“I get it, Rachel. We both love him but looking after a broken person is going to be a huge commitment. Especially if that man is Damon. He’s never been easy to live with but—”
Interrupting, unable to listen to the truth, she cut him off. “I know what you mean.” She stared into his face and saw the unease in his expression and the utter sadness in his eyes. “Yet we’ll both do it, won’t we?”
He nodded. Then he reached for her. No words were spoken. They just hugged so tight that even the space between them from their individual chairs became too much. Finally, he hauled her onto his knees and rocked them as they both wept. She… at the futility of her newly awakened, unspoken love. And he… because he understood one thing clearly. Any future happiness they might have found together could be over before it even had a chance to begin.
***
Damon’s heart lifted when he saw his brother and Rachel commiserating with each other so lovingly yet vowing to be there for the selfish prick who didn’t deserve their fierce commitment. Knowing the truth, seeing their bond brought him peace. Now he just needed to stay alive long enough to talk to her… tell her. Except, his strength began to fail, and no matter how hard he fought, he slipped back into the void.
***
Hours later, an intern approached. “Mrs. Marks? He’s asking for you. You can see him now but just for a few seconds.”
Lance escorted her to the door and stood back, letting her go into the room alone. As much as he wanted to be there for her and his brother, he understood that if these were Damon’s last moments alive, they belonged to Rachel. Pacing the hallway it only took a very few minutes before she returned. Her faceflushed, tears streaking down her cheeks and like a broken old lady, she stumbled toward him.
Swallowing her sobs, she slowly released the words she needed to share. “He’s pleading to see Rosie.”
“Rosie?” Stunned would be the best word to explain Lance’s reaction. Repeating himself, he reiterated in a stronger tone, his astonishment highlighted by the shock on his face. “Rosie.”
“Yes. Rosie.” It took him forever to get the word out, but we all heard it clearly. “He wants Rosie.”
Chapter Thirteen
“What do you mean she’s not here?” Lance sounded dumbfounded.
Marcy couldn’t believe she had to tell Lance this news. Trying desperately to explain, she elaborated. “She asked to go into your bedroom and watch her programs on the big TV. I didn’t see any reason to say no. Nico and I were playing games in the living room, and she refused to join us.”
“Did you check everywhere?”
“Of course we did… both Nico and I did. He knew different hiding places and showed them to me, but she wasn’t in any of them.”
“Check the closet again. This time look behind the clothes. There’s an alcove there she used to like going into when she was little. Please.”
Clutching her phone while calling Rosie’s name, Marcy ran back to the room where she’d seen Rosie disappear to a while ago and searched the closet once again… even checked under the bed. “Lance, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what to say. She’s gone.”
Rachel, who’d been listening in on the call, tried to soothe the woman she sensed meant a lot to Lance. “It’s okay. She’s been doing this lately at home too. Just taking off for short times but she always comes home. We’ll just go to my house, and she’ll probably be there.” She handed the phone back to Lance and listened as he calmed Marcy.
***
When Lance finished with Marcy, he put his phone in his pocket and took Rachel’s arm, wanting to instill confidence in her that he wasn’t sure he felt himself. “You’re right, Rachel. No doubt Rosie decided to go home. I’ll take you there to pick her up.”
Following his lead, Rachel felt anger begin to swell and couldn’t stop herself from sharing. “My little Rosie has become so bratty lately. I’m sorry, I know I shouldn’t say this about my own daughter but the difference in just a few months has been unbelievable. She used to be such a sweet little girl, always willing to help with the chores and take care of her brother. Back then, there were times that I don’t know what I’d have done without her giggling and cheeriness in the house.”
Speaking softly, he joined in. “I’ve noticed the change too.”
Rachel swiveled his way. “You have? Yet she always behaves herself when you’re around. She adores you.”
Flattered, Lance wanted to let it go at that, but he couldn’t. “Truthfully, she’s come closer to me because there’s been such a rift between her and Damon. And in her little world, I’m the next man in line. Remember when she thought the sun rose and set on her daddy? He loved the attention and would be kind to her. Not so much in the last few years.”
“You’ve noticed it too? How heartbreaking it is to watch her little face drop with disappointment when he shoves her hugs aside with only a pat on the head – if that.”
Voice tight, Lance replied, “Maybe it’s wrong to talk this way considering what’s happened, but we both know he can be a grade-A asshole.”
Snorting her agreement, she added, “The only bright side on being born first, she got more attention than Nico ever did. For such a masculine person, I thought giving him a son would be the ultimate. When the nurse said we’d be having a boy, I had such high hopes he’d come around.”
“But he didn’t.” Lance made his reply into a statement because he already knew the answer.
“Nope. Things got worse. He… he became moody and dark. His nature was never ultra cheery, yet after Nico arrived, he purposely picked fights and used them as excuses to walk away and leave the house… leave me feeling so-so shitty.” Rachel heard her snarky voice and felt terrible.
