Chapter 50 Sierra
CHAPTER FIFTY
sierra
An incessant beeping echoed through the hallway, bouncing off the sterile, too-perfect walls of the hospital in Goldfinch.
I sat in one of the hard, uncomfortable chairs in the waiting room, wringing my hands together and tapping my foot so hard I was sure the receptionist would get annoyed with me and tell me to stop.
But I was also sure they were trained not to do that, given they worked in a hospital and these types of places were the source of a lot of stress for most people.
They probably had more empathy than I gave them credit for.
The paramedics arrived on the scene in record time, racing Hayden to the hospital after Roy carried him back down the mountain. When he looked at me after they drove away with his son, his face was ashen, as though he’d seen a ghost.
“I’m so sorry,” I stammered, tears welling in my eyes. “I didn’t know he was going to do that. It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t…”
Roy patted me on the shoulder, stopping me from finishing my sentence.
“It’s not your fault, Sierra. Please don’t blame yourself.
This is Hayden we’re talking about.” Wiping his eyes, he let out a shattered breath.
“He’s nothing if not my son, and I should have known he wouldn’t stand by and wait. He loves you.”
“I know.” I bit my lip hard enough to draw blood.
“Come on, I’ll drive you to the hospital.” He placed a hand on my back and led me to his pickup, his lights still flashing.
“Sierra?” Mae jogged over to me. When I stood, she yanked me into her arms, squeezing me like I’d vanish if she let go. “I was so worried when Hayden called and said you weren’t with him. Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
“No, no, I’m fine,” I reassured her. “I have a minor concussion, but I’m okay.”
She pulled back, emotion glistening in her eyes. “Oh, thank goodness. I don’t know what I would have done if something happened to both of you.”
Tears burned behind my eyes, my vision blurring until my cheeks were damp. “Mae, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to put him in danger.”
She took a step back, but her hands still clasped my arms in a protective way.
“Honey, no. This is not your fault. Please, tell me you understand that.” She raised her brows, giving me a stern look.
“You were just a child, you hear me? You were an innocent person dragged into a horrible scheme by a monster. Do not blame yourself.”
More tears leaked from my eyes, because that look was what a parent should have been like. A parent who cared enough about me to be stern, but also empathetic and kindhearted.
Nodding, I wiped my eyes. “Yes, I understand.”
“Good.” She brushed a loose strand of hair out of my eyes. “You deserved so much better, Sierra. I’m so sorry we weren’t there to protect you.”
She pulled me back in, holding me there for what felt like minutes. But I reveled in it, sank into her touch. A mother’s embrace.
Mae had always been more like a mother to me than my own.
“Mrs. Watkins?” A nurse appeared from the hallway.
Mae perked up and released me from the hug. “That’s me.”
“Your son is out of surgery. Everything went smoothly, and he’s awake if you’d like to come see him.”
“You’ll be okay?” Mae asked me, her brows furrowing in concern.
I nodded. “Yeah, I’ll be okay. Go.”
She squeezed my hand three times. “Okay. Love you, Sierra.”
“I love you, too,” I murmured, but she was already disappearing down the hall with the nurse.
I sat in the lobby, tapping my foot as I waited. The TV was playing a kid’s cartoon and my eyes caught on the screen for a little while, but mostly it was like I was in a dream state, disassociated with the world around me.
Heavy footsteps approached my chair. When I looked up, Roy was standing over me.
“He can have more visitors now if you’d like to see him,” he said. His mouth was flattened into a thin line, so unlike the Roy I’d grown up knowing. His eyes had a blankness to them.
“I would. If that’s okay.”
“Of course it’s okay, Sierra.” His expression softened as he helped me up, and we walked down the hall to the room Hayden was in.
My heart lurched in my chest at the sight of him. Despite the tubes and wires hooked up to him, a bright smile that spread to his eyes appeared on his face when I stepped in the door. Bandages covered his shoulder under his blue hospital gown, but he appeared to be in good spirits.
My vision blurred, and I blinked tears away.
“We’ll give you two a minute.” Mae kissed Hayden on the forehead before squeezing my shoulder as she exited the room with Roy.
I practically ran over to his bedside, not wanting to have any more distance between us. Never again. “I thought I’d lost you.”
Tears rolled down my cheeks, and Hayden reached out to wipe one away.
“I told you I wasn’t going to leave, Skip. I pinky promised, remember? And I never break a promise.”
My chest tightened as I whispered, “I’m sorry, Hayes. I’m so sorry. I should have stayed with you.”
“Hey, hey, hey.” He squeezed my hand with the little strength he had.
Funny, even when he was the one lying in a hospital bed, he was still the one to comfort me.
“You know who we were dealing with. Who’s to say it wouldn’t have happened another time, and I wouldn’t have been able to get to you?
Don’t blame yourself for a single second, Sierra.
” His tone turned stern. “This is not your fault. Do you understand that?”
I nodded. “I-I was just scared. Scared that you were gone and I’d never get the chance to tell you I love you, too.”
“You love me, Skip?” Emotion glistened in his eyes even as his lips curled up into a boyish smile.
“Yeah, Hayes.” My lip trembled as I blinked back tears. I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth, biting back a laugh. “I love you. I never stopped, either.”
“Hey, nurse! Did you hear that?” Hayden yelled, his words echoing off the walls. “She loves me!”
“Shhh.” I giggled, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips.
“I love you, too, Skip. In every single universe. Every single lifetime.” He raised my hand up to his lips before locking eyes with mine. “I loved you ten years ago, I love you today, and I’ll love you a hundred years from now.”
“Even if we aren’t alive anymore?” I laughed.
He nodded. “Even if all that’s left of us is the dust of our bones.”
I leaned down, pressing my lips to his, tasting the salt of my tears. My forehead pressed against his and our breathing synced, but neither of us made any moves to pull away.
When we finally separated, it was my turn to scold him. “No more playing Superman, okay? I know you were trying to help, but I don’t need saving. Not when it comes at the risk of your life.”
“Skip,” he protested.
“No, Hayes. Listen to me, please,” I pleaded, hoping the emotion reached my eyes as well so he knew how serious I was. “You’ve helped me so much, baby. I don’t need you to save me because all I need is to have you by my side, supporting me. And I can’t have that if you risk your life.”
“Okay.” He nodded, understanding reflecting in his gaze.
“Thank you.”
“I love you, Skip.”
“I love you, too, Hayes. Always.”