Broken Pieces

Chapter thirty-three

After lunch we both didn't go back to work, we just laid down on his sofa as usual. Talking, laughing and playing, something I never knew Caden was capable of but did.

"I got an amazing kiss for the surprise casserole dish, so why wouldn't I get one for ice-cream?"

I laughed as I shook my head at his goofiness. "Because...I already had ice-cream this morning and though casserole isn't even proper for lunch, it surprised and pleased me. But now we have to get what we want for dinner and I want something light."

"Let's order pizza." Caden said reaching for his phone.

I clapped my hands excitedly. "Yes! Let's do that."

My happiness was still stained by some sadness but I did my best to push it away. And concentrated on the present, absorbing the joy of the moment.

Pizza was eaten while watching the classic thriller movie, the sixth sense. Caden had accepted my obsession with thriller movies so he watched with me. After finishing pizza, cuddling with Caden was next on the list. And I pleasurably enjoyed my movie and Caden's warmth.

••€•••

Woke up to Andrea hovering over me and once she saw my open eyes, pulled me into a crushing hug disregarding all the iv's connected. "Don't you ever do that to me again!" She cried out the words before literally bursting into tears. I began rubbing comforting circles in her back even if I knew I should be the one being comforted but my mind was too numb and comforting her felt better to me.

After some time I finally croaked out words, breaking the silence. "My mom is really dead, isn't she?"

Andrea looked stricken and looked at everywhere but at me. She looked close to an outburst again but only tears slid down her cheek. The door opened to reveal my aunt, Beatrice. I saw the look on her face and took a calming breath as I tried to keep the tears at bay. They came out though as Andrea released me for my aunt to take me in her arms.

I took my time crying as Andrea stood in the sidelines doing the exact same thing while my aunt cried too.

An headache was the outcome of my long weeping session and I was told that it had been two days since the dreadful nurse dispassionately told me about my mom's death. I couldn't see my dad yet though. He hadn't still woken up from surgery but there was a shadow behind aunt B's eyes that wouldn't have been obvious but I saw it. And it scared me because it wasn't only caused by my mom's death.

Dex had come and gone to get some sleep because according to everyone he had barely left my side since I was at the hospital. My feelings were all over the place at the moment but I knew that I hadn't wanted him to leave me when he had given me that parting kiss but he had needed to sleep at home at least now that I was out of the clear.

He promised to come back in a few hours and I knew he would so I was counting the time till then. Because seeing him was enough to make me feel a little better, the effect of the love I had for him.

I had been discharged but we all stood in the hallway of the hospital. Andrea and her parents, my aunt and uncle. I took my aunt aside to talk because that shadow and side glances from her and her husband were beginning to get on my nerves.

"What's up, aunt Beatrice?"

My aunt tried for a smile but as it failed and she saw it wasn't working on me, she took a shuddering breath. "It's nothing, Erica. There are just some things that need sorting out."

I was confused. "Is it your newly opened store?"

She gave me a gentle smile and gave a nod as she closed her eyes and fresh tears slid down her cheeks. Her tears made my own eyes fill because I knew she was lying but didn't want to force the truth out of her because it looked like something that was hurting her.