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I stared out at the Pacific Ocean and closed my eyes, forcing myself to think of all of the good things I had in my life while listening to the ocean crash against the surf. Doing that usually helped, but today I couldn’t shake the feeling of impending doom. After a few minutes, I got up and started to walk again. When I was almost back to where I’d started, my cell phone rang with a Manhattan area code. I didn’t recognize the number, but I swiped to answer anyway.
“Hello?”
“Hi. Nora?”
The voice was familiar, but I couldn’t quite place it. “Yes?”
“It’s Jake Cross.”
I stopped walking. “Hey, Jake. How are you? Is everything okay?”
He was quiet for long enough to make my heart race.
“Jake?”
“Gram had another stroke, Nora. A bad one.”
“Oh no.” I clutched my chest.
“It’s not good. The doctors said there’s no brain function. They’re basically keeping her alive so we can say goodbye. We’re going to do it tonight, if she doesn’t…you know. The priest will say a few words and then…”
Tears streamed down my cheeks. “Oh my God. I’m so sorry, so, so sorry.”
“Thank you. I know things between you and Beck are…whatever they are, but I thought you might want to come, to say your goodbye and to be here for him. And her.”
“Do you think Beck would be okay with that?”
“I don’t think Beck is in any condition to know what he needs. He’s the one who found her. He doesn’t even know I’m calling you, Nora. He’s a mess, and I thought…” He blew a rush of air into the phone. “I don’t know what I thought. But I felt like I should call you.”
“I’m glad you did. What hospital is she at?”
“Lenox Hill.”
I nodded. “I’ll do my best to be there.”
CHAPTER 29
Nora
BECK BLINKED WHENhe looked up and found me standing in the doorway. “Nora? What are you doing here?”
I smiled sadly and slanted my eyes to his brother, who was sitting on the opposite side of the bed. “A little birdie called.”
Beck raked a hand through his hair. “I didn’t know.”
I walked over and hugged Jake first, then went around to the other side of the bed. There was a moment of awkwardness, but then Beck let me hug him. “I’m so sorry, Beck.”
“I’m going to run downstairs and get some coffee,” Jake said. “You guys want anything?”
“No, thank you,” I said. Beck shook his head.
When it was just the two of us, I looked over at the monitors. “Is there any change from this morning, when Jake called?”
“No.”
I stared down at my friend. “She looks at peace.”
Beck nodded. “She does.” He glanced over and caught my eye. “How’s California?”
