Sweet Serendipity (18 page)

“I was wondering what had happened to this. I thought I’d lost it. Did you draw these pictures?”

“Yes,” he answered.

“They are amazing. This is amazing,” she replied.

“It was easy. Your words were what inspired me. You are the amazing one. The woman you saw me talking to is interested in meeting you. She is a literary agent specializing in children’s books. She loved it.”

Rebecca held the book in her hands. She was speechless. No one had ever done anything like that for her. She had always dreamt about writing books, but never thought it could be a possibility.

“I don’t know what to say to this, Ethan. This is above and beyond anything that anyone has ever done for me.”

He walked over to her and held her hands in his.

“It was an easy thing to do, Becca. I told you that I’d do anything for you. I am a man of my word.”

Rebecca’s phone rang. She was too wrapped up in everything that Ethan had done for her that she didn’t bother to check to see who it was. The phone rang a second time; she looked at the screen and noticed that it was Riley, so she quickly answered.

“Sweetie, what’s wrong?”

“Mom, oh thank God. There is something wrong with Aunt Tasha. She’s spiking a high fever and she’s mumbling weird things. I called 911 and an ambulance is on its way. They are taking her to the hospital. I’ll stay here with Adam, but Ashlee is going to ride with her. I think you should go there.”

“Oh God! I’m on my way. I’ll be waiting when she gets there. Keep Adam quiet and tell him that I’m with Aunt Tasha.”

“Mom…I love you.”

“I love you, too, sweetie. I’ll call you when we know what’s going on.”

Rebecca hung up the phone and looked at Ethan. She could barely get the words out.

“It’s Tasha; she’s on her way to the hospital. I should have been home. I should have been there.” He grabbed a shirt from the couch and slid it on.

“You are in no way responsible for this. I’m coming with you, and I’m not taking no for an answer.”

“You don’t need to, Ethan. I don’t expect you to just hang around.” Tears streamed down her cheek.

“No, it’s not expected of me, but you need someone, and that someone is me. You need to get used to the idea because I’m not going anywhere.” He grabbed his keys and helped her out the door.

Rebecca and Ethan arrived just as the ambulance did. As soon as Rebecca saw them wheel Tasha in on a gurney she lost all control. The EMTs pushed her aside as they brought Tasha into the ER. A nurse stopped Rebecca at the door as they swung shut.

“I’m sorry, miss, but unless you are immediate family, you are going to have to wait in the lounge. We’ll let you know what is happening as soon as the doctors tell us.”

Rebecca shook in shock. Ethan wrapped his arms around her to comfort her.

“Aunt Becca,” Ashlee called out. Rebecca lifted her head and spotted Ashlee walking slowly toward her. Rebecca held out her arms to the girl and embraced her.

“It’s alright, sweetie. We’ll figure out what’s going on and they’ll help your mom.”

“Oh Aunt Becca, is she dying? Is this what they were talking about when they said anytime now?” Ashlee was almost hysterical.

“No! Sometimes after an operation there can be…complications. I’m sure that’s all it is. They will get her fixed up, baby. We’ll stay right here.”

Ethan walked the girls into the lounge where they sat huddling. Rebecca didn’t dare let go of Ashlee until she calmed down.

Richard and Rochelle arrived within the hour. Richard stood at the doorway and watched his daughter with her head buried in Rebecca’s shoulder. She slowly raised her head and looked at her father. Her mocha skin was blotchy and swollen from crying. She ran to her father and threw her arms around him. Rochelle walked over to the other side of her and hugged her. Rebecca’s heart ached. If something were to happen to Tasha, the three of them, Richard, Rochelle, and Ashlee would be a family. Ethan sat beside her and grasped her hand. He didn’t say a word. He just sat and held her hand. Richard walked over to them and nodded politely to Ethan. He turned his attention to Rebecca.

“Have they said anything yet?”

“No,” she replied. “It feels like it’s been forever.”

“I’ll go and talk to someone. I am her healthcare proxy, so they should talk to me.” He looked back at Rebecca and Ethan. “I just thought I’d let you know that Adam called Jack. He’s on his way here.”

Rebecca’s hand tensed up. Ethan grabbed hold even tighter. He knew that she was suddenly uncomfortable with their situation, but he wasn’t going to let her go.

Waiting for Richard to return with any news felt like an eternity in the small waiting room. Jack came rushing through the lounge door and the first thing he noticed was Rochelle cradling Ashlee in her arms. He patted Ashlee’s back and looked over toward Rebecca. His eyes instantly locked with Ethan’s and Rebecca tensed up again. He walked over to her and Ethan refused to let go of her hand. Jack looked at their hands and had a look of contempt on his face.

“I came as soon as Adam called. I didn’t want you to be alone, but I see that you aren’t.” He faced Ethan and extended his hand. “I’m Jack, her husband.”

“Ex-husband, Jack,” Rebecca interrupted.

He looked at her with a pained look upon his face.

“Ex-husband, and you are?”

Ethan didn’t hesitate, he stood up and took Jack’s hand in a firm grasp.

“I am Ethan.”

Jack smiled and looked back at Rebecca.

“He seems a little young, don’t you think? You are trying to punish me, aren’t you?”

“Now is not the time or the place, Jack. We are here because of Tasha, not us,” Rebecca snapped at him. He understood that if he pushed the issue, he would only be driving the wedge between them even further. He also noticed that Ethan had no intentions of leaving so he had to gather his composure. He took the seat on the other side of Rebecca and began tapping his foot impatiently on the carpeted floor.

Ethan made sure he kept hold of Rebecca’s hand. He knew this was a huge step for Rebecca, and he wanted her to stand tall. He also wanted to know that he meant more to her than a rebound.

Another hour passed and there was still no word. Richard was still in the ER with Tasha, but no updates had come back yet.

Rebecca stood up to stretch her legs. She paced around the room. She counted the flowers painted on the wall. She had gotten to three hundred when she began coughing because her throat was dry. Ethan offered to go to the cafeteria to get her a drink. He gently squeezed her shoulder and headed down.

As soon as Ethan walked away, Jack jumped right in for the kill.

“Seriously, Becky, what the hell is that all about? Are you just trying to tear out my heart or what?”

Rebecca looked in his direction.

“Jack, for once it’s not about you. We are here for Tasha. Don’t try to make this about you and me.”

He got into her face.

“Is this why you didn’t want me to stay? Did you run straight to him as soon as I left?”

“I’m not doing this now.”

Ashlee and Rochelle looked over at them wondering what was going on. Jack threw his hands up

“I don’t really care who hears, Rebecca. I love you. I told you I’m seeking help. I told you that I’m trying to work through my grief so that we can find our way back to one another.”

Rebecca moved away from Jack. She wanted Ethan to hurry back.

Jack continued, “Am I imagining things or were you not kissing me back earlier? I mean, please forgive me if I am wrong here, you kissed me back.” He took a step closer to her. “What could you possibly see in a guy like that? He’s a pretty boy. He’s not your type.”

She was getting angry and was about to lay into him when the waiting room doors opened and Richard stepped through.

He walked over to his daughter and she clung to him.

“She’ll be alright. She developed a staph infection. It happens sometimes when you spend extended amounts of time with open wounds in a hospital. She’s on I.V. antibiotics and they’ll keep her monitored.

Ethan then entered the room and stood behind Richard so he wouldn’t interrupt him.

“They suggested we all go home and get some rest. She’ll pretty much be asleep until tomorrow anyway.”

Ashlee looked up at him and with droopy eyes said, “I want to go home with you, Daddy.”

He kissed the top of her head.

“Alright, sweetheart.” Rochelle wrapped her arm around Ashlee and led her to the door. Richard approached Rebecca and gave her a hug.

“I’ll be in touch, but Ashlee can stay with us as long as she’d like. I’ll call you when they release Tasha, they aren’t recommending visitors until the infection clears up, so you don’t have to worry about hanging around.”

“I don’t want to just leave her here alone, Richard.”

“She’s not alone. I can be here, but there is no point in worrying about you getting sick, too. We’ll make her arrangements when she’s well enough.”

Rebecca reluctantly agreed. She was exhausted and just wanted to get home. She said goodnight to Rochelle and then hugged Ashlee. She watched them make their way through the glass doors and into the parking lot. She turned and hesitated looking at both Ethan and Jack. Ethan then walked forward and handed her the bottle of water he purchased.

“Let me drive you home.”

Jack stepped forward.

“Where is your car?”

Rebecca closed her eyes.

“I drove here with Ethan, so I’ll drive home with Ethan. Good night, Jack.”

She accepted the water bottle and Ethan put his arm behind her back. Jack took a deep breath.

“I’ll be by in the morning to pick up Adam for the day. He wanted to come and hang out in the garage. Do you want me to bring a coffee for you?”

Rebecca just waved goodbye without answering. She didn’t want to play his jealousy game. She just wanted to leave. The glass doors opened and she stepped through. Jack watched as Ethan walked out the door with his arm around his wife. He sat back down in the chair and buried his face in his hands.

Ethan pulled into her driveway and put the car in park. The night was nearly over, and she noticed the faintest traces of light just beginning to show in the horizon.

“This isn’t exactly what I thought our first sunrise would consist of,” Ethan said to her with a teasing tone to lighten the mood.

She tried to crack a smile, but she didn’t have it in her.

“Well, hopefully we’ll have many more in our future,” he continued.

She turned in her seat and looked at Ethan.

“Ethan, I care for you deeply. I just think that this is all moving too fast.”

“Does this have to do with Jack?” He asked her with a hint of aggravation in his voice.

“A little…maybe…no, I just have so much going on right now.”

“You realize what you’re doing right now, don’t you? You’re trying to push me away again.”

“Ethan, I…” she began.

“No, I don’t want or need to hear it. I told you tonight that I love you. I don’t take it back, Becca. I don’t know what’s going on with Jack, or not going on, but I think you need to figure it out for yourself. I overheard your conversation with him in the lounge. You apparently have some conflicted feelings. If you were kissing him, then why is it my door that you came knocking on? I am not just someone to help you get back at your ex. I have very real feelings invested in this. You need to figure out who you want. I am going out of town until the opening of my gallery. I will give you until then, it will give you time to figure out if you can accept a new love, or if you are going to fall back for an old one.”

“Ethan…” She was surprised by his comment.

“No, Becca, you have some major hang ups and I don’t know if it’s just you or the fact that your ex-husband is very much still in love with you. If you choose him, it will hurt, but I’ll let you go. I just want you to figure it out once and for all because only having a part of you is not enough for me anymore, I want all or nothing.”

“So that’s it? You are just going away and I’m not supposed to think anything about it? Don’t I get a say in this?” she asked him.

“You can tell me right now that you love me and want me to stay?”

“Ethan…”

“That is exactly what I am talking about. Goodbye, Rebecca. I have to go.”

She reluctantly opened her car door and stepped out, watching as he backed out of the driveway.

Riley pulled open the door and ran out into her mother’s arms.

“Oh, Mom, I love you.”

Rebecca pulled her close.

“I love you, too, baby.”

They walked into the house arm in arm. They walked past the living room where Adam was curled up on the sofa. Becca pulled a blanket over him. In her room, she kicked off the shorts and tank top she had been wearing. She slipped on a pair of cotton shorts and a t-shirt when Riley knocked on the door.

Rebecca turned toward her and asked, “What’s the matter, sweetie?”

Riley clung onto a fleece blanket and looked at her mother.

“Can I sleep with you, Mom?”

It had been a really long time since her daughter had asked to sleep in her bed. She smiled and nodded. Riley bound for the bed and curled up on her side to face her mother. Rebecca crawled under the sheet and smiled at her.