“Liam, I want you to take three deep breaths,” Nora ordered. “Cassidy, can you take over here while I call the doctor?”
“Of course.” I wrapped my fingers around Liam’s as Nora left the room.
“We’ll take Harry back to our bedroom for a feed,” Josie said, trying to settle her baby’s cries. “We’ll be back soon, Gramps.”
With a nod, Liam closed his eyes to focus on his breathing.
Adam’s eyes locked on our intertwined hands. “Is he okay?”
“He will be.” I glanced back at the couch where my son stood, wide eyed and pale. “Would you mind taking Finn back to my room? Let him watch whatever movie he wants.”
“Yeah, of course.” Adam squeezed his grandfather’s hand before placing it by his side. With a faint smile, he left with Finn, leaving me alone with Liam.
I ran my fingers over his sparse gray hair. “That must’ve given you quite the fright.”
“My head is so…jumbled.”
“I know,” I said softly. “Let me do some Reiki while we wait for Nora.”
“I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
As I stood with my hands hovered over his head, the room filled with the scent of freesias. “Can you smell that, Liam?”
He drew in a deep breath and every muscle in his body appeared to relax. “Betty…”
“Keep breathing.” My hands warmed. “Focus on your love for her.”
After a few minutes, Liam drifted back to sleep, completely at ease.
“I guess we won’t be needing these,” Nora said as she returned with a cup full of pills. She read his pulse and placed the back of her hand on his forehead. “You really are a miracle worker.”
“I don’t work miracles.” I smiled solemnly. “If I could, my husband would still be alive.”
Nora’s sympathetic gaze met mine. “I bet he felt love until his last breath.”
“He did.”
“You deserve that, too, you know,” she said, fixing Liam’s sheets. “I hope that doctor hasn’t deterred you from all men.”
“No, but I think I’ll wait until I have my old life back before I go down that path again.”
“Your old life is gone, honey. It’s time to create a new one.” She nodded to the door. “Go enjoy some time with your son. I’ll keep an eye on Liam.”
“Thanks, Nora, but I think I’ll sit with him for a bit. Just in case he has another nightmare.”
“Suit yourself. I’ll update the doc.”
27
Once Liam's breathing stabilized and I was confident he was in a deep sleep, I wandered back to my room, hoping to catch the end of the movie.
“Hey,” I whispered, finding Finn sleeping soundly against Adam’s shoulder while an old Disney movie played.
Adam pulled his gaze from the screen. “Hey…is Gramps okay now?”
“He’s fine. Fast asleep…just like this guy.” I smiled at the pool of drool on Adam’s shirt.
“Yeah, I lost feeling in my arm about ten minutes ago.”