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“Not biologically, but he’s the man my mom has been married to since she was pregnant with me,” he says quietly, but even so, there is no missing the anger still evident in his tone.
I open my mouth to ask him about a dozen questions, but a soft voice weakly calling Roman’s name catches our attention, and we both look across the room at the bed. When my eyes land on an older woman with golden hair cut into a bob that looks perfectly styled and eyes just like Roman’s and his mom’s, I let out a breath. Now is not the time for questions, even though I’m starting to see that whatever I assumed Roman’s life was like, I had no idea. With my heart still thundering, I watch him walk across the room and drop to his knees next to the bed that is low to the ground.
“If you wanted me home, you just had to ask. No need to be so dramatic and put yourself in the hospital,” he tells her, wrapping both his hands around one of hers.
She gives him a lopsided smile before looking over at me and pointing with one finger.
“Diana, I’d like you to meet Elora,” he says, watching me as I walk toward them. Then he leans in and whispers something in her ear, something I can’t hear, and her gaze, still locked on me, softens.
When I reach his side, he looks up at me and smiles. “Elora, this is my grandmother, Diana Francesca King. The queen of New York real estate.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” I say softly, joining Roman on my knees at the side of her bed. She doesn’t speak but attempts to lift her shaking hand toward me, and I rub her leg.
“Home.” The single word filled with fear is spoken almost inaudibly, but I still grasp it.
“Soon. The doctors want to make sure you’re okay first.” He kisses her fingers, and tears fill my eyes when her expression crumples. It’s obvious she’s scared and worried, and the scene is so familiar it’s difficult not to recall being in this exact position with my mom after her surgeries or treatments that left her stuck in bed.
When Diana’s gaze goes over my shoulder, I turn and watch Roman’s mom and sisters enter the room.
“The doctors are going to be in soon to talk to us,” Francesca says. “Since this is a family situation, maybe you should take your friend home.”
“Elora stays with me,” Roman bites out, and the woman he introduced as Sofia eyes me curiously. His mom does the same but with mistrust, and Lucia just seems dismissive of my presence altogether.
“Roman.” His mom’s hands fist at her sides.
“It’s okay.” I get to my feet and rub my hands down the front of my shorts.
“Elora.” Roman reaches for me, wrapping his big hand around the back of my thigh.
“I’ll just be in the waiting room.” I can tell he’s not happy, but I don’t want to be the reason they start fighting, not when there’s still an obvious fracture that hasn’t completely healed from Val’s death. Taking my eyes off his, I look at his grandmother. “It was nice meeting you. Hopefully, I’ll see you soon.” I give her a shaky smile, then without caring if it’s appropriate or who is around, I touch Roman’s cheek, then lean down and brush my lips across his.
“Elora,” he whispers, and I shake my head.
“It’s okay. I’ll see you in just a little while.” Without another word, I walk out of the room, passing Roman’s dad and Jimmy, who are standing in the hall. Since there is no waiting room on this floor, I take the elevator down to the first floor and find an empty chair.
With the TV on the wall playing the news, I make myself as comfortable as I can as I wait. The seconds turn into minutes, and one show on TV turns into another before I feel a presence come and sit next to me. When I look to my side, I see it’s Roman’s sister Sofia, and she gives me a smile that looks unsure.
“Hi,” I greet softly.
“Sorry about what happened upstairs.”
“It’s okay. A lot is going on.”
“Yeah,” she agrees, wrapping her arms around her waist.
“Did the doctor come yet?”
“Yes, she just left. They’re going to get Diana ready for surgery soon.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I looked it up online. The statistics aren’t great for?—”
“Don’t do that,” I whisper, and her chin wobbles. “Every situation is different; every person is different.”
“Roman told us why he’s stayed gone, that you two have been traveling, and about your mom.”
“Yeah.” I wrap my arms around myself to ward off the chill from the air conditioner. At least, that’s what I tell myself is the reason.
