Geneviève gave him one last, sad smile before she headed toward me.
We didn’t say anything the whole time we walked out of the ward and into the elevator.
When the doors swished open, I was surprised at how dark it was already.
“I didn’t realize it was this late,” I commented while we strolled to the entrance doors.
“I know, it’s like time stands still up there,” she said, and I agreed. The constant sounds of the machines beeping and whooshing made it feel like you were in a cave.
The large doors slid open for us and we stepped out into the night. To the right, we noticed a huge gathering of people on the open space. Some of them held up large pictures of Trey.
A smiling, happy Trey in his jersey.
Not the silent, unconscious lump in the bed upstairs.
They all held candles.
“Oh my gosh, they’re holding a vigil for him,” Geneviève said, her voice wobbly as she started sniffling again. She squeezed my hand even tighter while we made our way over to the group.
Members of our teams immediately came up to us, offering hugs and wanting to know more about Trey’s condition.
Finally, I pulled Geneviève with me to where a short bench stood. I stepped up, then helped her. “Evening, everyone. It’s incredible to see you all here supporting Trey,” I said in a loud voice, hoping to get their attention. “I know he’ll be touched that you made this effort for him.”
“How is he doing?” a voice in the distance asked.
I gazed to Geneviève.
For the first time ever, I was at a loss for words.
“He’s the same,” she said in her captain voice. “Right now, he could really use your prayers and thoughts and positive energies. But he’s strong—and stubborn,” she said, letting out a small laugh/cry, “and I have faith he’s going to walk out of here on his own two feet.”
“Beau, are you guys going to beat the shit out Rozovsky for this?” someone near the front asked.
I swallowed as Geneviève squeezed my hand. “Let’s just say—payback can be a bitch.”
The crowd exploded into cheers while my woman dug her fingernails into the palm of my hand.
I jumped down from the bench and Geneviève and I spent about an hour talking to the crowd, receiving, and giving comfort as needed.
When we arrived home, it was too late to call the boys. I was glad I’d talked to them in the morning.
I wasn’t scheduled to have them again until after the series was over.
Which sucked, but there wasn’t much I could do about that.
“I’ll take the dogs out. You go shower,” I said, feeling like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders as I slid out of the Jeep.
She nodded at me, then jumped out, too.
We walked up to the iron gates together.
We’d decided to stay at the apartment tonight to be closer to everyone. A few of the women came out of their places with suitcases. They talked with us about Trey, then discussed their travel plans.
I hadn’t realized the women were already finished.
I mean, I must’ve heard it. It just didn’t register in my head.
A stabbing pain shot through my guts at the thought of Geneviève leaving. She hadn’t mentioned anything, though. And Christmas holidays hadn’t come up yet, either.