Unconditional

Chapter 14

Taylor was on the phone for almost an hour and I was either sitting or walking around the house. Taylor got off the phone and walked into the bedroom where I was sitting.

 "Are you ok," I asked.

He sat down and took my hands in his. He breathed in through his nose then stuttered a breath out through his mouth.

"Hey, whatever it is it's going to be ok, I'm here for you," I told him.

 "That was my mom." "She said that my grandma had a stroke and that she died."

He broke down on the word died and started to cry then brought it back in.

 "Taylor, you don't have to be brave for me. I know how much this must hurt," I said pulling his face to look at mine.

Taylor was a bit of an emotional mess, understandably, and when he was done and collected himself we drove over to the hospital. When we reached the hospital room we were at earlier that day, which seemed like a long time ago, both of Taylor's parents were there plus his little sister Makena. Taylor left me at the doorway, and went to give his mom a hug. I stood awkwardly in the doorway and Taylor came over, and pulled me closer to his family. 

"Mom, Dad, Makena, this is Carmen," he said.

"I know this isn't the happiest occasion for you to meet each other, but it is what it is."

 I stepped forward and shook their hands and said "it's nice to meet you, I'm so sorry for your loss."

Taylor's mom, Deborah, started to tear up a little bit and he stepped forward to embrace her.

When he let go he stood over by me and I said "I'll just wait out in the hall for you."

I sat out in the hallway and waited while Taylor and his family sorted everything out for the funeral and other arrangements. Taylor came out after a little bit with the rest of his family and came over and gave me a hug.

 "It's going to be ok," I told him.

 He nods at me and says "let's go home."