Chapter 4 #2
As if sensing her turmoil, Magnolia reached out. Rose placed her hand in hers.
“Did you never wonder why you broke your engagement to Caleb?”
She couldn’t answer. Magnolia knew well why she broke things off.
The hand around hers tightened. “You care for Finn Murphy; you always have.”
Rose looked down, an attempt to hide the truth from her discerning gaze.
Magnolia squeezed gently. “I’ve read your books. All of them. It’s in there, this last one especially—love letters, every single one.”
Rose’s next words came out tight, pained. She could not allow her to think?—
“My books are not love letters. We were friends.”
Magnolia gave her a wane smile before she continued, her voice still raspy. “You broke your arm after climbing that tree to find the raven’s nest, just like the girl in your book. The blanket sling the boy made—that yellow blanket is still in your closet upstairs.”
“Inspiration from real life—that’s all. You would do the same if you wrote books.”
After another cough, this one sharper, Magnolia said. “Do not get me started—” She coughed again. “—your previous four.”
“He’s never apologized for the things he said to me.”
“He will.”
Rose wouldn’t say his name. Once tonight was enough. Instead, with calm, she said, “I haven’t seen him. Not since?—”
“I know.” Understanding hung between them.
Rose let go and leaned her head on the bed. She felt the brush of Magnolia’s fingers on her hair, just like the night she’d finally shared what happened between her and Finn.
They hadn’t spoken of it again until now.
Magnolia’s voice sounded off, but her words were clear. “Not everyone gets a chance to fix their misunderstandings, Rebel. I want you to have your happy ever after.”
Her fingers tightened on her scalp. She coughed again. Rose sat up. It stopped after a long sequence, but the sound concerned her. There was a wheeze and a rattle to it that hadn’t been there yesterday. Surely a stroke couldn’t aggravate a cold.
Rose helped her with more water, raised the head of her bed some. “Do you want me to get the nurse?” Her finger hovered over the call button.
She shook her head. “No.”
Her grandmother was one of the strongest women she knew, the head of the Everson family. A woman who’d lived through more sorrow than most yet still raised five grandchildren to adulthood.
When she met Rose’s eyes with her own, tears gathered in her eyes. “I’m not ready.”
Rose wasn’t sure if she meant getting the nurse or something worse, something she didn’t want to think of.
“I have things—to take care of. Promises. Confessions. My own apologies.” Her face was serious, as if her words meant something.
They made little sense. They were, in Magnolia’s own words, dramatic. Unlike her.
“Rebel. Be careful. The woods—stay out.” She coughed. “Lights, evil, you must be?—”
The next cough stopped her words. Rose helped her with more water, fear and dread filling her. Evil? Lights?
When Magnolia spoke again, her voice sounded even weaker. “I need?—”
“Anything.” Rose took hold of her hand again. Her fingers felt so cold. She looked at the monitor, alarmed. Her temperature was 103.4 degrees. She needed to get the nurse.
“Call Brigette and Jeremy. I need—” Another cough broke her speech. She wanted her closest friends. Rose moved her hand to her back as she curled upward, with the hope it would help.
The door to the room opened. A nurse entered. “Ah, our patient’s awake.”
Broome followed close behind.
Rose held her till the coughing stopped, then leaned over her. “I’ll call them. In the meantime, I—we—need you to get better.”
Magnolia held fast to her hand and gave a slight pull. Once more, she struggled to get her words out. Rose leaned closer to hear better.
“Get me some proper?—”
Rose finished for her. “Tea—I’ll take care of it.”
But she wasn’t done. She still wouldn’t let go.
It was clear the nurse needed to step in, do something for her, but stubborn as Magnolia was, she held on while she tried to catch her breath and her strength to speak again.
Rose glanced at Broome and didn’t like what she saw there. His expression was grim.
She liked nothing she saw in this room. If only there was a wall of windows she could open and bring in the fresh air her grandmother loved to take in every morning after breakfast.
Magnolia gave a scratchy exhale, her words hard to hear. “Rebel—I love you. Remember.”
Her words sent tears down Rose’s cheeks. She tried to blink them back. She had to be strong. And follow through with what Magnolia asked. She leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. “I love you too.”
The nurse spoke. “Miss, I need you to step away from the bed. I need to see to my patient.”
With one more kiss to her forehead, she eased away from Magnolia. Her hand felt empty as she stepped back.
With a nod to Broome, she slipped out. The waiting area, its soft light and uncomfortable chairs, stood quiet ahead of her.
She walked past her dozing sister and other brother.
When she found an empty space down the hall, she pulled out her phone, took a breath, and dialed Brigette and Jeremy Conroy, two of Magnolia’s closest friends.
It took less than two minutes for her to tell Brigette what happened.
“I’ll bring the tea. Jeremy will bring the other Elders.”
Rose didn’t know what to say, but Brigette must have heard it in her voice. “You hang in there now. If there’s a way for Nola to beat this, she will.”
Rose hung up the phone, leaned against the wall, and wiped her eyes with her sleeves.