Macy heldher father’s cold hand in both of hers. Jake had his on her shoulder, the warmth seeping into her body, but doing nothing to fight back the numbness.
She'd been sitting here for three hours, they all had. Her mother sat on the other side, mascara smeared, lipstick gone, looking pale and shaken. Macy could honestly say that this was the first time she had ever seen her mother crying real tears. The first time she had seen vulnerability in Delany Reynolds.
Nancy McBride, Jake's mom, stood behind her.
Macy watched her father inhale, and the exhale seemed to take forever.
“Delany, he doesn't have long now,” Nancy said softly.
Her mother staggered to her feet and bent over the bed. She whispered something, and then kissed her husband softly on the lips before collapsing back into her seat.
“Your turn, sweetheart.”
Macy looked up at Jake, saw the sympathy, and nodded. She leaned over her father, listened as he tried to draw in another breath.
“I love you so much, Dad. Let go now, we're going to be just fine. You taught us to be strong. Let go and be at peace.”
Tears poured down her cheeks as her father inhaled, his breath like a rattle, and she knew that it would be his last.
The sob came out loud and anguished, but Macy didn't hold back. She wept for the man who had raised her. He may not have been perfect, but he was hers and had been the one man in her life who she had loved since she was old enough to understand the emotion.
She felt Jake's hands on her shoulders, and then turned and fell into his arms.
“It's okay now, Macy, he's not in pain anymore.”
The Doctors McBride took over while Macy and her mother sat huddled together on the sofa. She didn't know who made the call, but thirty minutes after her father had left the house, Delany Reynolds’ friends started arriving.
Macy had never been overly fond of Peggy Miller and Tyree Little, but today they surprised her. They hugged her, and patted her head, then told her that they would look after her mother, so she wasn't to worry.
Jake and his mother had to leave, but as they did Branna arrived, and Macy clung to her friend. Branna was the first person to understand the hell Macy had been living, and ever since they'd been close.
“Branna, you take Macy home to her boy now. We'll look after Delany tonight, and if she wants her daughter, we'll come over and collect her.”
“No.” Macy looked at Tyree. “I don't want to leave her.”
“Macy, your boy needs you, and you need him. Now give your mother a hug and then go on home with Branna.”
“Mother, I don't have to leave.”
Delany's eyes were swollen from weeping, and she hugged Macy close.
“You go home to Billy now, Macy. He will be confused if you don't arrive, and I-I'll call you if I n-need you. Tyree and Peggy are going to stay here with me tonight, but I'd like to see Billy in the morning.”
“If you're sure?”
“I am. Tomorrow we'll organize the f-funeral.”
Branna led Macy outside, and she drew in a deep lungful of air. The sun warmed her face, but she felt cold inside. Her father was dead. She wouldn't hear his laugh or bring him his favorite cookies anymore.
“In you get, Macy.”
She let Branna belt her into the seat, and then rested her head on the back. They drove in silence, but it was good to be with someone who knew her, someone she trusted. Her head could not quite process the fact that the world no longer had Harvey Reynolds in it.
“They're all at your place, Macy.”
She'd known her friends would be; it was their way. If one of them was hurting, then they were there for that person. She saw the cars as she drove up, then the garden with pretty flowers, and the tears started again.
“Oh God, they b-built me a garden.”
