Buttons and Grace (Buttons 6)

“Mr. Barsetti?”

We both turned around to see Lars getting out of the SUV, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt.

Cane nearly did a double take. “Lars? I didn’t know you owned jeans.”

Lars held his hands together in front of his waist, just as he did when he was working at the estate. “Would it be too intrusive if I came along? I know I serve Mr. Barsetti, but I’ve always viewed him like a son…”

My eyes immediately watered, and I grabbed his hand. “Of course, Lars. You are family.”

Cane patted him on the back. “Crow will be happy to see you.”

Cane guided us to the surgical floor and found us seats in the waiting room. A few other people were there, reading magazines or looking at their phones to keep busy. We sat down in the corner, but I couldn’t stop shaking my leg. The anxiety was getting to me, making me desperate for air even though I was breathing normally.

Cane leaned forward and massaged his knuckles as he stared at the floor.

Lars sat with a straight and rigid back, still like a statue and soundless like the night.

The silence was killing me.

The passage of time was torture.

When I thought an hour had passed, it was only twenty minutes.

I reminded myself that the worst was over. Crow had been rescued, and Tristan was dead. All Crow had to do was make it through this surgery, and our lives would be back to normal. We could have the quiet life we’d always wanted…the three of us.

I just had to stay calm.

Be patient.

But after an actual hour passed and we didn’t get an update, I started to worry again. “Cane, should we ask again? Do we talk to the front desk?”

Cane nodded to the nurse who sat behind the front desk. A phone was pressed to her ear as she spoke quietly so no one in the waiting room could hear her. “She’s the one I’ve been asking. But I doubt she knows anything because she would have said something by now. I’ll ask again if you want…”

“It’s okay. I just wonder how long this surgery is.”

“They had a lot to take care of, so it could be hours. It’s been six already.” Cane glanced at his watch.

Lars patted my hand. “He’s going to be alright, Mrs. Barsetti. If he’s made it this long, he’s doing well.”

“You think?” I whispered.

“Definitely.”

We waited another hour, a very long and painful hour.

Finally, the nurse behind the desk walked up to Cane.

We all rose to our feet, but I stood up the quickest. “Is he okay?” I blurted.

“They just finished,” she said. “Everything went well. They’ll be transporting him to his room any minute now. He’ll be out for a few more hours, so be patient.”

Tears formed in my eyes as the relief swept over me. Crow made it through the most difficult part. I would see his face soon. I would finally get to hold his hand. I would finally get to be reunited with him.

“That’s great,” Cane said. “Thank you so much.”

“I knew he would be alright,” Lars said.

We returned to our seats, feeling a little better now that we’d received great news.

“Do you want to be in there alone?” Cane asked. “Until he wakes up?”

I wanted to wrap my arms around Crow and never let go. I wanted to tell him I loved him a million times and splash his skin with my tears. But I didn’t care if Cane and Lars watched the whole thing. They were family. “No. He’ll be happy to see all of us.”

* * *

I cried when I first saw him.

His right eye was black and swollen, and there were scars all over his face. His abdomen was wrapped in gauze to protect his ribs, and he had a cast on his left leg. The doctor said he had several broken ribs that needed to be repaired, and the internal bleeding from a hernia had also been fixed.

Even though he would be alright, I was still heartbroken.

It was hard to look at him.

I wished Tristan weren’t dead so I could kill him myself.

Cane didn’t blink an eye over it. He’d seen his brother in worse condition when he pulled him out of that compound. Lars didn’t show any emotion, but he never took his eyes off Crow’s face.

We waited for Crow to wake up. Another four hours went by, and there was still no sign of movement. The sky had turned black as the night deepened and visiting hours were over, but that didn’t have any effect on us. No amount of security would get us to leave his room.

After what seemed like an eternity, Crow took a deep breath, and his fingers curled into a fist. He didn’t open his eyes right away, but his jaw clenched like he was having a bad dream. He suddenly opened his eyes and looked at the ceiling, his chest rising and falling hard as he switched into distressed mode. “Button…I need to call her.” He didn’t notice the three of us sitting there because he was still disoriented, unable to take in his surroundings even though his eyes were open.