“I’ll help.” He put his hand on Jeremy’s shoulder. “You don’t have to do this alone, okay?”
Jeremy nodded. “I’m sorry, bro. I know this is hard for you—”
“Not as much as it used to be. I’m okay. I can deal. Promise.”
He realized it was true as he grabbed his wallet and keys. Three months ago—even two—he would have run in the other direction. Not now. He took Jeremy’s keys from him and drove them over to the house, then waited while Jeremy gathered clothes and personal items. Bran walked over to the sofa and paused, staring down at a little yellow bunny on the cushions. He remembered that bunny. Jess had bought it during one of their trips to the market.
Things were suddenly very quiet, so Bran braced himself and made his way upstairs to check on his friend. He found Jeremy in the nursery, sitting in a rocking chair and holding a blanket in his hands. He wasn’t crying, but Bran knew that meant nothing. He was hurting on the inside, and he was scared.
“Do they know what’s wrong with her?” Bran finally asked, keeping his voice as calm as possible.
“Measles. Something about how she could have picked them up at her last checkup, but she’s too little for the vaccine yet.” His tortured gaze met Bran’s. “Babies can die from measles, Bran.”
“I know. But she’s at the hospital and getting great care, right?”
Jeremy nodded.
“Okay. So let’s put this stuff in the car and get to Halifax so you can give Tori a break. All right?”
Jeremy nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, let’s go.”
As Jeremy got up, Bran noticed a framed picture on the wall. It was a sketch, and one of Jess’s, he was sure of it. Of Rose, in a little bonnet, bundled up and in presumably Tori’s arms. A lump formed in his throat. That precious little girl, who smiled and gurgled at her father’s silly faces, who looked at her mother so adoringly, who had studied him with such wide-eyed curiosity the night of the card game as he’d picked her up for the first time.
His best friend would not lose his daughter the way he’d lost Owen.
They packed the two bags in the car, and Bran offered to drive so Jeremy could rest. They had barely hit the highway when Jeremy fell asleep, and Bran was glad of it. He’d likely been awake all night, worrying about Rose and Tori. Bran remembered one time when Owen had got a cold and struggled to breathe so much. There’d been sleepless nights, but he’d also hated to see Jennie so exhausted and worried.
Bran found his way to the children’s hospital and pulled into the parking garage, waking Jeremy as he rolled down the window for the parking stub. “We’re here, buddy.”
“I didn’t mean to sleep. Sorry.”
“Don’t be. You needed the rest. Come on, I’ll go in with you. Is there someplace inside where we can grab you and Tori some food? Coffee?”
Jeremy nodded. “Yeah. I don’t know if Tori will eat, but...”
“Tea,” Bran suggested. “She drinks tea a lot, right? Get her tea and a sandwich she can pick at. It’s your job to make sure she takes care of herself. And you can’t do that if you don’t look after yourself, too.”
“I’m fine.”
“Humor me.”
They spent precious minutes picking up sandwiches and drinks, and then Bran carried the overnight bags in his hands as Jeremy hit the elevator button taking them to the correct floor. Bran’s pulse accelerated as they headed for the isolation unit; he hated hospitals, and the memories bubbled to the surface simply from the sounds and the smell that was so peculiar to hospitals. But he carried on, knowing that for months Jeremy had been there for him, and it was his turn to repay the favor.
Poor little Rose was in isolation since she was so contagious. Once they arrived, Tori came out, shedding her mask and gown. She looked like hell. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and there were dark circles under her eyes. She appeared to have slept in her clothes, but the relief on her face when she saw Jeremy lit up the room. Bran felt a strange emotion wash over him. It was like just being in the same room together made everything okay. He’d felt that not long ago, with Jess. She hadn’t had to do anything but be there and smile, and the world was forever changed.
He was forever changed.
He put the bags down and went forward to give Tori a hug. “Hello, little mama,” he said softly, giving her a squeeze. “How’s she doing?”
“They’re giving her fluids through an IV and stuff to bring down her fever. We just keep hoping there aren’t complications like—” she took a breath, swallowed, got herself together again “—like encephalitis.”
“She’s a tough cookie. And Jeremy has food for you.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Then save the sandwich for later and drink some tea. He got mint, the kind you like.”
She looked up, and Jeremy was holding out the paper cup. “I got a large. You need to look after yourself too, honey. You haven’t slept.”