“And family weathers the bad storms together and celebrate the victories together,” Rosa says firmly, her voice unwavering.
The sound of the door chime goes off at the entrance of the bridal shop. I hear the gasps from the other guests and as I peek through the ladies I see the men of Vipers MC dominating the bridal shop.
“Grace.” The deep voice of Oak powerfully calls out to me and it causes me to move without realizing it.
A tear falls from my eye as I choke out his name. “Oak.”
I see the flash of pain flicker through his eyes before he can conceal it. Then not even a second later they’re filled with desperation.
Desperate to be closer. Desperate to hold me in his arms. Desperate to protect me, to fight for me.
His voice strikes out in an authoritative tone that’s both urgent and harsh. “Move.”
The ladies break the shield, parting for him with no hesitation and no question.
It only takes two powerful strides until he closes the distance between us. And when he does he immediately wraps me in his arms and lifts me off the ground. My body weeps from the contact and I bury my face in the crook of his neck as tears trail down my face.
His large roughened hand cradles the back of my head as his lips press soft kisses right above my ear on the side of my head.
I breathe in his scent, the hints of motor oil and musk filling my nostrils and let it calm me.
With each inhale my body begins to relax. The high strung tension that was stringing my muscles tight loosening until I’m lax against him.
His fingers tangle in my hair before he tilts my head back. The action forces my eyes to meet his. And in the icy blue depths of them I see the love that he’s so afraid to voice. I see the will to fight another battle even if we lose. And I see the strength of a man who will never give up on his woman.
My voice is small and afraid as I admit to him on a whisper only he can hear, “I don’t know what to do, Oak.”
Determination sets in his eyes as they look deeply into mine. “We’re going to do what we always do, Grace. We’re going to fight because it’s what you and I do best.”
My vision blurs with unshed tears. Swallowing I then say weakly, “And what if I’m not strong enough?”
His fingers that are tangled in my hair tighten their grip and I can feel the sting in my scalp. “You, Grace, you are one of the strongest people I fucking know. You’ve fought for your brother since he was born. You’ve fought for yourself. You fight for everyone you love and care about. And you’ve fought for me when I didn’t have much fight in me left.” His voice chokes up near the end. He swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbling from the action. Then, he leans his forehead to rest down on mine. The contact awakens everything inside me. “Let me fight beside you. Let me be the sword to your shield. Let me fight for you like you’ve been fighting for me.”
Gracie Mae
The scent of antiseptic hits my nostrils first. And you would think of all the times I've set foot in a hospital the smell wouldn't be as poignant. Yet it hits me the same every time and the smell won't leave for days. It's as if it imbeds itself in my clothing and sinks in my skin.
With Oak's larger hand swallowing mine we walk side by side to the reception area of the hospital.
The woman whom I had spoken with on the phone, June, is sitting behind the curvature counter with her workspace in front of her.Stopping in front of her I take a deep breath and with a voice that doesn't waver I acknowledge myself. "Gracie Mae Vale, here for Vivian Vale, my mother."
Oak gives my hand another squeeze and I take another deep breath.
June's eyes meet mine sadly yet there is no sympathy in her voice as she informs me, "In the ICU, room number 207. I'll have the doctor meet you there to go over her diagnosis and discuss her prognosis."
I nod my head; afraid my words may fail me.
What if her prognosis is death?
Oak leads me down the hallway that feels colder the further we travel down it.
And I can't help my mind from thinking, maybe it's getting colder because death is here to claim her.
The room number 207 comes before us and the dark clouds surrounding me feel as if they are closing in.
Her fate lies behind those doors and I can't do anything to help it.
"I'm here, baby. I'm not leaving your side," Oak promises me. His front is pressed against my back and the warmth his body emits soothes me.
