“She’ll be out for most of the day. If there are places you need to go, then you can trust we’ll look after her,” he adds, sensing my need to leave.
“I’ll just be away for a few hours. There’s someone . . . I mean, something I need to do.”
“Take your time, Layla. In the meantime, should I book the surgery room for Zoey?”
My eyes never leave my sister. She frowns in her sleep, the pain in her head not even letting her dream. I finally turn my attention to Dr. Ramos, pure resolve etched on my face.
“Yes, please. Give me two weeks, doctor, and I’ll get the money.”
He lets out a small, relieved sigh and smiles at me.
“You are the best big sister Zoey could have ever hoped for. I have absolute faith you’ll come through for her. I’ll do the rest and make sure she’s fit as a fiddle afterwards. I give you my word.”
I give him a curt nod, trying my darndest to push all thoughts of my sweet baby sister’s head being cut up with a drill and scalpel out of my mind.
“I’ll return in a few hours. If she wakes up in the meantime, tell her I’ll be back.”
“I won’t need to. She knows you’ll never leave her,” he replies.
Damn right.
Too many people in our lives have either left by their own two feet or because forces beyond their power made them—Gage being the one that still hurts the most.
I couldn’t save him, but by God, that will not happen to Zoey.
Somehow, I was given a lifeline.
It’s not an ideal lifeline if I’m to accept a total stranger’s wedding proposal, but it’s a lifeline all the same.
While I may have had plenty of valid hesitations when Alaric proposed to me in his car last night, in the light of day, with Zoey lying on a hospital bed, I realize his proposition came when I needed it most. Now all I have to do is tell him so.
If he wants me, he can have me.
All I’ll ask in return is that he writes a check big enough to cover all my sister’s hospital bills. Whatever happens after that, well, I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.
Thinking he’ll drop by the diner to see me, I rush out of the hospital and take the bus there. The minute I walk through the doors, my body slumps in sadness.
Alaric is nowhere in sight.
“Layla!” Will calls out when he sees me, gesturing for me to come behind the counter. “Where have you been? The boss man has been threatening to fire you if you keep not showing up for your shifts.”
“Zoey’s sick again, Will. I can’t come to work when she’s sick. I just can’t.”
“Damn it. I thought as much. Still, I don’t think you’ll have a job if you keep pulling all these no-shows.”
“Yeah, I know,” I mutter in defeat. “I’ll just have to deal with it after I’ve made sure Zoey is getting better.”
Will gives me a gentle smile and tells me to wait for a few seconds before heading toward the kitchen. When he returns, he has a brown paper bag filled with two containers of today’s special.
“Don’t get excited. It’s nothing much, only lasagna, but I know it’s Zoey’s favorite.”
“Thank you. You’re a good friend.” I grin, genuinely grateful for the food. “Speaking of friends, I was wondering if a friend of mine came by asking for me?” I inquire sheepishly.
“A friend?” He raises his eyebrows. “I thought I was the only one,” he teases, but I can tell my question took a bit of the wind out of his sails. “No, Layla. Sorry, but no one’s come here looking for you.”
“Right. No worries,” I retort, putting on a smile and feigning indifference. “I should head back. Thank you, Will, for everything.”
“Why do I feel like you’re saying goodbye?”