AllFreeNovel
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I look at my phone and see dozens of texts coming in. Word travels fast. It feels oddly comforting to have so many people there for you on your worst day.
The door opens, and a woman who doesn’t look much older than me comes out. She’s tall, has a long Elsa-like blond braid down her shoulder, and striking wide blue eyes. She’s wearing hot pink scrubs and has a disarming look on her face. Not quite a smile, not a frown. The face a doctor puts on when they’re going to give you bad news. I steel myself and wait for it.
“Paige,” she calls to me, tilting her head a little.
“Yes.” I stand quickly, eager to hear what she has to say and fearful at the same time. “Are you Harry’s doctor?”
“Yes, I’m Dr. McGraw. I was on call when they brought Harry in. He’s awake, and you can come back and see him. I’m afraid his heart is failing, Paige. Unfortunately, with his age and long history of congestive heart failure, he’s not a candidate for surgery.”
“How much time do we have?” Preston asks softly, squeezing me.
She bites her lip and lays her hand on my arm. “Not long. I’m sorry. Let’s go back, okay?”
She leads us into the room where Harry is propped up and attached to oxygen and an IV. He looks so weak and fragile. My heart breaks. I just saw him last night. How could he get so bad so fast?
“You can sit with him,” Dr. McGraw tells me.
Harry’s eyes light up lightly when he sees me. I brace myself in case he doesn’t remember me, but his eyes tell me that he does. Right now, they are so full of love and sadness. This isn’t fair. I need him and he needs me.
“Harry,” I breathe, sitting on the side of his bed. I lean in and hug him.
29. preston
Landslide
I leavePaige curled up against Harry and step into the hall with Dr. McGraw. “I went to school with Paige,” she tells me. “She probably doesn’t remember me, but I remember her. She was always kind to me. I wish there was more we could do...”
“Thank you for all you’re doing. How much time do you think he has left?”
“Truthfully, there’s no way to know. Maybe a day? Several hours? I’m glad you are both here with him.”
“Of course.” I nod. “How serious are you about only family visiting?”
“What do you have in mind?”
* * *
I quickly make calls and get Evelyn and Pancake here.
I knock softly and step inside Harry’s room. Harry nods weakly, and Paige wipes her tears, nods.
This. This is what love looks like. This is family. Not my parents and Blake, who don’t show up for me. Love shows up. This is what matters. Love is when you see someone hurting and it hurts you, too. Because that’s what true love is. It’s messy. It’s deep and it’s imperfect. Unexpected.
30. preston
Songbird
When I step backinto the room, Harry motions for us, and I sit next to him.
“I have some things to say,” he says weakly. Evelyn grasps Harry’s hand, and tears fill her red-rimmed eyes.
Paige holds his other hand while I stand behind her.
He coughs and sputters, and we wait for him. He swallows and looks pained, but he speaks anyway.
“Evelyn, I’m sorry I’m going first and leaving you. But you have Preston and Paige here. And my Pancake,” he says sadly.
Evelyn’s eyes fill with tears, and she lays her hand on his forearm. “Love you, Harry.”
