AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I lie back down beside him, tucking my hands beneath my cheek with an easy smile. “Sounds like a wonderful way to start the day.”
He brushes my hair behind my ear, then smooths his thumb across my cheekbone. My whole self lights up at his touch as a smile tips his lips.
“I just wanted to check in and make sure you’re okay with everything.”
Concern colors his face as he holds my gaze with clear purpose, and it warms me to my marrow. “It’s all happening so fast. I don’t want to see you overwhelmed with all the organization that goes into this stuff.”
“Truly, I am fine! The wedding planner is doing her thing, the dress…” I trail off with a snort. “Well, you know exactly how the dress is.”
He shrugs with nothing short of a shit-eating grin.
“Everything is organized, Alex. Other than the rehearsal tonight, we are full steam ahead for tomorrow! Though Iamnervous about this photoshoot that you said we need to do in order to keep the media off our backs.”
He nods in approval, pushing himself up onto one elbow to look down at me. “It will all be fine. Trust me. And you will make the most stunning bride, Rey.”
His eyes are soft, his smile is bright, and my heart accelerates beneath my breast as an almost overwhelming desire to share my newly realized true feelings for him overtakes me.
I open my mouth, the words forming on the tip of my tongue, even as I scream at myself to shut the hell up.
“Alex, I—”
My cell cuts me off with a shrill ring, and I find myself both angry at being disrupted and relieved at being saved from making an idiot of myself.
I twist about, grabbing the chiming cell from the bedside locker at my back.
My stomach bottoms out when I see Sunrise Harbor is calling, and the conversation with Vanessa from earlier this week flits through my mind.
“It’s only a matter of time, Reyna. These episodes of lucidity are a gift that not many families receive.”
I sign the paperwork, drop my pen heavily, and find Vanessa’s kind eyes. “How long?”
She shakes her head sadly. “Outside of these two occasions when she’s remembered you, Mariana is mostly quiet and unresponsive. Otherwise, she just sleeps. Alongside other factors, I’m confident that this is the right call, Reyna. There’s really no telling how much longer she has left, but hospice care will ensure that she’s comfortable. For however long that may be.”
“Rey?”
Alex’s voice brings me back to the still-ringing cell that’s gripped tightly in my hand. I raise horrified eyes to his while Lita’s much-loved words flit through my suddenly pounding head.
Your intuition is your gift, mija.
Unable to hear the words Iknoware about to be spoken, I thrust the cell toward Alex in a silent plea. He takes it without hesitation, answering immediately.
“Hello, Reyna’s cell. Alex speaking.”
As though in slow motion, his face starts to fall with each word spoken into his ear until, eventually, he speaks with his pained eyes firmly holding mine, lending me a strength I know I’m going to need.
“We’re on our way.”
CHAPTER19
REYNA
A short ninety minutes later,Ford pulls the town car into the lot at Sunrise Harbor.
He parks and immediately exits the vehicle, giving me and Alex a moment alone.
I inhale shakily through my nostrils, holding it for a beat before I slowly exhale through barely parted lips, willing myself to keep a handle on my emotions for as long as it takes.
Alex is watching me with concern etched on his handsome face. “Rey. Come here, Sunshine.”
