Chapter 51
“I’m not using a wheelchair,” I grunt. “End of.”
The porter turns right back around and wheels it out, and a collection of exasperated sighs fill the room. I give each of them a moment of my eyes—Ava, Sam, Kate, Drew, and John. “It’s not happening.” I need to walk. Have to. I won’t admit it aloud, but I’m nervous to go home. I’m still in so much fucking pain, can’t walk ten paces without being out of breath, and I’m worried I’ll pass out again. I could fall on Ava, knock her on my way down, because I know for certain she’ll try to catch me.
So I’m walking. If I make it to the car on my feet, I’ll feel more confident. If I don’t? Well, then I’ll be passed out, and I expect they’ll put me straight back in the hospital bed for a while longer.
I look down my front as I sit on the edge of the bed while Nurse arms Ava with endless dressings and pills. My T-shirt is hanging off me. I’ve never been so small. Or tired. Fuck me, I’m constantly exhausted.
“Ready?” John asks, knocking me from my daydream.
“Ready.” I wedge my fists into the mattress and ease myself up slowly, breathing steadily. It’s easy to hold my breath to try and stem the pain, but holding my breath results in a blackout. So yes, I must breathe.
“Okay?” Ava asks, joining my side, like she can hold me up. “Why don’t you just let me push you in the chair?”
“God damn it, Ava, you are not wheeling me out of this hospital,” I snap. Even that drains me. Fuck. “I’m sorry,” I mumble, reaching for her hand on my arm and patting. “Ignore me.”
She remains patient and silent, not leaving my side, as I make my way through the hospital, slowly but surely, taking regular rest stops. The others hang back, ready to step in and catch me. It’s a miracle, but I make it to John’s car.
And fall asleep on the way home.
Clive is painfullyattentive when we get to Lusso, flanking my dragging body, declaring all kinds of disgust and outrage. If I had the strength and any cash on me, I’d slip him some notes to shut the fuck up.
The stairs are the first thing I note when I step inside the penthouse. Yeah, not happening. “The couch,” Ava declares, leaving John to hold me up as she hurries to the sofa, sorts the pillows, and gets a throw. “There.”
John tries to get me moving, but I gravitate toward the kitchen. “Just give me a sec,” I say, gently breaking away from him and walking slowly toward the entrance. The floor is spotless. Sparkling. Whenever I used to stand here, I’d see Ava on the launch night of Lusso in her red dress. I’d see her in her lace underwear sitting on the island. I’d see her pressed up against the wall, me buried deep inside her.
Now all I see is Lauren wielding a blade.
We can’t live here. I turn and find Ava behind me, her face pensive. She knows what I’m thinking. But it’s a conversation for another day. A day when I’ve got the energy to give. “Come,” she says, leading me to the couch and getting me comfortable, straining to lift my legs. “I’ll get you some water.”
I smile my thanks and watch her go to the kitchen, hating how much she’s having to do because I’m an invalid.
John pulls his black suit jacket out and lowers to the nearby armchair, looking to the kitchen. Making sure Ava’s out of earshot, I expect. “I’ve pondered whether to mention this,” he says, his deep voice quiet.
“What?”
“Cutler’s been in touch again. A week ago.”
I frown, thinking. “Cutler?” Am I supposed to know who that is?
John smiles, only mildly, but I still get a flash of his gold tooth. “He represents the leisure company who wants to buy The Manor. You were considering entertaining another meeting.”
I frown, looking out the window across the skyline. I was in talks with someone who wants to buy my manor? Surely not. But then... new eyes. It all comes back to me. The insulting meeting, my walks around the grounds, the odd and jarring thoughts I had. “Is it a serious offer this time?”
“That I don’t know. I stalled him, obviously. But given your reaction in our last meeting, I can’t imagine he’ll willingly put himself up for another dressing-down.”
I inhale, reaching for my stomach and holding it.
Take the money, Daddy.
I stare out of the window, my eyes burning, the words coming from nowhere. “Take the money,” I whisper.
“You don’t know how much they’re offering yet.” John laughs.
“Then let’s find out.” I look at him so he can see the resolution in my eyes.
“I’ll call him.”
I nod, smiling mildly. “Thanks.”
The door of the apartment opens, and Kate and Sam stroll in, weighed down with Waitrose bags. Then Drew. “You going to close the door?” I call when he leaves it open.
“No.”
Elizabeth follows in behind, clocks me on the couch, and slaps her hand on her heart. I brace myself for a strong dose of my mother-in-law. “Jesse Ward, my wonderful son-in-law.” She comes at me, making me want to shield myself. “Look at you.” Her hand meets my forehead. “How do you feel?”
“Harassed.”
She tsks and goes to the kitchen as Joseph puts himself on the other chair near John. “I tried to tell her to back off.”
“It’s fine,” I breathe, smiling. After everything they’ve learned about me, it’s a relief they’re even here. Accepting me. And I’m wonderful.
Amalie bowls in, a man I’ve never met with her. This must be the groom. She’s being tactical. I’m in no fit state to dish out warnings. “Afternoon,” I say as she comes at me too, dropping a kiss on my forehead. I reach for her hand, giving it a little squeeze. Mum, Dad, and Amalie have been at the hospital every day. Just a few minutes here and there, breaking us all in slowly, but they haven’t missed one visit. “Are Mum and Dad here?” I ask as she drags her fiancé over.
“Yes, on their way up. This is Dr. David.”
I lift a hand. “Should I call you Dr. David?”
“David will do,” he says on a laugh. “Pleasure to meet you, Jesse.”
I smile, feeling overwhelmed, my home becoming more and more full. “Make yourself at home,” I mumble. “Everyone else has.” My eyes are getting heavy, but when Mum walks in with Dad, I forget all tiredness. Life.
Dad does what Dad’s done every day since I came round and comes to me, dipping to hug me. And I find the energy to hug him right back. Always. “You all right?” I ask.
“I just came from the cardiologist.”
“Why, what’s up?”
“Nothing’s up, son,” he says, perching on the arm on the couch next to me. He just can’t be any farther than a few feet away when we’re together. “I missed a checkup back home, so they referred me to a colleague here. I’m fine.” He taps his chest. “The ticker is fine.”
“Hello, darling,” Mum says, her turn to have a fuss. “Are you hungry? Thirsty? Had your meds? The dressing, it’s clean, isn’t it?”
“I’m fine,” I assure her. “Ava’s in the kitchen with Elizabeth.”
Off she goes, knowing exactly where the kitchen is. And then Dad excuses himself to use the bathroom, and he heads off in the right direction too. They’ve been here while I’ve been in hospital? I peek up when Ava appears in front of me with a glass of water, bending to place it on the table.
I reach out and place my hand over hers on the glass before she can remove it, and she flicks her eyes to mine. She doesn’t snatch her hand away. She doesn’t retract. I smile mildly, hoping she sees my deep appreciation. I take her hand and push my lips to the back of it.
“I’ll be leaving then,” John says, excusing himself, giving me a nod. I nod back, and Ava looks between us, curious.
“What was that?” she asks.
“Nothing.” I pull her down to the couch, so she’s sitting on the edge. “Ava, baby, why is every single person we know in our home?”
She smiles. “Because I invited them.” Leaning down, she drops a kiss on my lips. “And, My Lord, because they love you dearly.”
They love me.
Accept me.
I fall into a daydream, the hustle and bustle of our home melting into the background. My bachelor pad full of... my family. The thought of my parents anywhere near Ava would have filled me with dread only a few weeks ago—knowing they were spending time with her without me knowing or even around. What they could have told her.
Now?
Ease.
Because of you.
I grab Ava, riding the pain, and smother her with my mouth, silently thanking her for bringing me back to life. And for bringing me back to my family. “We’re going away as soon as I can drive again,” I tell her.
“Where?”
“To Paradise, baby.”