Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
“No other close relatives?”
Shrugging, I said, “He’s got a few cousins, but they’re not close. I don’t even know when he last spoke to any of them.”
James let out a sigh. “Damn, I didn’t realize they didn’t have any parents around.”
I knew what he was thinking. The same thing I was.
Who was going to raise the baby?
I let out a long breath and reached for the door. “Thanks for driving and taking care of that for me.”
He reached out and squeezed my shoulder. “We’re all here for you both. I want you to know that, Gavin.”
Looking at my brother, I tried my best to smile. “I know. I love you, bro.”
“I love you too, Gav.”
I forced myself to get out of the car and approach the front door. Typing in the code, I prayed that I would have the right words to say…and that Brystol and the baby would be okay.
The door opened, and I could hear the TV on in the living room. I softly shut the door and locked it. Making my way into the room, I stopped when I saw Brystol lying on the sofa, sleeping. She looked so peaceful, and a part of me wanted to just bring her to bed and hold her all night. I could tell her in the morning.
It would be so easy to do. Ignore it all for one more night, before our worlds were turned upside down.
I ran my hand down my face and forced the tears back before I started over toward her. I knelt down and gently placed a hand on her arm.
“Brystol,” I whispered. “Baby, I’m home.”
She stirred and then opened her eyes. A sleepy smile appeared when she saw me. “Hey, how were the fireworks?”
“Good,” I said automatically. I hadn’t even been there to see them.
Sitting up, Brystol stretched her arms over her head as she yawned, then reached for her phone on the coffee table and smiled. “I watched the ball drop in New York. I texted Evelyn, but they must have been too busy enjoying it because I haven’t heard back from her.”
I took her phone, set it back on the coffee table, and sat beside it, facing her. I reached for her hands and looked into her eyes. “Brystol, I got some news tonight.”
She frowned. “Okay. From your expression, I guess it was bad news?”
I nodded and tried to swallow the lump in my throat. “Yeah…it was bad news.”
Her breathing started to increase. “Your parents? Declan? James?”
“They’re all okay. Everything is fine here in town. The, um, the NYPD called the station, looking for me.”
The color drained from her face, and she squeezed my hands as she slowly shook her head.
“Evelyn and Denny…they were hit by a drunk driver.”
“Oh my God,” she whispered. “Are they okay?”
My mouth opened but I couldn’t bring myself to say the words.
“Gavin?” Brystol shook my hands. “Gavin, are they okay?”
Her words had grown louder, and I knew I had to be strong. I straightened my shoulders, drew in a breath, and replied. “No, baby. They were both killed instantly.”
Brystol stared at me, her eyes blinking rapidly. “What? No. No. They can’t be gone. No, Gavin! No!” Tears started to trail down her cheeks.
“I know. I didn’t want to believe it either. But they’re gone, Bry. They’re gone.”
She dropped my hands and covered her mouth. When she abruptly stood, I did as well.
“I’m going to be sick!”
Following her into the bathroom, I bent with her as she threw up. My hand moved in slow circles around her back as I tried to silently comfort her. I didn’t have any words because I was still in shock myself. My mother had told me to just be there for Brystol. To hold her, tell her I’d be by her side always, that I didn’t need to have all the right words. It was a good thing because I didn’t have a single one. Nothing. I felt empty.
When she finally sat back, I got up and held a washcloth under the hot water for her. She took it and buried her face, and I knew she was crying, and it killed me. I wanted to take all of her hurt and pain away. I sat down and wrapped my arm around her. She leaned her head against my shoulder and drew in a shaky breath.
“The baby.”
I swallowed hard. “I know.”
She put her hand on her stomach.
“It’s my fault,” I whispered the words.
Her head jerked up, and I could see her staring at me from the corner of my eye.
“What?”
“I was the one who told Denny to take Evelyn to New York City.”
Brystol took my free hand in hers. “Don’t you dare do that, Gavin! This is not your fault. You didn’t pour alcohol down that driver’s throat or put Evelyn and Denny in a car at the wrong time and place. This isn’t your fault. The only one to blame is the person who killed them.”