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Together, they had hatched a plan.
Now Heavenly had to find the strength to go through with it—for herself, her father, and her future.
River sidled up and gave her a comforting embrace. “I’m sorry for your loss. If you need a shoulder or an ear, I’m happy to lend you either.”
Despite the less-than-orthodox start to their friendship, he hadn’t wavered. He was loyal, just like his sister. “I appreciate that. More than you’ll ever know.”
Next, Dean Gorman stepped in to shake her hand. “My condolences. When Hammer called to say you’d lost your father, I wanted to lend my support.”
Most likely, Hammer had asked his friends to help fill out the ranks of the funeral so she wouldn’t feel as if her father’s life had been of little consequence. But that endeared all of them to her even more.
“That’s very kind. I appreciate it.”
With a nod, he stepped back in River’s direction. Those two were tight. Raine had confided that the guys often hit the bars together and apparently had a shockingly high success rate.
Nurse Lewis approached then, her eyes soft with empathy. “My thoughts and prayers are with you, Heavenly.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t worry about anything at the hospital. Return whenever you’re ready. And in case you hadn’t heard, I promoted Jennifer to replace Kathryn in your unit. You should find her a lot more professional and fair, but if you have any difficulties at all, let me know.”
“I will.” Heavenly still loved the notion of helping people by becoming a nurse, and most she’d met through her volunteer work were the sort of compassionate healthcare providers she would choose to work for. In fact, Bridget Lewis had all but offered her a job when she finished school. Heavenly wondered if she’d be in a position to take it.
With one last squeeze of her fingers, the nursing administrator was gone. Behind her, Dr. Litchfield appeared with a benevolent smile and murmured condolences.
“I know you tried everything to save my father,” Heavenly assured the man. “Dr. Beckman explained.”
The neurologist nodded, his expression warm…and silently curious. Of course he wanted to know about her relationship with his colleague and the rough New Yorker glued to her side. Speculation must be rampant around the hospital.
After a brief exchange, she turned to find the minister so she could thank him for the lovely service. Instead, she nearly bumped into Pike, who stared down at her with pitch-black eyes that matched his hair—and from everything she’d heard, his soul as well.
“Hey. I know you think I’m an asshole, but…um, I just wanted to say I’m sorry. Loss isn’t easy.”
Heavenly gaped. Pike had said something nice?
“Thank you,” she murmured automatically.
“If you need anything, I’ll be around.” Then as if he’d run out of things to say, he gave her an awkward nod, thrust his hands in his pockets, and exited the chapel.
“Did that just happen?” Raine asked, staring after him.
“Shockingly, I think so.”
“Here.” Raine grabbed her hand and pressed something into it. A key fob. “Everything we talked about is in the car.”
Heart racing, Heavenly closed her fingers around it, then discreetly slipped it into her purse while she retrieved a tissue to dry her eyes.
“I’ll call you,” she whispered.
“Don’t forget. You promised.” Raine teared up.
It took everything Heavenly had not to reassure her one and only girlfriend in the world that they would see each other again. But what could she promise Raine—or anyone else?
“Ms. Young?”
She turned at the sound of the minister’s voice, fixing a polite expression on her face so he wouldn’t see her heart breaking. “Thank you for a lovely service, Reverend Newell.”
The well-meaning sympathy on his face looked too much like pity as he passed her the urn with her father’s ashes and his picture from the easel. “I know this is a dark day for you, child. Don’t be afraid to lean on the Lord. He’ll help you through your time of grief.”
