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When the waitresses brought their platters, Lorelei’s mouth practically fell to the floor. The servings were super-sized and Daniel had ordered way more food than she’d realized. There were French fries, gyros, mashed potatoes, salad, fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, as well as other small bowls of veggies.
“How are we going to eat all of this?” Lorelei asked, looking around a table that was suddenly crowded with food.
Daniel’s grin was playful. “As my dad says, one bite at a time.”
“I like his philosophy.” Lorelei shook her head and began to dig in to the food. As shocking as it was, she was hungry. The smells emanating from the kitchen had roused her appetite while they were waiting for their food. Daniel tucked into the food as well, pausing to heap more food on to her plate. Lorelei ate with gusto until she could no longer take another bite. She pushed her plate away from her and watched as Daniel continued to eat. It made her smile to see him so enthused about the food.
After he was finished, Lorelei couldn’t help but point out the obvious. “Wow. You can really eat for someone who has such a lean frame. You must work out a lot.” She cast admiring eyes on him. There really wasn’t anything about this man she didn’t adore. That knowledge settled deep inside her. She was becoming more and more enamored of Daniel, to the point where she was falling over the edge with no safety net.
Daniel shrugged, wiping his mouth with a napkin. “Don’t forget. I grew up with six brothers who were fairly ravenous eaters.” He let out an easy laugh. “Even Shayla could eat the rest of us under the table from time to time. I learned at an early age to eat up if I wanted my fair share of the food.”
Lorelei could imagine a pint-sized Daniel sitting at the large family table with his parents and siblings and chowing down on a meal. A part of her wished she could go back in time and meet that little boy, the one who had been years ahead of himself in intellect and ability. Would they have been friends? Would she have fit into his world?
“Dessert?” Daniel asked from across the table, eliciting a loud groan from her.
She held up her hand and said, “Absolutely not! If I eat another morsel, you’ll have to roll me out of here.”
Daniel leaned across the table. His expression was playful. “Come on. We make the best dessert in Pelican Bay. Give it a try. Live a little!”
“You make a great argument,” Lorelei quipped. “You almost had me convinced to order something. Almost,” she said with a wink.
Suddenly, Jude appeared at their table, his face appearing ashen. Lorelei knew immediately that something was very wrong. Clearly, Daniel did as well.
“Dad. What is it? What’s wrong?” Daniel asked, his features creased with worry.
Jude’s breathing was ragged as he spoke. “Cadence just called. It’s Parker. There’s been a terrible accident. Someone ran a red light and hit his motorcycle head on. He’s been med- flighted to Pelican Bay Hospital.” Jude’s voice cracked. “I need to tell your mother, Daniel. Cadence said he’s in critical condition. He might not make it.”
“Time and again life shows us that there’s nothing more important than family. Not fame or riches or pride. When everything else fades away, love remains.”
Jason Donahue
Chapter Eight
Life changed on a dime. One moment you were sitting with your girl at your family’s diner, when in the very next moment your world was falling apart. Time went in fast motion as he, Lorelei and his father took his mother aside and told her about Parker’s motorcycle accident. Daniel died a little inside as he watched Penelope fall to her knees. He had never seen his mother so overcome with emotion. Honestly, he wanted to fall apart, but he didn’t have that luxury. He knew his family needed him.
Daniel drove them over to the hospital, where they quickly made their way to the ICU where Parker had been transported. They found Cadence in the waiting room, looking like a shell of her normally radiant self. Her eyes were red-rimmed and she was shaking with fear. Bella and Heath had made their way over to the hospital, as well as Caleb and Addie. Thankfully, they were there at Cadence’s side, providing her with support and love.
“Cadence!” Jude pulled her against his chest and began patting her on the back.
“Jude!” she cried out, letting out a sob and clinging to him for all she was worth.
Cadence got them up to speed on things. Parker was in critical condition and had been taken to the operating room for emergency surgery. In order to save his life, Cadence has signed papers and agreed to the emergency surgery. Thankfully, he had been wearing his helmet at the time of the crash. If not, he wouldn’t have survived the crash according to the doctors. As it was, he was fighting for his life due to life threatening injuries. Little Logan was at Parker and Cadence’s house sound asleep with a babysitter watching him, oblivious to the drama unfolding at the hospital.
“I-I don’t think I’ve ever been this scared,” Cadence sobbed. “I don’t know what I’ll do if I lose him. I won’t know how to live without him.” Jude rocked his daughter-in-law back and forth, all the while murmuring comforting words as she vented to him. It didn’t seem fair, Daniel thought. Cadence and Parker had already been through the fire and they had come out on the other side with their son, Logan. They had it all—the love, the marriage, the past struggles, the beautiful son—and it could all disappear within moments.
Cadence’s voice was filled with so much heartache and despair, as well as fear. They all knew that none of them was in control. It was in God’s hands, as well as the surgeons. Lorelei stood by Daniel’s side holding his hand the entire time. She was supportive by her very presence and the
way in which she was checking in on everyone. At one point he watched as she went over to Cadence and hugged her, then asked if she could get anything for her.
Jason burst in through the doors of the waiting room, looking wild-eyed and distraught. Jason and Parker’s tight bond was known by all the members of the family. They were like two peas in a pod, forever joined at the hip. Although they were all siblings, it sometimes seemed as if Parker and Jason were one and the same person. That’s how tightly connected they were and always had been ever since Jason had been adopted by Jude and Penelope.
“Where is he? What are they saying? Is he going to make it?” Jason began blurting out questions one after the other. It was as if his mind was on overdrive, no doubt due to fear.
“Shh, honey. Slow down,” Penelope said, taking Jason into her arms and holding him as he began to cry. “Just breathe. Your brother is in surgery now and all we can do is pray.”
“I know. I’ve been praying ever since Cadence called me,” Jason said, wiping tears away from his face. “It’s just so scary. Parker always seems so invincible. He’s the oldest. He’s my best friend.” His shoulders sagged and Daniel walked over and embraced him. He could feel Jason’s entire body trembling with emotion.
One by one, the members of the family filed in—Nash, Faith and Micah, then Shayla. Shayla looked incredibly vulnerable. Micah was holding her close to his side and Faith was holding her hand. It broke Daniel’s heart so see Shayla so shattered. She put on a good act of being a tough girl, but she was a marshmallow on the inside.
