Rennie and Bowie passed the time in the car talking about Christmas and what he could get Brooklyn. While he drove, Rennie pulled up the ads for all the home-improvement stores and rattled off a list of tools Brooklyn would love. Bowie suggested Rennie buy a fixer-upper and have Brooklyn help her restore the home, and Rennie countered with how the handy-dandy couple needed their own reality show. They sang songs that came on the radio. Rennie and Bowie talked about Brystol and how fast she was growing up. Bowie spoke about his fears when it came to boys, recalling the way he was when he first met Brooklyn.
Rennie smiled when she thought about meeting Graham for the first time. She remembered the moment when Brooklyn told her she was moving north and how heartbroken she had been. The beginning of her junior year of high school depressed her. She missed her best friend. However, when spring break came, Rennie’s world changed with her first trip to Cape Harbor. She met Graham and fell in love for the first time.
At some point during the drive, Rennie fell asleep. Bowie shook her gently to wake her up when he pulled into the parking lot. She made sure to take her bag with her and pulled her phone out and sent a text to Graham. I’m here at the hospital. Where are you?
“I texted Graham to find out where he is,” Rennie said as she and Bowie walked into the hospital. A security guard put his hand up to stop them.
“I’m sorry, but visiting hours are over.”
“Oh,” they said in unison. Neither of them had even thought about restricted hours.
“Do you have family here?”
Rennie nodded. “My brother-in-law was admitted earlier. I’m bringing my husband a change of clothing.” She patted her bag for emphasis.
“And you, sir?” The guard directed his attention to Bowie.
“I’m a cousin. I’m here to pick up my aunt and uncle to take them home. They’re elderly.”
Rennie liked how quick Bowie was on his feet. The guard asked for their names, and once again, Rennie lied. She had an answer for him, too, if he asked why her identification read Wallace instead of Chamberlain. The guard gave Bowie and Rennie name tags and said they had to wear them at all times. He pointed to the general waiting room, where other families had gathered.
The waiting room had the open-concept feel to it. You could see staff walking up and down halls, hear the intercom and the click the doors made when people swiped their key cards. There was one television suspended in the corner and set to a news channel. The volume was off, but those interested could read the subtitles. They sat down away from others and waited for Graham.
“What if Grady hurt someone? What if someone in this area is waiting for word on a loved one Grady hurt?”
“Don’t think like that, Bowie.” Rennie had the same thoughts but didn’t want to express them. One of them needed to remain positive.
“I can’t help it.”
Neither can I.
Rennie spotted Graham, the tall dirty-blond-haired man with green eyes whose crooked smile could make her heart skip a beat, coming down the hallway, and she rushed over to him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed the side of her face to his chest. “I’m so sorry.” Her words were automatic and heartfelt. Regardless of everything going on in their lives and the separation between them, she would always care for him. “What happened?”
Graham pulled away and clasped his hand with Rennie’s. “I see Bowie over there. I might as well tell you both at the same time.”
She nodded, and they walked toward Bowie, who pulled his friend into a hug as soon as Graham neared.
The three of them sat down, with Graham in the middle, who continued to hold Rennie’s hand. “Grady was found on the side of the road. He overdosed, but the officer who found him had Narcan. He coded on his way here. They revived him . . .” Graham paused and covered his face with his hands. Rennie put her arm around him and hugged him as best she could. She considered telling him everything would be okay, but the words would be empty. Graham cleared his throat and continued to speak, telling them everything the doctor had said. “Bottom line, if my brother survives, it’s going to take a miracle and then another one to get him into rehab.”
“He didn’t hurt anyone, did he?” Bowie asked.
Graham shook his head. “Not that I know. My mom is with Grady now, but I asked one of the nurses, and she said she wasn’t aware.”
Rennie’s grip on Graham’s hand tightened. She couldn’t imagine what he felt or the thoughts going through his mind. She was an only child, and Brooklyn was the closest she had to a sibling. When Austin died, she had done her best to be by Brooklyn’s side but couldn’t put her life on hold. Not like the friends Brooklyn had in Cape Harbor.