“Should we go inside?” I suggest.
“No.” Amelia shakes her head profusely. “I’m scared.”
Taking her face in my hands, I tilt it up. “Daddy and I will be there the whole time.”
Amelia nods and takes a brave step on her own to the room, glancing back to make sure Ryder and I are there as promised.
Norah sits at her mother’s bedside, with tears I hope are real but fear are fake, filling her eyes. She turns to face us, sadness turning to anger.
“Get her out of here, Ryder. She’s not welcome.” Under normal circumstances, I would oblige, but I’m not here for anyone except Amelia.
Amelia clutches me. “No, please don’t go.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” I promise.
As Norah begins to protest, a strangled moan escapes Dorothy. She’s trying to speak but is too weak.
“This isn’t the time, Norah,” Ryder says.
With her hand in mine, Amelia moves toward the bed. Through her oxygen mask, Dorothy gives her a weak smile. Climbing onto the bed, Amelia rests her head on her grandmother’s chest.
“I love you, Grandma. Please, don’t go.”
Dorothy places a hand on Amelia’s head, the other one struggling with her oxygen mask. I move closer to assist her.
“It’s okay, honey. I’m okay.”
“But you’re going to go to heaven, and I won’t see you anymore.”
“But I’ll still see you.” Dorothy gasps for air. “I love you, Amelia. So, so much.”
“I love you, too,” Amelia sobs.
Dorothy inhales deeply, her chest rises, then falls as she takes her last breath.
Several hours and thousands of tears later, Amelia is tucked away in her bed, fast asleep.
Making my way into the kitchen, Ryder is already there, a glass of whiskey in front of him. He slides another one in my direction.
“Thought we could both use a drink.”
I pick up the glass and inspect it. “Not sure if this is strong enough.”
He pulls out the stool next to him at the island and pats it. Taking a seat, we clink glasses and sip the amber liquid. For a few moments, we sit silently. Then at the same time, we both try to speak. We laugh, and I insist he goes first. I had the final word with my letter. Now it’s his turn to have his say, whatever that might be.
“Thank you for coming. I know what you had to give up and… if I can find a way to fix it for you, I will.”
“There’s no place I would rather be.”
“Yeah, but the concert… your contract.” He hangs his head. “I messed it all up for you. If I had just left you alone.”
“You didn’t mess up anything. I did. The moment I left.” I take a deep breath and put my hand on his arm. “I overheard Norah, the things she said, how she blamed me. I blamed myself, too. It wasn’t until I heard the words out loud, I realized how much. I was afraid I’d done irreparable damage to Amelia. That you would never forgive me.”
“There was nothing to forgive. You didn’t ask for the attack.”
“You didn’t ask to be brought into my mess. I didn’t even have the decency to warn you about it.”
“You were scared.”