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She freezes beside me. “What?”
“That was her doctor. The one who did the testing. It happened tonight.”
“I’m—” Her voice catches. “I’m so sorry, Holden.”
Harrison is eyeing us curiously, but I don’t think he can hear what we’re saying. And I’m not ready to share this with anyone else.
“I knew it was coming,” I say.
And I did.
But still…I decide itisa loss.
I’m officially an orphan, even if it’s felt that way since my dad died. Felt that a few times before he did, honestly. I know he left to help us. But still, he left a lot.
Cassia grabs my hand.
We sit in silence until a doctor clad in pink scrubs appears. Based on the way Harrison sits up, it’s the news we’ve been waiting for.
The woman approaches Harrison first, who’s sitting with his parents. They showed up about an hour after Cassia and I arrived. I don’t know the Bakers well, but they seem like nice people. And I’m glad that Sydney’s kid will have some grandparents.
The doctor leaves and Harrison stands.
“It’s a girl,” he tells us, a tentative, nervous smile on his face. “Do you guys want to come meet her?”
“You go first,” I say.
Cassia nods next to me in agreement.
They might not be a traditional family, but they deserve to have this moment.
Harrison nods, then disappears into Sydney’s hospital room.
I exhale and lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees. A little relief trickles into the emotional mess I’m experiencing. Cassia rubs small, soothing circles on my back.
“Do I tell her?” I ask.
Sydney and I haven’t discussed our mom since we left the diner that day. I never asked what exactly they talked about when I left or if it altered Sydney’s opinion of her at all. She never offered a recap of the conversation.
We both knew her death was a ticking clock. Just not when it would expire. And I’m not sure if it’s ironic or fitting, that it happened tonight.
Sydney lost her mom the same night she became one.
“I think she would want to know,” Cassia says.
I nod.
That’s all we say until Harrison reappears. There’s a look of wonder on his face and a suspicious sheen in his eyes.
“You go ahead,” Cassia says softly.
I glance at her. “You sure?”
“Yeah, Uncle.” She smiles.
I smile back before I stand and walk down the hall to the right room.
Sydney is sitting up in bed. Her hair is sweaty, the pieces not pulled back sticking to her temples. But she’s beaming down at the bundle in her arms, looking happier than I can recall seeing her in a long time.
