she was goin to go make sure there was food and clean towels."

Delilah looked at her husband. His eyes so full of love and pain. She knew he was hurting from the miscarriage too. She nodded. "Ok. Let's go."

"We'll leave in the morning." He pecked her mouth. "I'm gonna run up and shower before dinner."

"K." She said softly. After he disappeared up the stairs she thought back to the day her world was shaken.

They had lost Keith four weeks earlier.  Cole was still dealing with his father's sudden death. He had thrown himself into his work. Getting ready for the album. Recording, writing, traveling. She was dealing with horrible morning sickness, mood swings and all things that came along with being pregnant. The baby was a surprise. They had found out just days before Keith's death that they were expecting. Cole had been over the moon with the idea of being a father. Yea it had happened sooner that they were expecting but both were over joyed at having a baby.

She had been working and locked up in the office for three days when Caroline dragged her out into the late fall sunshine for lunch. They were laughing and joking when the cramps started. Delilah brushed them off at first. She had been having minor pain the entire time she had been pregnant. The doctors told her that it was normal. But when the second wave hit her it took her breath away. She looked at Caroline in terror. "What?" her sister in law looked concerned.

"Something's wrong, Car. I can feel it." She gripped her stomach.

"The baby?" Caroline started to get up. Only a few people knew about the pregnancy. Caroline, Luke, Kerri and Joel and Lacey.

"Yes. It feels like something is tearing me apart." Tears were forming.

"Come on. We need to get you to the doctor." Caroline helped her to her feet.