Chapter 38 #2
I sit beside Saylor’s bed and reach out to hold his hand.
Nash pulls another chair to my side, sitting down and holding my other hand, starting to tell me stories about their childhood, about how Saylor always stepped in to take the blame for shit Nash had done.
I smile sadly at him, leaning my head against Nash’s shoulder, getting lulled to sleep by his soft, deep voice.
A tingle on my cheek wakes me as well as a tingling tug at my heart and a chuckle. “Wow, it must be so entertaining to visit me.”
“Casper,” I whisper, smiling and blinking my eyes back open.
“That’s so fucking fascinating, he slipped away into his potato state, and the next second, you wake up and see him?” Nash asks, awestruck.
“Hey!” I chide, slapping his shoulder. “Stop calling him a potato.”
“Oh, because you didn’t,” Saylor teases, and his smile makes my chest lighter.
“At least I called you a sweet potato,” I mutter, making them laugh.
Nash’s phone chimes, and he checks it before smiling at me. “Baby is here.”
Relief and excitement surge through me at Nash’s words.
Thank fuck.
We rise from our seats, anticipation quickening our steps as we make our way back to the maternity ward.
Entering Tally’s room, the scene before us is one of pure joy.
Tally, looking exhausted yet happy, cradles a tiny bundle in her arms. Tim, standing beside her, wears an expression of awe and love.
And Shannon is standing on Tally’s other side, radiating love and relief. I can sense her pride and happiness.
This is what she’s been waiting for.
“Hey,” Tim whispers, his voice thick with emotion as he notices us, his eyes never leaving the small form in Tally’s arms.
Saylor, Nash, and I approach quietly, eager to greet the newest member of our little circle. Tally looks up, her eyes shining with tears of joy. “Meet our son,” she says, her voice a soft murmur, “Jesse Moore.”
“She would have loved that,” I whisper, smiling at Tally.
Honoring Jessica with that name is so Tally and proof of how good of a friend she is and how fiercely she loves you when you let her in.
I feel it every day and am so thankful for her.
Tim guides Nash and me closer, allowing us a better view of the baby. The little one, swaddled in a light blue blanket, is the epitome of innocence and cuteness. His tiny fingers curl and uncurl in sleep, his face a picture of peacefulness.
“Hello, little man,” I whisper, my heart swelling.
“Fuck, he’s cute,” Saylor whispers.
Nash leans in, his voice gentle. “Welcome to the family, buddy. You’ve got a lot of people who already love you.”
“How’s my girl?” I look up at Tally again, concerned.
“Done, completely and utterly done.” She sighs. “But it was worth every second.”
Tim’s hand finds its way to Tally’s shoulder, squeezing it gently. “She did amazing,” he praises, his voice trembling slightly.
Tally looks up at Tim, her smile weary but filled with love. “We did it. We have a baby, babe,” she replies, her gaze returning to their son.
In the tender quiet of the room, a wave of contentedness washes over me.
And when I look up to see where it’s coming from, I sense Shannon is preparing to leave.
She promised Tally she’d be here for the birth of her grandchild, and now that her promise is fulfilled, it’s time for her to step into the light.
“I’m ready.” Shannon smiles at me, and I nod.
I turn to Tally, her eyes still fixed on her newborn son. “Tally,” I begin softly. “Your mom… she’s ready to leave, and she wants to say goodbye.”
Nash puts an arm around my shoulder, letting me know he’s here, while Saylor reaches out to stroke the back of my hand.
Tally’s eyes lift from her baby, meeting mine with a mixture of surprise and understanding. Tim’s arm tightens around her, offering silent support.
I take a deep breath, my eyes finding Shannon’s again, and I tell Tally every word she tells me.
“I’m so proud of you, Tallulah. I’ve been with you every step of the way, and I’m in awe of how amazing of a person you turned out to be.
My daughter is strong, fierce, and still so kind and full of love.
Having you was the best thing that ever happened to me, and I’m so happy I could be here for this moment. ”
Tally’s eyes fill with tears. “Can she… can she see him?” she asks, her voice quivering.
“Yes, she can,” I assure her. “She’s been watching over both of you.”
I relay Shannon’s words as they come to me. “She says you’re going to be an amazing mother. She loves you so much, and she’s always going to be a part of you and the little shrimp. He has his own guardian angel in her.”
Tally nods, her tears flowing freely now. “I love you, Mom. Thank you for being here, for staying, and for keeping your promise.”
Shannon responds with a wave of love so strong it’s almost tangible. “I love you too. More than words can say.” Her gaze finds Tim’s. “Keep them happy, Tim.”
I smile as I relay it to him. “She wants you to keep them happy, Tim.”
“Will do, Shan, with all I have. I promise,” Tim answers her, a tear streaming down his cheek.
“And you too, Sloan. Take care of my girl. She needs a friend like you,” Shannon tells me sternly, and I laugh a little.
Seems like she doesn’t hate me after all.
I’m home, where I want and need to be. I can now confidently say I’m not going to run again.
“Promise,” I whisper.
“Bye, Shannon, see you in the light.” Saylor smiles at her, and she smiles back.
“Let’s wait a few years before our next reunion, shall we?” She turns to me, and relief washes over me. “It’s so beautiful.”
“Bye, Shannon,” I whisper, and Nash squeezes me to him.
Shannon’s presence begins to fade, a soft glow enveloping her. She smiles one last time at her daughter and grandchild before she enters the light. As she does, a sense of peace fills the room, a gentle assurance that her love will stay although she is leaving.
Tally sniffles, whispering, “Goodbye, Mom. I’ll miss you.”
Tim holds her close, his own eyes still glistening. In the stillness, the baby stirs as if sensing the profound moment.
I’m left with a sense of closure in the quiet that follows. Life and love, in all their complexity, have brought me here, and in this moment, I find comfort in having the people I love around me and in the knowledge that love truly never dies.
The road stretches out before us under the fading light. Nash and Saylor are with me, and the car is filled with comfortable silence until my phone rings. Glancing at the caller ID, I see it’s Hunter, so I put him on speaker.
“Hey, I’m getting North on the call too,” Hunter says, and I can’t help but cringe a little, bracing myself for North’s reaction to my impromptu use of his car.
There’s a brief pause before North’s voice comes through. “Hey, you guys all right?”
“We are. Driving home. Should be there in thirty minutes. Sorry again for hijacking your car.”
I’m ready for a scolding, but instead, he huffs. “I’m just glad you didn’t try to drive that fast in the van.”
Relief washes over me, and I can’t help but smile. “Thanks, North.”
Nash and I quickly fill them in on all that happened—Tally’s baby, how adorable he is, and our plans to visit again soon, taking them and Lio to see Jesse. But Hunter shifts the conversation to a more pressing issue.
“Happy the baby’s here, but now we’ve got a problem,” Hunter announces, tone gruff. “We’re one man short for Nash’s boat. And there’s still the big delivery coming up for Halloween. We need all of the boats on the water.”
“Can’t you just put in one of the new ones you hired last week?” North’s voice comes through the speaker.
Nash mutters a curse. “It’s tough enough without Adam. He was a scumbag, but he knew the ropes. The new guy who’s replacing him is green. I can handle one greenhorn but not two.”
“Does anyone know another company we can ask for help?” Hunter wonders aloud.
That’s when North curses under his breath. “Hunter, can you take Lio to his doctor’s appointment tomorrow? It’s just a check-up.”
“Sure, but why?” Hunter asks, puzzled.
North’s voice is firm, resolute. “I’ll step in for Tim.”
Oh my God.
The car goes silent. Saylor is the first to break it. “Holy sh–”
Hunter unknowingly cuts him off, questioning, “Are you sure about this? You know I would never ask this of you. I couldn’t either.”
There’s a determination in North’s voice that brooks no argument. “I’m sure. It’s time to bring out the Maestro again. Have some fun with my little brother on the ocean.”
Nash lets out a whoop of excitement. “Hell, yes! The Maestro’s back!”
The energy in the car shifts, and Nash grows all giddy, but Saylor stays silent.
North stepping back into the world he left behind is big—not just for the delivery but for him. He’s stepping up and facing past demons. And from the sound of it, he’s more than ready to take on the challenge.
I’m so fucking proud of him.
As we continue our drive, the conversation shifts to preparations and logistics. However, Saylor remains unusually quiet, a silence that draws my attention. “You all right?” I ask softly, turning my head slightly to whisper to him.
“This is big, Sloan,” he whispers, his words causing my heart to both sink and swell at once.
Noticing my reaction, he quickly adds, attempting to reassure me, “I would have never thought we could get past what happened. I... I thought this was life now. All of us hurting on our own, living in the shadow of my dumb decisions. But we’re healing, moving forward, facing our fears.
” I bite my lip, nodding slightly. He’s right.
They are all so strong. “We got this, Slo. Living again? We all got this because of you.”
A lump forms in my throat, but I try to offer him a smile through the rearview mirror.
They got this.
We got this.