Chapter Fifty-Three
Grace
“I want to go home.” My voice is hoarse and rough as I tell Huxley. How long did I cry? No idea, but I feel completely wrung out. No regrets, though—something feels lighter and cleaner in my heart.
Part of me will always grieve for my mother—the lonely death and having her ashes callously abandoned in Baltimore. Karie said she scattered the ashes, but I know better.
When Huxley spoke of how we managed to meet and come together despite the odds, it feels like some being out there is watching over me. I lost Mom, but gained Huxley and our baby. I scan the hospital room, the countless bouquets and get-well balloons and teddy bears, coming to rest on a couple of giant fruit baskets with a note saying, You just get better while we avenge you.
I have brothers- and sisters- and cousins-in-law who care. Jeremiah and Ted try their best to act as surrogate parents as well. The latter is quite unhappy that he’s in Nice to meet with some distributors and new faces he’d love to cast in his next film, rather than in L.A. “You just tell that husband of yours what you need, and if he doesn’t deliver quick enough, let me know. I’ll spank his ass for being unworthy of my daughter.”
“I will,” I tell him with a little smile.
After the doctor clears me to be discharged, I change, then Huxley pushes my wheelchair. I feel a bit ridiculous since my legs are working fine, but apparently it’s hospital policy.
He stops in the lobby. “Wait while I get the car from the lot.”
“We can walk together.”
“It’s too far away. I don’t want you to overexert yourself.” He frowns like he’s worried I might break.
Although part of me wants to reassure him I’m fine, seeing me bloody and unconscious gave him quite a scare. So I nod and say, “Okay. I’ll wait.”
“I’ll be back soon. Don’t go anywhere.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
I watch him walk through the crowd, then past the automatic doors. When he vanishes behind a couple of trees, I pull out my phone to check messages. I have so many, some from people at work, some from Huxley’s brothers and their wives. Actually… my brothers and sisters. It sounds a little strange, but feels good at the same time. Everyone is worried about me, wishes me well.
–Griffin: Next time Hux wants to beat someone like Mick up, tell him to take me with him. I can do a better job.
–Sebastian: Seriously. I think Huxley only cracked one rib.
–Griffin: I would’ve broken at least four.
–Noah: Amateur. I would’ve done six.
–Emmett: Push him off a cliff. Problem solved.
–Grant: What kind of asshole shoves a pregnant woman down a flight of stairs?
–Nicholas: What kind of asshole shoves any woman down a flight of stairs?
I smile. I can’t believe that in addition to my husband, I have six tall, broad-shouldered brothers to keep me safe.
–Bobbi: If you crave anything, lemme know!
–Lucie: There’s nothing she can’t bake.
–Amy: I can make a mean casserole!
–Aspen: Don’t you have to work?
–Amy: I can take some time off.
–Molly: If you need something to read, I’m your girl.
–Sierra: Or if you just need somebody to talk to or cheer you up… Me me me! Pick me!
Then there’s more.
–Bryce: If you need anything message me.
–Josh: I don’t sleep, so you can text me any time you need something.
–Ares: Nelson’s a dead man.
–Bryce: Ares means that. You don’t have to worry about a thing.
I laugh a little at how everyone expresses their support and love in their own way. Maybe Huxley is right—this is fate.
“There you are! I was afraid I’d missed you when the nurse said you were discharged.”
I stiffen at the sound of Nelson’s somewhat breathless voice. His suit is crisp, and his hair is carefully coiffed, but a closer look reveals tense lines fanning from his slightly bloodshot eyes. He keeps rubbing the back of his neck—a tell that he’s anxious. I start to look away.
“Grace, you have to stop your crazy husband.”
“My crazy husband?” I cock an eyebrow.
“He’s trying to destroy Mick and Viv.”
“So?”
“So?” he blusters. “They’re your siblings.”
“No, they aren’t. They’re bullies.”
Nelson puffs out an impatient breath. “What happened was regrettable. But Mick didn’t mean to push that hard. You’re still young and healthy. You can always have more babies.”
It’s almost unbelievable. He has no idea what my condition is. He couldn’t be bothered to check up on me and the baby, but he has the energy to chase me down to demand my forgiveness on his children’s behalf.
If nothing else had cemented my disgust for him, this would have done it. “I might—after this one, if Huxley and I decide to have another.”
Nelson frowns, his mouth tight. “So…you didn’t lose it?”
“I never said I did.”
“Then why are you being so difficult and vindictive?”
“Well, let’s see. Just for starters, you don’t think there’s anything wrong with Mick pushing me down a flight of stairs?”
“It was just a friendly little shove. It isn’t his problem that your balance is so poor.”
“And I suppose it was just a friendly prank when Viv pretended to be Dr. Blum and stole two thousand dollars a month from me.”
“Jesus, it’s always about money with you. Fine. I’ll pay it back,” he says dismissively.
Contempt curls my mouth. Nelson will never understand it wasn’t about the money, but what it represented—hope for Mom’s recovery. Just thinking about what he and his family did to her makes me want to hurt him. “Get lost and never show your face again. You’re dead to me.”
“I’m your father!”
“You were my sperm donor. You were never my family. He is.” I point at Huxley in the Bugatti that just pulled in.
Nelson notices, then blanches. “Fucking psycho,” he mutters, then walks off as quickly as he can without appearing like he’s running away.
“Some father, leaving his daughter to a ‘fucking psycho’!” I keep my voice loud enough for him to hear, but he doesn’t turn back or slow down.
I climb into the car.
“Everything okay?” Huxley studies me. “You look a little tense.”
“I’m fine.” I give him a reassuring smile. “I just saw a little cockroach and had to shoo it away.”
He gives me a look. “A cockroach? Inside the hospital?”
“Yeah, but it’s gone now. Doubt it’ll come back.” I smile. “Come on. Let’s go home.”