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“What does that mean?” Kiara whimpers, her fingers pressed to her mouth.
“We’re moving him into a bigger room that will fit all of you,” he replies. “In times like these, a family’s love does more than medicine can do. Your job is to stay positive and let him know you’re there,” he says. “The next forty-eight hours are crucial.” Dr. Raj’s tone is flat, factual. He leaves us as impassively as he came.
We slump in our respective chairs, crestfallen, until the nurse brings us to Remi’s new room. It’s spacious and smells like bleach covered with fragrance, but there’s seating for everyone. I take the seat next to Remi’s bed, and Granada sits on the other side.
“We’re all here, Remi,” I whisper close to his ear as my hand slides over his. I almost expect him to wrap his fingers around mine, and my chest pangs when he doesn’t.
“You’re going to get through this,” Kiara speaks up. “Mae, Gram, and I will make sure of it.” She swallows several times, trying in vain to compose herself before she can talk again. “We love you.” Her voice cracks and chokes, stirring emotion to the surface for all of us.
“Remi,” Gram calls. “Everyone at Hope Village is praying for you.” A small smirk cracks through her sorrow. “Well, except for Charlie. He’s cursing God for being so stupid. You’re the only one who can sing a good Frank Sinatra.”
Remembering the beautiful day of their concert and what happened after is both a blessing and pure heartbreak. I wasted so much time and treated him like a toy. If I could rewind the clock, I would have told him how I felt when he declared himself. He’s so brave, more than I will ever be. Courage is something else he taught me.
Reaching out with the back of my fingers, I barely stroke Remi’s exposed and unbruised cheek. Just feeling his warmth has a sedative effect on my brain. As long as he’s breathing, I can too.
“I miss that devilish grin, love,” I sniff, trying to keep my nose from dripping. “You’ve got to come back to us. We have so many beautiful memories left to make.” Taking hold of his hand, I brush my thumb across his skin, giving him any amount of comfort I can. His heart rate progressively calms, and so does mine. I send a silent thanks into the atmosphere.
He knows we’re here.
Cody takes his son home to grab an overnight bag for Kiara, so she pulls up a chair and sits next to me. “I hope you don’t mind if I stay with him tonight.” Her chin wrinkles. “He’s my baby brother. I need to—” She breaks down.
Rubbing her back, I try to put her at ease. “I understand. He needs you too.”
She gives me a grateful look.
Wheel of Fortune is playing low on the television. It steals our attention every once in a while, but no one is really watching. It’s been a few hours of sitting, pacing, and holding Remi’s limp hand. We’re all a bit subdued until the door swings open and an older man whisks through it, startling a little when he notices me.
“Kiara,” he greets in an even tone.
She jerks to a stand and allows him to give her a cheek kiss, although she’s quick to distance herself after. “Hello, sir,” she says in the meekest voice I’ve ever heard from her.
“Who’s taking care of my son?” the man asks the room, but no one answers.
Following behind him is a bone-thin woman, with her arms wrapped around her ribs so tightly it’s like she’s holding herself together. Her chin dips further into her chest as she walks through the door.
Oh damn. Those are Remi’s parents.
“I want the chief of staff, now.” His conversational tone turns sharp, puncturing the bubble of serenity we created around Remi.
I can see where Remi gets his dashing looks. The man is a silver fox—there’s no denying it. But where Remi’s brown eyes are warm and kind, his father’s are as black as coal.
Granada takes a cleansing breath as if preparing for war.
Kiara raises placating palms. “Father, please keep your voice down. Remi needs everyone to be calm.” Her whisper is as strong as a rattle on a snake.
The man looks at his daughter with a sneer. “Don’t you talk to me like that.” He smooths out his features when he side-eyes me. “If it wasn’t for you, he wouldn’t be in this mess.” He points his finger as if it’s a gun threatening his daughter, but his demeanor is entirely too composed for the acerbic words coming out of his mouth.
“Please, sir. We’re all upset. Can’t we just be cordial for once?” Kiara’s eyes round, pleading. “For Remi?”
It’s as if the man finally remembers the reason we are all here. His lips thin as he approaches the bed. “Goddamnit, Remington. What in the hell did you get yourself into?” He scolds his son like Remi is some kind of a juvenile delinquent, when he’s a fucking superhero. Something any father should be proud of.
Granada gets up and approaches Remi’s mother hovering by the door. There’s a slight hesitation, but they soon embrace. Gram squeezes her eyes tight as she holds her daughter close.
I stare at them with longing because I wish I had that relationship with my mother. I need her now more than ever.
The exact opposite of her husband, Remi’s mother is gaunt. She has delicate bone structure, which would make a cover girl jealous. But her cheeks are sunken in and her eyes are hollow, revealing the turmoil she’s fighting inside. Remi’s plush lips that speak with such sweetness are his mother’s.
“Come. I want you to meet someone special.” Gram circumvents her son-in-law, not sparing him a glance, and pulls her daughter toward me.
