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“What is heaven like Mama? Will I still be able to watch over them?” I ask as she holds my hand and walks us down the long hallway. I hear Dallas crying in the background but I don’t fight it. I know she’ll be okay. They all will because they have each other. We may have started out as just some college fun but now…now we are a family. My mama giggles, the sound of her voice like bells.
“My little star, you will always be able to watch over them. Just like I’ve watched over you and Memphis and your daddy. Though some moments were hard, it's one of my favorite pastimes.” I start to cry and she pulls me tight into her chest.
“I’ve missed you Mama. I wish you could have been around to meet all my guys. You would have loved them.” I smile through my tears and she smiles too.
“You will see them again baby. I have faith we will all be reunited again some day…” she trails off with a frown. Her hand disappears from mine as she starts to fade.
“Wait, what's happening? Mama. Mama. Don’t leave me here. Don’t leave me again,” I call out but she’s gone and a bright light is shining in front of me.
Is this heaven?
I wake to a sight I never imagined I would ever see. Layton is in a rocking chair with Dallas asleep in his arms. Jase is on the floor next to him with his head on his thigh and hand on her head helping to support her neck. They are all asleep. Someone must have been here and covered Jase with a blanket, since it's over his shoulders. I groan softly and wince. The pain between my legs throbs and not in a good way.
This is not the room I was in the last time I closed my eyes. What happened? How am I still alive? I try to shift but the pain has me crying out. I glance over making sure I didn't wake my family and piercing green eyes greet me.
“Hi baby girl,” I whisper and she blinks a few times before going back to sleep. I watch them as they rest. Why are they here and not at home? How long have I been asleep? Where are my other guys? I notice a phone on the table next to me and I reach for it but it’s too far. I reach for the nurse call button and press it. A woman with elephants on her scrubs pops her head in and grins at the guys, not noticing me. I wave my hand weakly and her eyes widen. She holds up her hand in a one moment gesture then races off somewhere. I huff and try to move again. I’m contemplating on waking the guys up to help me, but I don’t have to. Hazel eyes greet me and they are pissed.
Jase
A shuffling from beside me wakes me from a restless sleep. They told us Cara was stable, not out of the woods yet, but we could visit her if we let her rest. I knew the moment those words left the doctors lips that Lay would be by her side, and though I’m still confused and extremely hurt by what she did, I know I need to support him and her. I will never make the mistake of being away from them again. I glance over to the bed, not expecting glassy blue eyes to be staring back at me. She gives me a shaky smile and I glare in return. All the hurt and anger I have felt in the last week come back to me and I don’t care that she died. That I almost lost her, I'm pissed. She sighs and wiggles again.
I carefully move my arm out from under Dallas’ head and spread the blanket over her and Lay. Then I get to my feet and stomp out the door to let the asshole know she’s awake. Memphis has been sitting outside her room since they moved her here. Lay told him he wasn’t welcome to enter, and he has been sulking out here ever since. I open the door and his tired caramel eyes meet mine.
“She’s awake,” I growl, then move back over to her bed. I don’t know who I’m more pissed with, Cara or Memphis. East left and went back to the house. He said Connor’s been drinking non stop and locked himself in the pool house. Frankie and Harry are here as well but they have been going home to shower, eat and bring us food back. I think Harry is hurt the most out of all of us. He went through this with his wife, so for Cara to hide it from him…he’s been a mess. I crouch down in her face and she looks between my eyes, her shaky hand reaches up and grazes my cheek and I feel some of my anger start to leave. My eyes well with tears and I let them fall.
“I never thought I would see you again,” she chokes out through her own tears. I nod and lean into her hand. “I’m so sorry Jase. I just wanted us to have fun and live. I didn't want to wallow and worry.” Her hand starts to tremble more and I grip it with mine giving her a soft squeeze.
“That may be true Cara, but we’re your family. We love you and you hiding things from us…It broke us more than we already were. To wake up in the morning and not have you there is a life worse than death.” I gently drop her hand then lean back. Lay has woken and won’t look Cara’s way. He has tears running down his face, and I know she is going to have to fight to make it up to him. He didn’t deserve this. None of us did... but him especially. He was there for every appointment, every craving, every kick. She should have warned him. If it wasn’t for our daughter, he may not be sitting here right now.
“I know and I’m so sorry. May I please hold my baby?” she sobs, looking at me like I may decide not to let her hold Dallas. Lay stands up and places her in my arms, bending to kiss her head, then he stands and storms out the door.
“Lay,” Memphis shouts, but it doesn’t matter. Now that he knows she's awake, he can go get some proper sleep. He needs it. We all do.
Xavier
“Carson is awake.” Lay storms in the house, shouts out then walks into a guest room. I drop my spoon and rush to the door for my coat and keys. I get halfway to the driveway, and realize I don’t have shoes on. I may be pissed, but I need to see for myself that she’s still here. I never thought she would do something so cruel to me, but I guess everyone is heartless at some point in their lives. I slam the door open and grab my shoes, running head first into a frantic Connor. He has his coat in his hands and won’t look at me. He's barely left her side but Frankie and his parents convinced him to come home and sleep. By the looks of it, I don’t think he got much.
“Can you drive?” he yawns and I nod. We walk out to my truck and Connor hops in while I run to the drivers side. I peel out of the driveway, almost ramming the gate. Why does it have to open so slow?
We get to the hospital in less than twenty minutes and Connor looks like he may be sick when I park.
“Next time I’ll drive. I’m surprised we're not showing up in an ambulance,” he mutters and I roll my eyes. “It wasn’t that bad, man,” I scoff and he snorts, shaking his head as we get out and walk inside. I don’t bother checking in since I know where to go. We reach the hall and Memphis stands. I ignore him and shove right past him but Connor stops and chats with him. Fucking bleeding heart. I knock on the door, then push it open. Cara’s blue eyes meet mine and I instantly forget what she did and rush to her side. She has Dallas sucking on her boob and she’s crying.
“I’m so so so sorry, Xav,” she croaks and I shake my head. I don’t want to talk about that right now, I just want to hold my girls . I climb on the bed next to her, careful not to squish her or lie on the many tubes she has keeping her alive right now. The doctors told us after being threatened they were going to be sued if they didn’t disclose her information to us, that she's not out of the woods. They may have revived her, and given her a blood transfusion since she started to hemorrhage, but she still has cancer and a big fight in front of her.
“No more lies Cara. I don’t care how much you want to protect us. We want to do the same. You are our woman, so don’t ice us out. We love you. I love you and the thought of losing you destroyed me. Don’t fuck up again,” I growl and she gasps.
“No swearing, little ears are present.” She shoots me a tired wink and I laugh. Dallas pops off her boob and gazes up at me.
“She looks so much like her dad,” I mutter and Cara winces. Gazing down at our daughter.
“I was really hoping she would look like me. I don’t want anyone to feel bad that she’s his.” I bend down and kiss Dallas' head and then Cara’s temple.
“It doesn’t matter Cara. We all love this little peanut, and I know he would never act superior over us. Lay’s a good guy.”
She nods and rubs her nose against Dallas.
“You're one spoiled little girl, Dallas Anne.” I snort and lean closer.
