“He sent hooligans to distract everyone so he could get to you,” Reid explains.“But no one else was injured.There are a few bumps and scrapes but nothing serious.”
Liza reaches for his hand with both of hers.“I’m sorry for what you witnessed.That you saw me like that,” she whispers.
He kneels down so they are eye level.“Don’t ever apologise.I wish I got there sooner.”
“He would have killed you,” she rasps.“I thought he did.I cannot lose any of you.There have been too many close calls.”
“We’ll let you have some privacy,” the nurse tells us before she leaves the room with her colleague.
Reid waits until the door closes before he replies to his mum.Since the other three beds are empty, he doesn’t have to worry someone will overhear.
“He can’t hurt anyone anymore.And you aren’t losing any of us.This is over now.Really over.”
She can’t look him in the eye when she asks.“What about the man who...”
“He’s dead.Milly stabbed him in the leg,” Reid tells her.
Liza’s eyes close for a moment.“That poor child.”
“She’s really worried about you,” I admit.
“I really did fight.I tried to make sure they didn’t get to her,” she tells me.
“I know,” Reid tells her, clearing his throat.“We saw a video.”
Humiliation flashes in her eyes.“I’m so embarrassed.”
“Mum, don’t.I’ve always known you were strong.Fuck, you raised nine children.Nine, Mum.I hate that you had to fight like that, I do.But you should never be fucking sorry or embarrassed.You were a warrior,” he chokes out, crying now.“I thought you were dead.I actually thought we had lost you.We can’t ever lose you.We can’t.”
She runs her hand over his cheek.“It’s okay, son.It’s okay,” she promises.“It’s over now.”
He looks up from their joined hands.“Fair warning, Paisley is a mess too.She stayed with you the entire time.She’s planning to move back home.”
“My children,” she sighs wistfully.“You all care so deeply.”
“We love you,” he rasps, kissing her hand.“I’m so fucking sorry you got hurt.”
“You did not cause them,” she tells him.“I will survive.These will heal.Just like our hearts.”
He nods.“I’m going to get Paisley.The others are here too.We can’t wait for you to come back home.”
She pats his cheek.“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
When we walk out of the room after saying another goodbye, his steps feel lighter.He’s not as tense as he was before we went in there.
It’s the first time today I think he’s going to be okay.
We’re going to be okay.
