10
Dillon
“All we could find out is that Viv is in surgery. They won’t tell us anything else until her parents arrive,” Ash says as she and Jamie reenter the waiting room. “They are en route from Texas and should be here within the hour.” Ash clears her throat. “I spoke to Audrey.”
“How did you get in contact with her?”
“We swapped numbers in Dublin. She’s still using the same one. She’s at the airport in Boston with her husband. Alex is Reeve’s best friend.” Ash flops down on the chair beside her fiancé, resting her head on his shoulder. “It seems Viv told her about you. She knows Easton is your son, but she’s pretty sure Mr. and Mrs. Mills have no idea. She suggests you keep your gob shut for now.”
“I’m not a fucking imbecile.” I drag my hands through my hair, and I could kill for a beer or a smoke. “Viv is the priority right now.” I have wondered who is taking care of Easton, but I’m guessing one of the staff they have at the house looks after him when they go out.
“You don’t seem concerned about your twin,” Ro says. “Why is that?”
“I can’t get into all that now.”
“I’ve often wondered if Viv and I would ever find a way to reconnect. I never imagined it would be under these circumstances,” Ash says. “I should’ve spoken to her at the Oscars.”
“Hon. Don’t beat yourself up. There’s no point wondering about all the what-ifs. You’re here now.We’rehere now. That’s what matters.” Jamie kisses her on the lips, and she clings to him.
I turn around and face the window. Sometimes, it’s hard to be around my best mate and my sister. They are so into one another, and it reminds me of everything I’ve lost. I rest my forehead on the glass, looking down at the chaos outside. The rain has petered out now, unlike the crowds, which appear to have trebled in size.
Time ticks by so slowly, and every minute feels like an hour. I can’t sit still. I can’t stop my mind from churning. Rehashing all the mistakes I’ve made, wondering if I’ll ever get the opportunity to put them right. I’m thinking of everything and anything but the possibility Viv might not survive this because I cannot contemplate that scenario.
If I don’t think it, it won’t be true.
I jerk my head up when the door opens an hour later, and Vivien’s parents enter the room. Lauren looks distraught. Her eyes are bloodshot, and her skin is puffy from crying. Jonathon holds her in his arms, and he’s trying to put a brave face on it, but I can see the pain swimming in his eyes. Lauren frowns, her eyes creasing in confusion as she looks around the room. “Aisling?” She fixes her gaze on my sister as Ash stands. “What are you doing here?” she blurts.
“We came as soon as we saw the news. We couldn’t not be here for Viv.” Tears pool in my sister’s eyes as Lauren pulls her in for a hug, sobbing. Jonathon’s chest heaves, and he looks down at his feet.
Ronan and Jamie shoot me anxious looks.
“I’m glad you’re here,” Lauren says in a raspy voice that tells of copious shed tears. “Viv will be happy to see you. She misses you, you know.”
“I miss her too.” Ash glances up at Viv’s mum. “Did they tell you what’s going on? They won’t tell us anything other than Viv is in surgery.”
“They are sending someone in shortly,” Jonathon says. “If they don’t, I’ll be screaming bloody murder.”
Lauren eases out of Ash’s embrace, approaching Jamie and Ro. “I’m Lauren, Vivien’s mom. And this is my husband, Jonathon.” She glances back at her husband, and he tips his head at my brother and friend.
“I’m Jamie, and this is Ronan.”
“I wish we were meeting under better circumstances, but thank you for being here. I know it will mean a lot to my daughter.”
Lauren moves back to the comfort of her husband’s arms, and her eyes connect with mine. Her brow creases. “Who are you?” she asks, exchanging a puzzled look with her husband.
I clear my throat, shoving my hands in the pockets of my jeans. “I’m Dillon O’Donoghue. I’m Ash and Ronan’s brother.”
“You’re Viv’s ex-boyfriend!” Lauren steps away from her husband, walking toward me. “I saw pictures of you,” she adds, scrutinizing my face. “But you didn’t look like this.” Jonathon steps up behind her, circling his arms around her waist as he regards me with suspicion. “You look like—” She clamps a hand over her mouth, sucking in a sharp gasp.
“He looks like Reeve,” her husband says, rubbing his hand up and down her arm. “What is going on here?”
Lauren’s hand drops to her side. “Oh my God. It’s you! You’re Reeve’s twin!”
I nod. “I am. Viv didn’t tell you we met two weeks ago?” I remember she was close to her parents. Her mum especially, and I know Reeve is like their prodigal son. I assumed they would’ve told them.
“What the hell is going on?” Lauren glares at me. “We knew you existed because we spoke to Reeve after he discovered he had a twin, but we left for location then.” Lauren glances briefly at her husband before her eyes drill into mine. “Neither of them said a word on the phone, but I sensed something was troubling my daughter. She seemed distracted. Stressed.”
She fixes me with a scary look, and her hands clench into fists at her sides. Honestly, she looks like she’s seconds away from punching me. “I’m beginning to understand why. I don’t believe in coincidence. You didn’t want to meet us in Dublin on purpose. You were afraid we would recognize you.” She hits the nail on the head, not that I’m confirming anything right now. I have zero desire to leave this hospital in a body bag, and with the way Viv’s parents are glaring at me, it’s a distinct possibility. “You knew who she was. You knew about Reeve. What sort of sick game were you playing?”