Chapter 25
TWENTY-FIVE
VANESSA
It’s been two weeks since my world turned upside down. I keep trying to hold on to a smile, hoping everything will be okay, but with every day that passes, that hope thins.
When I walk into the hospital with Alonso close behind me, I spot Lauren at the front desk and know exactly what’s coming. She looks up, says something quietly to the receptionist beside her, and then walks around the desk with that same soft, sad look I’ve been getting for weeks.
“Hey,” she says gently. “Do you want to talk for a minute?”
“Yeah,” I whisper.
We head to the break room, the door clicking shut behind us. We sit across from each other, and for a moment neither of us speaks.
“Any news?” she finally asks.
I shake my head.
“Vanessa, I don’t want you to take this the wrong way,” she says carefully, “but I think you need a real break. Take some time off. You need space to think about what you want to do next. Mateo might come back, but you have your babies to think about now.”
I nod, because she’s right. I know she is. I don’t know what to do yet. I want to go home and wait, but I don’t know how long I can sit with this fear before it breaks me.
She leaves me alone with my thoughts. I’m about to stand and clock in when the door opens again. Alonso steps inside and gives me a small, reassuring smile before sitting across from me.
“Hey,” he whispers.
“Are you about to tell me something bad?” I ask, bracing myself.
“No.” He exhales. “I just wanted to check on you. I know we haven’t known each other long, but you saved my life a few months ago. And you’re my boss’s sister. It’s my job to protect you until this is over.”
“I know,” I murmur. “I just don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”
“What do you want to do?”
“I think I want to stay home. Maybe. And… since I’m part of this world now, I should probably start doing what I moved to New York for.”
He nods slowly. “Sounds like you already know. The real question is whether you’re ready.”
Then he leaves me alone again.
By the time my shift ends, the answer is clear.