“I’ll just be over here. She owes me, and I ain’t leaving until I collect.”
With more calm than I feel, I guide Dawn to the waiting room, and just so happen to see an officer. He catches my eye, and I nod toward the jackass we were just talking to where he sits in the corner of the room. Eyes still wild and roaming. When he sees the officer, he stands but doesn’t move. I would remember him anywhere. He’s strung out, looking a hell of a lot worse than the last time I saw him, but I remember him. The day he showed up at Kendall and Dawn’s apartment with the letter from Melissa. I can’t believe he’s the one who has been supplying Destiny with pills. When they say it’s a small world, they really mean it.
“The family of Destiny Miller,” a nurse calls out.
Together, we stand and walk to the door. “Destiny is my sister,” Dawn says.
The nurse nods. “Come with me. The doctor would like to speak with you.” Quietly, we follow behind her. “Have a seat,” she says, once we’re in a small private room. There is nothing in here but four chairs. It’s small and uninviting.
“I have a bad feeling,” Dawn says.
I do too, but I don’t tell her that. “Come here.” I pull her chair closer to mine and lace our fingers together.
“How did you get here so fast?”
“I was coming to see you. I couldn’t stay away any longer.”
She wipes a tear from her eye before it has the chance to fall. “I’ve missed you, Mark.”
“I’ve missed you too, Pixie. Daisy too.”
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for pushing you away.”
“I’m here, where I want to be. That’s all that matters. We’ll figure the rest out. Just don’t shut me out again.”
“Never.” She shakes her head adamantly. “If this is where you want to be, with me and Daisy, we want you here too. More than anything I want you here.”
I cup her face in my hands. “This is not where or how I wanted to do this, but I’m not letting another chance pass me by. I love you, Dawn. I want a life with you, whatever that is, however it looks, whatever it turns out to be. I want that. I want it with you.”
She loses her battle with her tears. I’m not sure if it’s from where we are or if it’s from my admission. My guess is a little of both. “I love you too. So much,” she says, just as there’s a knock at the door.
“Hi, I’m Dr. Travis.” He extends his hand to Dawn and then me.
“We’ve met,” Dawn says sadly. “You were working the night my parents passed. Car accident,” she adds.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” he says kindly.
“Thank you. How’s my sister?”
He shakes his head and I know we’re in for another round of devastation. I can feel it. “I’m sorry. We did all that we could do. Her heart stopped. We weren’t able to bring her back.”
“W-What?” Dawn asks.
“I’m so sorry,” Dr. Travis replies.
She nods. “So, what does that mean for her daughter?”
Recognition crosses his face. I’m sure Daisy’s case is well-known around the hospital.
“We have custody of her, from the courts,” I explain.
Again, he nods. “As her next of kin, it will be your responsibility to arrange services if you wish to do so. As far as the baby, that’s up to you.”
“Thank you, Dr. Travis.” I hold my hand out for him and he accepts.
“Take all the time you need,” he says, and leaves the room.
“Tell me what you need,” I say, wrapping my arms around her once again.
“I’m not sure.” She hugs me back, then steps away. “I mean, I’m sad. She’s my sister and I wish I could have helped her. She didn’t want help, you know? I mean, she was in rehab and was pregnant, knew she was pregnant and still used again. Daisy is paying for that decision.”
“Our girl is strong,” I assure her.
“I need to plan services I guess. Honestly, I’m not sure who would come, but it needs to happen. My parents would want that to happen.”
“Okay. I’ll call the funeral home that we used for your parents.”
She nods. “I need to see Daisy.”
“Let’s go.” I kiss the top of her head, and lead her out of the small room and back to the elevators. I catch a glimpse of the officer placing that Cal character in the back of his cruiser right by the door before we load.
“I can’t believe it was Cal who was supplying her. Of all people.”
“I was thinking the same thing. I’m glad you and Kendall got away from him.”
“We knew he was toxic and he wouldn’t accept that Kendall said things were over between them.” The elevators doors open and we step out. “That’s life. It just seems to have a way of working out.”
“That it does,” I say, kissing her temple. “Let’s go see our girl.”
Together, we head to the nursery, suit up, and for the first time in a week, I see Daisy. “Look at you,” I say in awe. “She’s grown so much.” I look at Dawn. She has tears in her eyes as she watches me.
“She has,” she agrees.
“You’re going to be home in no time.”
“You good with her?” Dawn asks. “I’m going to go ahead and call the funeral home and….” She swallows hard.
“I can call them.” I start to stand.
“No, you stay. I need to do this. I appreciate the offer and you being here, but I need to take care of it.”
“Okay. We’ll be here waiting on you.” She blows me a kiss and leaves the room. “And you, little lady, I missed our snuggles,” I tell Daisy. Her breathing is even as she rests against my bare chest. It’s a sad day for my girls, and I hurt for them, but at the same time, they’re with me. Where they belong.
Chapter Nineteen
Dawn
Today was hard. I’m emotionally and mentally exhausted. Never did I imagine that less than a year after burying my parents, I would also be burying my baby sister. It’s not something I would wish on my worst enemy.
I hated that I had to leave Daisy at the hospital alone. I was struggling with it all when Amelia called and offered to come and sit with her. I thanked her about a million times then made sure she was added to the visitors’ list at the hospital, and there would be no issues. She was listed, but I already knew that. It was more my worrying than anything. I just hate thinking of Daisy there all alone, without anyone who loves her close.
It’s taken me time to come to the fact that these people, they’re not just Mark and Kendall’s friends, but mine as well. They’re my family. The only family I have left. And I am so utterly grateful to them for everything they have done for me.
“You want to go home and change?” Mark asks.
That’s something else that’s new. Though the realtor has shown my parents’ house several times, we have yet to get an offer. At first, I was frustrated but now, I see it as a blessing. Mark has convinced me to stay there, or at least shower there to save money on the hotel room. That’s after I had to argue with him about paying for my room for me. This was my compromise. My parents’ home is in a subdivision about ten minutes from the hospital, so I’m still close. Not only am I close, but Daisy is doing great. She’s off her oxygen, gaining weight, and eating like a champ. My theory is that Mom and Dad knew I would need a place to stay close by. That’s why we haven’t had a buyer yet. Call me crazy, but that’s what I’d like to believe.
I wasn’t sure I could handle staying here, but it’s been
okay. Mark has been with me every step of the way. I’m worried about his job, but he assures me he’s fine. Kendall even went as far as to have Ridge call me and tell me himself. I guess that’s the perks of working for your best friend. I’m still worried about money. Mark said that his condo rental is bringing in income, and he has some savings. I think his exact words were “Babe, I was a bachelor for far too long. I’ve saved. I’m okay.” I didn’t argue after that. It’s selfish, but I want him here. He wants to be here, and I’m not strong enough—or foolish enough—to push him away again.
“I’m sorry.” I reach over and rest my hand on his shoulder.
“For what?” he asks, not taking his eyes off the road.
“Pushing you away. I feel like we’ve barely had time to talk since you’ve been back. I’m sorry. I just didn’t want to be a burden to you.”
“You could never be,” he says, placing his hand over mine and giving it a gentle squeeze.
“You signed up for a baggage free girl.”
“Well, a lot has changed. You’re no longer single.” He looks over and grins. “And we have a baby girl who needs us.”
“You do that a lot, you know.”
“What?”
“Call her ours or refer to us as your girls.”
He shrugs. “Is that not right? Are you and Daisy not mine?”
“I mean, I’m your girlfriend, but Daisy, she’s my niece.”
“She’s a few court documents away from being your daughter, Pixie.”
“I know that. It’s kinda freaking me out,” I admit.
“Why?”
“I’m her sole provider. It’s up to me to care for her, provide for her, raise her to be a strong, confident woman. That’s a lot for me to process.”
“We’ll get her through it.”
It’s as if he doesn’t even realize he’s doing it. Every time he includes himself, he makes my heart flutter in my chest. I love this man more than I ever knew was possible. “I love you,” I tell him, because he needs to know.
“I love you too. We changing or no?” he asks again.