“I can’t do any more,” she says. “And I don’t want to waste whatever is left of my life trying to fight this. I just want to be with the people I love.”
I sit back in my chair and nod slowly.
“I understand,” I tell her. “What can I do?”
“Just take care of her,” she says with a smile, but tears are starting to stream down her face. “She has spent her whole life having way too much on her shoulders. Her father and I did our best, but it’s not lost on me how much she had to cover for us. She worries about everyone she loves, and that won’t stop when I’m gone one day. It kills me that I won’t see her get married or become a mother if she chooses. All the things I’ll miss are front and center in my mind. But all I ask is that you just be the person she can fall apart with. If you’re the one she’s supposed to be with, just take care of her.”
I lean forward, bringing her frail, cold hand to my lips.
“You have my word,” I whisper.
WREN
“Yes, the bigger hospital bed. Yes, exactly. Yes, the night nurses have been great,” Brooks says. “Great, thank you.”
Then he hangs up. I’m staring out the window in the back of the Escalade while he rubs my hand. He’s been a godsend these last few weeks since my mom stopped her treatment. He’s brought in the best care and equipment for her, making sure she and my dad have help around the clock, and arranged for rides for Cole to come stay with us in the city when it becomes too much. He’s made sure I’m eating and drinking, laid with me when I’m paralyzed with fear and anxiety, and washed my hair when I can’t find the energy to care about myself.
And tonight, he’s arranged for a nice dinner with us and Keaton and Evie. Mom is asleep, according to Dad, and Cole is at a friend’s house for the night. I know he’s right. I need a night off from the fear. I’ve lost a little weight from not being able to eat, and I haven’t smiled in so long.
I put on this new dress he bought me and even threw on a little makeup to trick myself into feeling good. It hasn’t worked yet, but I’m hoping it will by the time we get to the restaurant. A little while later, we’re pulling into a little winery just outside ofthe city. It’s beautiful, off the beaten path and hidden by big trees and rolling hills. But there doesn’t seem to be anyone else here.
“Are they open?” I ask as he helps me out of the car.
“We rented the place out,” he says casually. “I just wanted you to be able to have a quiet night with some friends.” He takes my hand and leads me through the doors of the building. There is no one else here besides the woman behind the bar, who just smiles as we reach the back door. But then, she disappears too. The lights dim around us, and I look around.
“What is going on?” I ask. Just then, someone comes through the side door, and I realize it’s my dad. He looks good. Much better than the last time I saw him. He’s in a nice button-down shirt and slacks and has his hair slicked back. “Dad?” I ask. He smiles as he pulls me in for a hug.
“Hi, baby girl,” he says, getting a little choked up.
“What is going on? Where is Mom?” I ask, getting a little frantic.
Brooks takes my hand and pulls me into him.
“Wren, I told you before that one day I wanted to make you my wife. And I know that we have only known each other for a few months, but I meant that,” he says. I gulp. “Your mom told me that one of her wishes was to see you get married. And I had a hunch that you might have had a similar wish. So I asked your parents if it would be okay if we got married tonight.”
My heart is thudding in my ears. I look to my dad, but he looks happy, emotional even. Steady.
“Wha…what?” is all I can manage to say.
“It won’t be legit,” he goes on. “So you don't have to feel any pressure. But it’ll look real for your mom.”
“What do you mean it won’t be legit?” I ask.
“I didn’t want you to feel pressured into making a decision tonight,” Brooks says. “So if the time comes and you decide that you really will marry me one day, I’ll be the happiest man on thedamn planet. But for tonight, I thought we could try it out. See how it feels. See your mom smile?”
My eyes are welling with tears.
The way this man loves me is nothing like I have ever known.
And I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that it’ll be him one day at the end of the aisle at a very real wedding.
But this is the one I’ll remember forever.
“Yes,” I sputter, wrapping my arms around both of them. He kisses my forehead then pats my dad on the shoulder.
“Alright,” he says. “Take a minute. I’m gonna get out there. I’ll be the guy with the idiotic smile on my face at the end of the aisle.” He winks then walks out the door.
I turn back to my dad, and he swipes the tears off my face with his thumbs.
