Chapter 36Eden
36
Eden
T he following days were boringly career-focused. Ronan got an email from BNN asking for more footage for their production team. After a bit of back-and-forth with his boss, Ronan managed to negotiate a deal where he could send them an hour-long edited version of the documentary footage, instead of the uncut raw footage. With his editing experience, Ronan insisted on handling it himself. BNN agreed, but only if they could review his cut before making any decisions. They gave him five days to submit it, so Ronan pretty much locked himself in his guest room to get it done.
Even with all the editing, Ronan still made Eden breakfast every morning. Over breakfast, he'd fill her in on how the edit was going, showing her clips from the documentary. It was weird for Eden to watch herself on screen, but she felt good about how the project was coming together—it felt real.
Without Ronan around, Eden found herself feeling aimless. She’d catch herself looking over at the empty spot on the couch where he usually sat. The one bright side to his absence was that it gave her time to really dive into writing song lyrics.
She had a pretty solid idea for most of the songs on the album—chord progressions, melodies, and lyrics to go with them. The writer's block that had been holding her back was finally gone, and all it had taken was accepting her feelings for Ronan. Every time she thought about that kiss they shared, her stomach would erupt with a swarm of butterflies. Then her mind would wander to that moment when his head had been between her thighs, and those butterflies would take flight, heading straight south. She knew that image was going to live rent-free in her mind for a long time.
She felt giddy whenever she thought about him. Even the smallest things, like running into him in the kitchen, made her stomach do backflips. Even though they hadn’t spent much time together lately, he always found ways to make her feel special.
He’d leave little notes around the house for her to find. Today’s note was stuck to the microwave: “You make me happy by just being a thought in my head.” It made her heart skip. The little things he did meant the world to her, especially since she’d spent most of her life trying to make people care. Having someone like Ronan, who showed his affection so easily, was new territory— and sent warm twinges to her heart.
She sat cross-legged on the plush carpet of Quentin’s guest room, fingers strumming the chords of her guitar in a disjointed melody. The room was filled with the soft hum of her amplifier, and she was lost in her music, trying to piece together the fragments of a new song. Suddenly, the door burst open with a force that sent a gust of air rushing through the room.
Ronan stood there; his eyes were wild and unfocused, and his usually calm demeanor was nowhere to be found. His nostrils flared as he breathed heavily, and his hands shook visibly at his sides.
Heart pounding, she immediately dropped the guitar from her lap, the instrument hitting the carpet with a muted thud. She scrambled to her feet and ran towards him.
"What's wrong?" she asked as she approached him. His distress was palpable; he seemed on the verge of a panic attack.
"My mom," he croaked, his voice strained and barely audible. His forehead was beaded with sweat, and his trembling hand tried to wipe it away.
Eden's heart tightened in her chest as she reached him. She placed her hands gently on his arms, feeling the tension in his body.
"What happened? Is she okay?" she asked, her voice soft but filled with concern. He shook his head, the movement almost imperceptible.
"I got a call... She's in the hospital. They're trying to figure out what's wrong," Ronan said, his voice shaky, eyes wide with a helplessness Eden had never seen in him before. Without thinking, Eden pulled him into a tight hug.
"I'm so sorry, Ronan," she whispered. "We'll get through this together." Her mind was racing as she held him, trying to figure out what to do next. They needed to get to the hospital. She pulled back slightly and looked up at him.
"You need to be there," she said firmly. "Let me make a call." She grabbed her phone, fingers shaking just a little as she dialed Quentin. Speaking quietly, she filled him in on the situation. Quentin didn't hesitate, offering up the jet he used when he traveled for work, no questions asked. "Of course, Eden. The jet can be ready in two hours in Tahoe. I just landed in LA, so I'll handle everything from here. Just get to the airport."
"Thank you," she said, relieved. She hung up and turned back to Ronan, still visibly shaken.
"Quentin's arranging a jet to take us to San Diego," she told him softly. "We need to get to the airport." Eden moved quickly packing their things. Every now and then, she checked on Ronan, who was trying to steady himself. In just thirty minutes, they were out the door, ready to face whatever came next—together.
Quentin had his driver ready to pick up Ronan and Eden as soon as the jet landed. They made it to San Diego in just five hours from when he got the call from Sadie. Erin, his mom, had suddenly started feeling disoriented and weak on one side of her body. His dad and Sadie had rushed her to the hospital, and the staff was working non-stop to figure out what was going on.
Sadie was doing her best to keep Ronan informed, sending him regular updates about their mother's condition. Her messages detailed the ongoing lab work and brain scans.
As the car zipped through the city toward the hospital, Ronan’s leg bounced restlessly. His eyes were fixed on the window, but he wasn’t really seeing anything. He still hadn’t let go of Eden’s hand, not on the plane, and not in the car. It was like he thought if he released his grip, she might just disappear.
"We're almost there," she said softly. "Just a little longer."
Eden didn’t have the kind of parents Ronan did, but she could still imagine what it would feel like to lose someone like Ingrid or Quentin. Or Ronan. The thought of losing any one of them was enough to make her stomach turn.
The car finally pulled up in front of the hospital, and Ronan turned to her, his eyes red and strained. "Would you come in with me? I... I need you with me," he said, his voice shaky. His hand still gripped hers tightly, like he was afraid to let go.
Seeing him like that twisted something inside of Eden, she nodded. "Of course I will," she murmured, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. Ronan’s thumb brushed over her knuckles, a small gesture of thanks, and for a second, she could see a flicker of relief in his eyes.
Together, they made their way into the hospital, the sound of their footsteps the only noise in the quiet halls. As the elevator doors closed, Eden couldn’t shake the heavy feeling weighing down on her chest, a gnawing sense of unease that seemed to settle deeper with each passing second.
When they got to the right floor, hand in hand, they rounded the corner and came face-to-face with a petite girl with auburn hair standing in the hallway. Eden instantly recognized her as Ronan’s sister, Sadie, from all the pictures Ronan had shown her. Sadie’s eyes went wide when she saw them, and before either of them could say anything, she rushed over to Ronan.
They hugged tightly for a few moments, Sadie’s tears quickly filling her eyes as she clung to her brother.
"Ro, I’m so glad you’re here," she murmured into his chest, her voice thick with emotion. Ronan’s eyes were glossy, and Eden could feel her own throat tighten at the love between them. When they finally pulled apart, Sadie looked up at Eden, her teary gaze meeting hers.
"Holy crap! Eden Percy, I can't believe you're here! Ronan won't shut up about you!" Sadie said, her smile watery as she pulled Eden into a tight, warm hug. Eden hugged her back with a gentle squeeze.
"I wish it was under better circumstances," Eden murmured into Sadie's hair, her voice soft.
"Yeah, me too," Sadie replied, pulling away from the hug. "Come on, let’s go see Mom."
"I’ll wait out here," Eden said quietly, taking Ronan's hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze. Ronan squeezed it back, his eyes full of thanks, before pressing a quick kiss to her knuckles and walking off with Sadie.
Eden made her way to the hospital café, grabbing some water and snacks for Ronan and his family. With her arms full, she headed back to the waiting room. She found a quiet spot towards the back, leaned her head against the wall, and silently wished for Erin to be okay.
A while later, Sadie came into the lobby, scanning the room until her eyes landed on Eden. She gave her a small but warm smile as she walked over and sat down next to her, placing a gentle hand on Eden’s arm.
"Thank you for being there for my brother," Sadie whispered, her green eyes glimmering under the harsh fluorescent lights. "And I don't just mean right now. I mean, since you two have met. He was a mess after returning home from his last overseas job."
"Well, the feeling is mutual. I was a bit of a mess for a while there. I think I was lost in a lot of ways until I met him." Eden said. Sadie smiled softly and patted her arm reassuringly.
"How is your mom doing?" Eden inquired, her voice laced with concern, her brows knit together in worry.
"Better, much better," Sadie said, her eyes reflecting the relief that softened her features.
"She's back to her usual self. The doctors said it was a transient ischemic attack, basically a mini-stroke. They want to monitor her for a few hours, but they think she should be able to go home tonight once she gets an MRI scan."
Eden couldn't help but let out a huge sigh of relief, her tense muscles finally beginning to loosen as the weight of worry lifted from her shoulders.
"Oh, good. I am so relieved," Eden said with a warm smile as she leaned over the armrest of the wooden chair to hug Sadie. The hug was surprisingly comforting, like they’d known each other forever instead of just meeting. When they parted, Eden settled back into her seat, her mind momentarily at ease.
As she glanced up, she noticed someone standing in front of them. Looking up, she found Ronan standing there, a gentle smile playing across his lips. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him.
Without a word, Eden rose to her feet. Ronan wasted no time, drawing her into his arms. As he held her, she felt a wave of relief wash over her, soothing the knots of worry that had been tightening in her stomach.
Ronan pressed a tender kiss to the top of her head, his lips warm against her hair. Eden instinctively leaned into him, her arms wrapping around his waist. "She's okay," he sighed softly. "Thank you for coming with me," he whispered into her hair.
Eden nuzzled into the fabric of his shirt, and she could hear his heart. With each steady beat of his heart against hers, she felt the tension further melt from her body.
"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else," she murmured softly. She took a deep breath, inhaling his comforting scent.
"So, this is the gal rocking my son's world?" a cheerful voice said behind them. Eden stepped back from Ronan and turned to see an older man, probably in his sixties, with a full head of gray hair and kind brown eyes. His warm smile was framed by crow's feet, evidence of a lifetime of laughter.
"Hi, Mr. Murphy. I’m Eden," she said, extending her hand politely. But he shook his head with a grin, waving off the gesture.
For a second, panic flickered in Eden’s chest. Had she done something wrong? Her hand dropped awkwardly to her side as her palms started to sweat.
"I know who you are! But we don’t shake hands in this family—hugs only," he said with a chuckle, the warmth in his voice easing her nerves instantly. Before she could process, he pulled her into a bear hug that nearly knocked the wind out of her. The tight embrace made it clear where Sadie got her affectionate nature.
"Call me Conor, love. I only hear 'Mr. Murphy' when I'm in trouble with the missus," he said with a smile in his voice. Eden couldn't help but laugh and return the hug, feeling the genuine warmth of this family. Conor pulled away from the hug gently, held her arms, and looked into her face.
"Come meet my Erin, she's been chomping at the bit to meet you. She's eager to meet the legend that is Eden," Conor said with a wink as he guided her down the well-lit hospital corridor. They arrived at a hospital room where a pretty, red-haired woman laid in a hospital bed, an iPad resting on her lap.
"Erin, you've got a hospital volunteer here who's dying to give you a sponge bath," Conor announced with a chuckle. Eden couldn't help but burst into laughter. Erin rolled her eyes at her husband's comment. "I'm trying to watch 'The Bachelor', Conor. I can assure you, no one's volunteering to hose down this weathered bod," she retorted, reaching for her glasses on the bedside table and perching them on her nose with a sly smile.
"Conor!" Erin scolded with mock severity as she spotted Eden standing at the edge of her bed. "Oh, dear Eden, please excuse my husband. He's convinced he's the funniest man alive."
"I am funny, you know! Conan O'Brien stole my jokes! I should have my own late-night talk show by now," Conor said, puffing out his chest with pride. "He came to watch my improv group back in 2001, and I'm sure he swiped a joke or two from me!"
"Oh please, no one is stealing your sponge bath jokes!" Erin rolled her eyes at her husband. Eden watched as they argued back and forth. She smiled at the back and forth. She could see the tenderness for each other in the jabs. Ronan had said they were high school sweethearts, and it was clear that they still loved each other after all those years.
Eden felt a pang of envy twist in her chest as she watched them laugh. It was a glimpse of the love and support they gave, and it hit her harder than she expected. Growing up, she had always craved that kind of connection—a family where you belonged without question, where conversations flowed easily, and you didn’t have to tiptoe around your words or hide how you felt.
Erin shooed Conor out of the hospital room; he shuffled out of the room slowly like a little kid getting put in time-out. Eden made her way to the stiff wooden chair beside Erin's hospital bed and took a seat. Erin looked strikingly similar to an older version of Sadie with her auburn-red hair and a smattering of freckles on her nose.
"I'm so relieved you're okay. I know we've just met, but Ronan always talks about you. It feels like I know your whole family already." Eden murmured. Erin reached out, gently taking Eden's hand in hers, a soft smile forming on her face.
"I could say the same about you," Erin said warmly. "I don’t know how you did it, but Ronan’s happier than I’ve ever seen him."
Eden’s chest filled with warmth at her words, and her smile grew wider. She felt lucky to have Ronan in her life, like she’d stumbled onto something truly special.
"I feel just as lucky," Eden said with a grin. "You’ve raised an amazing guy, to say the least." Amazing didn’t even cover it—Ronan was one of a kind.
But as the thought sank in, a flicker of doubt wormed its way in. She was meeting his entire family. How seriously did Ronan take this relationship between them? A ripple of panic pressed against her chest, and her smile faltered for a second. Everything with Ronan had escalated so quickly, sweeping her off her feet in a way she hadn’t felt in years.
And then her mind went to Liam. Things had started great with him too. Two years later, her life was in shambles, and her confidence was in the gutters. Eden pushed down the panic, determined not to let those old fears resurface, and painted a smile back on her face.
"So I have been dying to know,” Erin paused dramatically, her green eyes widening. "Tell me what it's like to be a rockstar?" Erin asked enthusiastically, tossing her iPad to the side of the hospital bed. The episode of "The Bachelor" was completely forgotten about.
"Well, take everything you know about Mick Jagger and add cramped tour buses where you can't poop onboard."