brings on a fresh wave of tears. Raising her hand he kisses the top, close to where her IV is. “It was nice to meet you, Lucy.”
“You, too,” she whispers back.
After a good-bye to Piper and Barbara we walk out of the hospital room, never making eye contact with my father. I turn to Sawyer in the hallway, hugging him tight. “Do you understand now?” I ask, looking up at him with tears flooding my cheeks.
My heart shatters when I see his eyes red and glassy. “Yeah, Cupcake. I understand. Tell the doctor to book Friday. We’ll tell the kids tonight and I’ll make sure everything is taken care of.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Sawyer
T he fear of the unknown washes over the kids’ faces as Grace tries explaining to them who Lucy is and what she plans to do to help her.
“Is it gonna hurt you, Mama?” Hope asks, her lip trembling.
I watch Grace swallow, struggling to get words out, so I cut in. “Come here, Shortcake.” Picking her up, I bring her on my lap. “Mama won’t feel it. She’ll be asleep and when she wakes up the doctor will give her medicine so it doesn’t hurt. But when she comes home we’ll have to be really careful around her and help her get better, okay?”
She nods at me then looks over at Grace. “I’ll take really good care of you, Mama.”
Grace reaches out and strokes her cheek. “I know you will, baby girl. Don’t worry, I’ll be better in no time and we’ll get back to our bakin’. In the meantime, you think of more creations for us, okay? The bakery will need it.”
“No problem. I got this,” she says.
“I thought you didn’t have any family,” Parker says, his tone accusing.
“Well, I do, but some of them aren’t very nice so I don’t have a relationship with them. I just met Lucy and Piper and they’re wonderful. They really want to meet y’all. Maybe we can go for a visit and—”
“I don’t want you to do it,” Parker interrupts. Fear and anger—the same feelings I’ve struggled with—written all over his face.
“Honey, come here.” Grace pulls him closer, bringing him to stand in front of her where she sits on the sofa next to me. “I know this seems scary, but everything will be okay. Lucy needs me right now.”
“Why can’t someone else do it?”
“Because I’m the only one who can. Lucy and I share a very rare blood type. I’m all she has. If I don’t do this, Parker, she could die. It’s very serious.”
“What about us?” he asks, his eyes filling with tears no matter how hard he tries fighting them back. “I don’t want anything to happen to you. I can’t live without you, Mom.” When a sob rattles from his small chest, Grace pulls him in for a hug.
“Mama could die?” Hope cries.
“No, your mom isn’t going to die,” I grind out; feeling like someone poured fucking acid down my throat. “Listen, guys, everything is going to be okay. Mom is going to help Lucy and we’re going to help her, but we need to be strong. Can you do that?”
All I get are sniffles and nods, including from Grace.
“I love you, Mama,” Hope says, leaning over to wrap her arms around Grace’s neck. Parker wraps his around both of them.
With an excruciating breath, I pull all three of them in and hold them close.
I’ve never felt so fucking helpless in all my life.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Grace
“G ood girl, now carefully drizzle the caramel over top.”
I stand behind Hope at our kitchen island, helping her pour the ingredients into the crust for the pie we’re making to bring to Lucy tonight. It was her creation, and it’s a beautiful one. It warmed my heavy heart.
The kids didn’t go to school today. We kept them home since last night was so emotional on everyone. They even slept with Sawyer and me, they didn’t want to leave me, and I didn’t want to be away from them either. I haven’t been able to swallow past the permanent lump that has formed in my throat since telling them.
I know I’m doing the right thing but it
“You, too,” she whispers back.
After a good-bye to Piper and Barbara we walk out of the hospital room, never making eye contact with my father. I turn to Sawyer in the hallway, hugging him tight. “Do you understand now?” I ask, looking up at him with tears flooding my cheeks.
My heart shatters when I see his eyes red and glassy. “Yeah, Cupcake. I understand. Tell the doctor to book Friday. We’ll tell the kids tonight and I’ll make sure everything is taken care of.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Sawyer
T he fear of the unknown washes over the kids’ faces as Grace tries explaining to them who Lucy is and what she plans to do to help her.
“Is it gonna hurt you, Mama?” Hope asks, her lip trembling.
I watch Grace swallow, struggling to get words out, so I cut in. “Come here, Shortcake.” Picking her up, I bring her on my lap. “Mama won’t feel it. She’ll be asleep and when she wakes up the doctor will give her medicine so it doesn’t hurt. But when she comes home we’ll have to be really careful around her and help her get better, okay?”
She nods at me then looks over at Grace. “I’ll take really good care of you, Mama.”
Grace reaches out and strokes her cheek. “I know you will, baby girl. Don’t worry, I’ll be better in no time and we’ll get back to our bakin’. In the meantime, you think of more creations for us, okay? The bakery will need it.”
“No problem. I got this,” she says.
“I thought you didn’t have any family,” Parker says, his tone accusing.
“Well, I do, but some of them aren’t very nice so I don’t have a relationship with them. I just met Lucy and Piper and they’re wonderful. They really want to meet y’all. Maybe we can go for a visit and—”
“I don’t want you to do it,” Parker interrupts. Fear and anger—the same feelings I’ve struggled with—written all over his face.
“Honey, come here.” Grace pulls him closer, bringing him to stand in front of her where she sits on the sofa next to me. “I know this seems scary, but everything will be okay. Lucy needs me right now.”
“Why can’t someone else do it?”
“Because I’m the only one who can. Lucy and I share a very rare blood type. I’m all she has. If I don’t do this, Parker, she could die. It’s very serious.”
“What about us?” he asks, his eyes filling with tears no matter how hard he tries fighting them back. “I don’t want anything to happen to you. I can’t live without you, Mom.” When a sob rattles from his small chest, Grace pulls him in for a hug.
“Mama could die?” Hope cries.
“No, your mom isn’t going to die,” I grind out; feeling like someone poured fucking acid down my throat. “Listen, guys, everything is going to be okay. Mom is going to help Lucy and we’re going to help her, but we need to be strong. Can you do that?”
All I get are sniffles and nods, including from Grace.
“I love you, Mama,” Hope says, leaning over to wrap her arms around Grace’s neck. Parker wraps his around both of them.
With an excruciating breath, I pull all three of them in and hold them close.
I’ve never felt so fucking helpless in all my life.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Grace
“G ood girl, now carefully drizzle the caramel over top.”
I stand behind Hope at our kitchen island, helping her pour the ingredients into the crust for the pie we’re making to bring to Lucy tonight. It was her creation, and it’s a beautiful one. It warmed my heavy heart.
The kids didn’t go to school today. We kept them home since last night was so emotional on everyone. They even slept with Sawyer and me, they didn’t want to leave me, and I didn’t want to be away from them either. I haven’t been able to swallow past the permanent lump that has formed in my throat since telling them.
I know I’m doing the right thing but it
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