One to Chase (One to Hold 7)

“How are you doing?” Worry lines her pretty face.

“I’m good. I—” Almost say Marcus was here, but I haven’t decided if I want to go there with them. If I say his name, I’m sure everything between us will be plain on my face. “I wasn’t entirely alone.”

Elaine waits for me to elaborate, and I frantically toss around for something. “I’m a little hungry.”

She hops to attention. “Let me run out and get you something!” Her bag is on her shoulder, but I catch her arm.

“Mariska’s getting food.” I don’t add whom she’s with.

“Oh, good.” She relaxes. “I hoped she’d join Stuart.”

“Yes,” I agree.

Mariska softens my oldest brother like nothing I’ve ever witnessed. Without her, I’m sure he’d be barking at the doctors and staff, arguing with Patrick, and bossing me around. Basically, reminding us entirely too much of our father.

The guys return to us. They’ve been discussing arrangements and working out a plan as to who will stay with our mother so she’s never alone.

“What’s going on?” Stuart asks.

Elaine steps around him to hold Patrick’s arm. I can’t help admiring my new sister-in-law. “We were just saying how lovely Mariska is.”

My oldest brother smiles so warmly, I’m almost sorry Patrick and I ever referred to him as “Captain Asshat.” Almost. It used to be quite fitting.

“Elaine! Patrick, you’re here!” A female voice interrupts us.

The lady in question dashes toward us with Marcus right behind her. I try not to let my expression reflect the joy surging through my chest at his return.

Every moment of Marcus comforting me today has me wanting to rush into his arms, from his secure hugs to his gentle reassurances to his kissing my head repeatedly. He’d been so focused on taking my mind off my fears for my mother. All of it swirls in my brain in a building rush of gratitude and...

Let’s not get carried away.

Still, I will admit, being in his arms was the most divine comfort I’ve ever experienced.

“Marcus!” Elaine skips forward to greet her brother.

He returns her embrace. “How was your flight?”

Watching them, I try to picture the two of them growing up together. I wonder if she thinks of him in any sort of paternal way. I wonder if she’ll be angry at me if she knows...

I have got to stop thinking this way immediately.

“Long and stressful,” she says. “I almost couldn’t take the nerves before we finally touched down at O’Hare.”

“Tell me about it.” Patrick catches her hand, threading their fingers. She melts into his side, leaning her head against his shoulder. “It looks like not much to do here tonight. The doctor said they’re keeping her sedated so she can rest and recover.”

Mariska goes to Stuart, and he glances down at her before returning his attention to me. “I’ll take the first shift tonight if you’d like to head home and get some rest.”

As much as I long to see my mother awake and okay, I know it won’t happen this evening, and now that we’re all together, the waves of exhaustion are pulling me under.

“I might try to rest,” I say, taking the plastic bag Mariska holds out to me.

“Do you need a ride?” Patrick catches my hand. “Elaine and I have a room at the Marriott.”

The hospital is only blocks from Sylvia’s condo building, another blessing in our crisis today. It allowed me to run here this morning, when I would have gone crazy waiting on a car. “I can walk back. It’s not far.”

“I’ll walk with you.” Marcus’s low voice floods my insides with soothing energy.

“Thanks man,” Patrick claps his shoulder. “I owe you like... ten million for being here today, looking after my little sister.”