Before It's Too Late (Troubled Hearts Book 3) Read online

  “Something sure does smell good,” he said, squeezing her in a gentle hug.

  Gramms let him go and stepped toward Zach after he hung his coat. Cael sucked in a quiet breath. Damn, Zach looked good in his plain black T-shirt and slim fitting jeans.

  Geez, what the hell is wrong with me today?

  Cael usually did a much better job of controlling his other thoughts about Zach. The ones that wanted him to ignore his brain and grab the man, pin him to the wall, and kiss him as if he owned him.

  “Well, I know how much Zach loves my banana bread,” she said, giving Zach a hug as well. Gramms released him and stepped back a little. “How are you, sweetie?” she asked him.

  “I’m good,” Zach said, glancing at Cael, a small smile teasing his lips.

  Her eyebrows shot up. “Anything new lately?”

  Zach’s smile morphed into something less happy as he scrunched his face a little and shook his head.

  Gramms looked over her shoulder at Cael. “You still haven’t told him, have you?”

  “Um…”

  “Told me what?”

  Zach and Cael answered simultaneously. Cael laughed a little, trying his best to cover the sudden panic rising inside as Zach’s eyes darted to him. Shit. He was usually able to improvise at a split-second’s notice, but he was completely out of sorts today.

  Gramms was the only one he’d ever actually flat-out told about his feelings for Zach, and she’d only ever mentioned or asked him about it when they’d been alone. She’d even nudged Cael in the past to tell him, but had always respected his decision not to. So, what gave?

  “Oh,” Gramms said, lifting her dry, cracked hand to her lips in a blatantly unsuccessful attempt to cover the smile splitting her wrinkled face. Her eyes danced with mischief, crinkling at the corners. “Did I say something I wasn’t supposed to?” she added, then disappeared around the corner.

  Cael looked at Zach. His forehead and brows crinkled, Zach stared at him as if he’d just betrayed him or something.

  “What the fuck, man?” he mouthed the words, then raised his voice. “Are you keeping something from me?”

  Yep. Betrayal. Anger. Pain. All there in his voice.

  “It’s not what you think, Zach.”

  “Then what is it?”

  Zach’s phone rang, saving Cael from having to answer. Still glaring at Cael, Zach’s lips pressed into a thin line. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell, then dropped his gaze to the screen.

  “It’s Mom,” he practically growled, swiping his thumb across the glass and putting the phone to his ear as he turned his back to Cael and sauntered into the living room that hadn’t seen a décor update since the early eighties. “Hey, Mom.”

  Cael inhaled sharply, having no clue what to tell him, so he took the opportunity to confront Gramms about her little, devious ploy that just buried him in God-only-knew how much trouble. He found her in the kitchen, hunched over the oven as she pulled out the Bundt pan containing freshly baked banana bread.

  “So, you still didn’t tell him.” It’s a statement, not a question.

  Cael pushed his hand through his hair and sighed. “Gramms…”

  Gramms set the hot pan on a wire cooling rack on the counter, then closed the oven and pulled off the oven mitts, setting them on the orange countertop before looking at him. “Don’t you think he deserves to know how you feel?”

  “Yeah, probably, but I told you, I can’t. It would make everything weird.”

  Cael glanced over his shoulder, confirming Zach’s muffled voice still in the other room. Circling the breakfast bar, Cael joined her in the kitchen. He leaned back against the orange counter, crossing his legs at the ankles and his arms over his chest. From here, he could at least watch for Zach to enter from the living room where he’d left him.

  Gramms grabbed the damp washcloth from the sink and proceeded to wipe down the laminate countertop. “What I don’t know is how you don’t see why you need to tell him.”

  “I— Wait. Have you been talking to Chloe?”

  “Not in the last week. Why?”

  “Because she said something similar. I don’t get it, Gramms. What is it I’m not seeing?”

  Gramms rinsed the washcloth and refolded it neatly, then hung it over the faucet. After drying her hands with the kitchen towel hanging just below the sink, she came over and paused right in front of him, her blue-gray eyes warm and comforting.

  “Can you not see how much he cares about you?” she whispered.

  Cael furrowed his brow. “Well, yeah. We’ve been best friends for years, so—”

  “Tsk. That’s not what I’m talking about.”

  “Gramms, I—” Movement in the background caught his eye, and he looked up to see a teary-eyed Zach rushing toward him. Cael moved away from Gramms immediately and out of the kitchen to intercept him, wondering what the hell had happened.

  “I have to go.” Zach choked on his words. He looked at Gramms. “I’m sorry, Gramms. Cael, we have to go.”

  His chest tightened. Zach never called him Cael unless it was something serious. “Okay, but what is it? What happened?”

  “It’s Abbey. She was in a car accident. Taylor was with her. They’re at St. Anthony’s. Mom said—”

  Zach’s words failed him, and Cael didn’t even think. He grabbed Zach and pulled him close, holding him as tight as he possibly could. Maybe it was for him more than for Zach. Cael didn’t know. He was afraid to hear the rest. He couldn’t stomach the horrible feeling twisting in his gut right now. It was bad. He knew it was bad. He didn’t want to know, but he needed to know.

  Abbey was as much his sister as was his own, and her daughter Taylor wasn’t even two years old yet, but they were at St. Anthony’s, which had a level one trauma center. Between working at the VA hospital and dealing with sports injuries on a regular basis, Cael was familiar with the capabilities of the various hospitals in the area, and St. Anthony’s was one of the best.

  Zach squeezed his arms around Cael as he buried his face against his neck, his hat popping off and toppling down his back to the floor. His warm tears dampened Cael’s skin, soaking into his shirt. Zach took a deep, shuddering breath.

  “Mom said Taylor will be okay, but Abbey… Abbey might not make it. She’s in emergency surgery right now.” He breathed in deeply again, then lifted his head and pulled away, rubbing his eyes. “Cael, what if—”

  Cael cut him off. “No. Don’t even think it. Your sister’s tough. She’s gonna make it. C’mon. I’ll drive.” Cael clasped his hand, again not thinking, and started dragging him toward the door.

  “Oh, sweetie, I’m so sorry,” Gramms said as she followed them, tears in her eyes as well. She handed Zach his hat, having picked it up when it fell, and Zach put it on as Cael grabbed both jackets. “Drive safe now, Cael. And call me as soon as you know more.”

  “I will, Gramms. Love you.”

  “Love you both,” she replied.

  ***

  The second they walked through the emergency room’s sliding glass doors, Zach’s dad greeted them, wrapping them each in a firm, silent hug. Zach first. Then Cael. Cael caught a few of the people in the waiting area looking at them, but he ignored them. His sole focus was to be here for Zach and his family.

  “How is she?” Zach asked, his voice strained.

  “We don’t know, son. Far as we know, they’re still trying to stabilize her.” Alex paused, his bottom lip trembling, as he closed his eyes. Tears gathered along his already damp lashes. He looked like he was nearing his breaking point, trying his best to keep himself together. Cael couldn’t even imagine how much Alex was hurting right now, to know he might never see his daughter alive again. Never see her sparkling green eyes or brilliant smile. Never hear her voice or her laugh. It was a heartbreaking agony no one should ever have to experience.

  “Dad?” Zach whispered hoarsely.

  “Sorry,” Alex breathed more than said. He sniffed, scrunching his nose. “Your
mom’s in with Taylor now. That little girl was lucky. A broken wrist and a few scratches. Nothing she won’t heal from.”

  “Do you know what happened?” Cael asked, still trying to wrap his mind around the entire situation.

  “They think one of her tires blew out, and she lost control. The car flipped and rolled several times down an embankment before coming to a stop in the grass. Taylor was crying, still strapped into her car seat, but Abbey was unconscious when paramedics got to her. All they’ve told us so far is that she’s in extremely critical condition and lucky to be alive at all.”

  “Abbey’s a fighter. She’ll pull through,” Cael said with as much conviction as he could muster. He had to believe she would. Taylor needed her mom. Zach couldn’t lose his sister. Alex and Amy didn’t want to bury their only daughter.

  “I hope you’re right, Cael.” A quiet buzzing sound drew Alex’s attention. He lifted his hand and glanced down at his cell phone in his palm, then looked back up at Zach. “Your mom wants to know if you’re here yet. Come on. I’ll take you back.”

  Zach’s dad led them down a long hallway and a series of turns to the pediatric wing. Arriving at one open door, he gestured them to enter. As they walked in, Zach’s mom looked up at both of them from her wheelchair, a mix of emotions all over her. Taylor’s tiny hand rested in hers as she caressed her granddaughter’s baby soft skin while Taylor’s other hand lay motionless at her side in the tiniest little cast Cael had ever seen. It would have been adorable if it wasn’t heartbreaking.

  Amy gave them a pained smile. “She’s okay. Just sleeping.”

  Zach leaned down and hugged his mom as she struggled to hug him with her free arm.

  “What about you, Mom? Are you okay?” Zach asked, releasing her to kneel on one knee in front of her. He rubbed his hand across her twitching forearm.

  “The pain is getting harder to manage, but I’m okay. Don’t worry about me.” Amy sniffled a little. Tears crested her eyelashes as her resolve faltered, and her voice broke. “I just want to know that my baby’s okay.”

  Cael cringed at how soft and weak her voice sounded. Amy’s MS had been actively progressing for the last several months. He remembered when she was first diagnosed with primary progressive multiple sclerosis. Zach and he were only freshmen in high school. Neither of them had truly understood what it meant. Over the last fifteen years since, Amy had fought the disease with more courage and strength than anyone had. Even as her body had succumbed to the chronic pain and last year, when she lost the ability to walk, her spirit had stayed strong. Abbey had that same spirit—that same will to live—and she was fighting for her life right now. She had to be.

  “I know, Mom,” Zach whispered, clasping his mom’s trembling fingers.

  Minutes became hours as hope for Abbey’s survival dwindled. As the four of them huddled in Taylor’s room, constantly shifting positions, they all clung to the belief that no news was good news.

  Three hours passed. Zach’s dad sat in the only chair in the room, having moved it beside his wife’s wheelchair some time ago. Zach and Cael sat on the floor, their backs against the wall, Zach’s head resting on Cael’s shoulder as Taylor slept soundly in her bed. Cael reached for Zach’s hand, covering it with his but not going so far as to hold it. He wanted to be there for Zach in every way possible and wished he could do so much more.

  A knock sounded on the door, and a middle-aged, dark-skinned woman in gray scrubs with a closely shaved head and warm brown eyes entered the room.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Rivas?”

  “Yes,” Alex answered, immediately standing.

  “I’m Dr. Thomas. I have an update on your daughter, Abigail.”

  Alex remained standing beside his wife, taking her hand once again. Zach and Cael scrambled off the floor and hurried closer. Standing next to Cael, Zach grabbed his hand and squeezed. Cael squeezed back, holding his breath for more than a couple reasons.

  “I have good news and bad news,” Dr. Thomas said, her eyes sympathetic. “As of now, her condition is stable, but still critical.”

  “Oh, thank God,” Amy whispered, fresh tears springing from the corners of her eyes.

  Relief poured through Cael, but he could tell there was more dire news.

  “Details please, doctor,” Alex said.

  “Let me start by saying your daughter is very lucky to be alive right now. As a result of the rollover accident, blunt force trauma from where her head may have come in contact with the roof and driver’s door window has caused a severe brain injury that resulted in internal hemorrhaging. We performed a decompressive craniectomy to alleviate the pressure in her brain and control the bleeding. She also suffered cervical dislocation between her third and fourth vertebrae, as well as a hairline fracture of her C4. However, there was no actual damage to her spinal cord. We’ve set her spine and immobilized her. Those are the most severe of her injuries. Among her less severe injuries are a broken left radius, dislocated left shoulder, bruising along her entire left side as well as cuts and bruises on her face.”

  “What exactly does all that mean, doctor?” Zach asked.

  “It means her bones will heal and she’ll not experience any type of paralysis. The injury to her brain is where I’m most concerned. The next twenty-four to forty-eight hours will be critical to her survival. We’re monitoring her closely and we’ll continue to do so until I’m confident her life is no longer in imminent danger. I must be honest with you, though. The chances of her waking with no permanent disability on some level is highly unlikely.”

  “Waking?” Cael asked. “When you say waking…”

  Dr. Thomas gave all of them an empathetic look. “Abigail was unconscious when she arrived and has since been unresponsive to external stimuli.” Pause. “She has gone into a coma. Unfortunately, there is no way to know how much time will pass before she comes out of it.”

  “You mean, if she comes out of it,” Alex deadpanned.

  A heavy silence fell over the small hospital room, lingering for what felt like an eternity.

  Abbey might never wake up.

  Zach’s grip on Cael’s hand tightened, cutting off part of the circulation in his fingers.

  “I’m sorry.” Dr. Thomas paused again. “I’m having her moved to the ICU just down the hall from the ER.”

  “When can we see her?” Alex asked, gently caressing Amy’s neck and shoulders as she sobbed into a ball of damp tissues.

  “You can check with one of the nurses at the station desk. Once Abigail is settled, they’ll allow up to two visitors at a time to see her. Standard visiting hours are seven a.m. to nine p.m., but arrangements can be made should one of you like to stay.”

  Zach released Cael’s hand and walked around to the other side of the hospital crib in which Taylor still slept. “What about her daughter?”

  “We can release her to a designated family member or friend. As we do not know how long Abigail may be in a coma, I would advise you seek legal advice on a temporary guardianship as well.”

  Zach nodded, reaching for Taylor’s little hand.

  “I’m very sorry.” She gave them a kindhearted smile. “Are there any other questions I can answer for you at this time?”

  Zach looked to his dad who shook his head. “No,” Zach answered for everyone. “But thank you.”

  Dr. Thomas nodded and left the room, closing the door behind her.

  Zach stared down at his niece—the one ray of sunshine streaming through the dark, thunderous clouds that had rolled in with no advance warning on what had started out as a beautiful spring day. Cael hated to think it, but at least that precious little angel had survived the horrific crash that was still trying to take Abbey from them.

  Staring at Taylor, Cael took a deep breath.

  Blunt force trauma.

  Severe brain injury.

  Internal hemorrhaging.

  Coma.

  The words replayed over and over, threatening to consume him. They might lose her. It was a v
ery real possibility Cael didn’t want to even consider. He had to remind myself that Abbey was stubborn. She wouldn’t easily give up. This was the third time in just over two years that Abbey had been in the hospital fighting for her life.

  The first time, she’d been drugged at a nightclub, raped, and stabbed, left for dead in a seedy hotel room, yet somehow, she’d found the strength to pull a pillowcase off a pillow, wad it up, and press it against the stab wound, then had pulled out her cell phone and called 9-1-1. A month later, she learned she was pregnant by the unknown rapist. Everyone told her it would be okay if she didn’t want to keep the baby, but Abbey decided to anyway. She had refused to throw away the life growing inside her simply due to the circumstances of the conception.

  The second time had been when Taylor was born. After hours of labor, a drop in the baby’s heart rate and other complications during delivery had led to an emergency C-section that resulted in excessive bleeding. Both almost died that day.

  Now, they were in the midst of the third. It’s said third time’s a charm, so Cael chose to believe that Abbey would fight and pull through again for the third and final time and maybe then, death would finally give up on trying to take her.

  Cael blinked and looked up, meeting Zach’s heartrending gaze. He and his sister had always been close, and Cael knew how much this was killing him.

  “I’ll take care of Taylor,” Zach said, looking back down at her again.

  “I’ll help you,” Cael blurted out. He was sure Zach could manage without his help, but he couldn’t let him go through it alone. He wouldn’t, and Alex already had his hands full caring for Zach’s mom. As much as Cael knew they would help too, they didn’t need the added burden.

  Zach lifted his head and gifted him a small, grateful smile. God, how Cael loved him. Too bad he couldn’t tell him as much.

  “I’ll go find out who can help us with getting Taylor released,” Cael offered, heading for the door.

  “Thanks,” Zach replied.

  Chapter 3

  Shortly after Cael left to find a nurse or doctor for Taylor’s release, Zach’s mom and dad left to find Abbey. Zach had told them he and Cael would be down with Taylor as soon as all her paperwork was taken care of. Now alone, Zach sat beside Taylor’s hospital crib, holding her little hand—the one not in a cast—waiting for his best friend to come back so they could get out of there.