When To Let Go (30 page)

Ava woke up alone, sunlight warming her skin. She stretched out her body, taking her time getting up, unsure of how Wesley would act towards her.

Her first stop was the bathroom, followed by Maggie's room where she searched for some clean clothes to wear. She ended up having to put on a pair of Violet’s yoga pants and tank top, as she was closer to Ava's height.

As she headed down she grabbed one of Wesley's sweaters, remembering how cold she got from the AC. She tried thinking of anything else she might need, putting off going downstairs for as long as she could.

Wes was in the kitchen drinking coffee with glazed over eyes, staring at the refrigerator. She went to start making her tea, stopping when she noticed it had already been done for her, steam still rising from the mug.

“Thank you,” she murmured. The tea was made exactly how she liked it. It didn't surprise her that he remembered.

“You hungry?” Wes asked, coming up behind her, close enough that his heat enveloped her. He reached up above her head, opening a cupboard that housed several varieties of cereal.

Ava reached for her favorite at the same time Wes did. She jerked her hand back before they could touch.

He chuckled close to her ear, ruffling the hairs. It sent a shiver down her spine.

“Relax, it’s only me.”

One cupboard over were the bowls. He grabbed two, keeping his body up against hers.

She couldn't concentrate on anything other than his smell and how close he was; it was taking over her senses. It had her thinking crazy thoughts, like lifting her head and kissing him, maybe letting her hands drift under his shirt to feel the ridges of his abs.

Those images had her breathing getting heavier, not even noticing that he too had stopped moving, studying her.

Wes’s fingers tucked hair behind her ear.

He had to have felt her body tremble from it.

His lips grazed the outside, a hand firmly at her hip, “I'm going to lift you onto the counter and fuck you.”

Ava nodded, growing red from his choice of words even though she always liked when he was crass.

Wes effortlessly had her sitting on the edge, tugging off her pants. He appeared pleased to find nothing else underneath. He dropped his pants and proceeded to fuck her so hard he had to place a hand behind her head so it wasn't harmed against the cabinets. When they were done he slid her pants back on her, then pulled up his own.

They silently ate their cereal, her still on the counter, him leaning his back against it next to her, so close they were touching, his arm brushing hers with every bite.

Before they left she rode him in the backseat of his car, and again in the parking lot of the hospital.

“The doctor will allow another visitor,” the nurse told the room, waking Parker from his half-conscious sleep. He sat up from his slouched position on the chair.

Lily and Noah were already taking turns with Maggie and Violet so neither one was ever alone.

“For who?” Parker’s voice was scratchy and hoarse from lack of sleep and hydration.

“One at a time for Violet. Magnolia can have up to three in the room.”

Parker and Ryder stood up at the same time another figure entered the room.

“I brought break–” Violet’s boyfriend paused at the sight of the nurse, his arms filled with bags and drink holders. “Is Violet okay?”

“She’s a fighter,” the nurse smiled. “I was just letting them know that they can accept visitors. Violet only one at a time.”

The boyfriend set the food and drinks down, “Take me.”

Parker stepped forward to protest.
He
was the one who had spent the night in the most uncomfortable chair ever made, not in a hotel. He thought of Violet and his vow to not be so selfish.

He watched the boyfriend leave, knowing she would rather see him than the man who did nothing but hurt her. It pained Parker to not be the guy who got to see her first.

Ryder followed to see Maggie. He seemed to be in just as much of a wreck as Parker, who worried for his brother and his fragile emotions.

Ava and Wes arrived.

Wes got to see Violet next.

The boyfriend came back in a state of shock, “I had no idea…I just…she looks…”

Parker’s stomach knotted, “What?”

The boyfriend wouldn’t look at him, “Her hair’s gone.”

Parker rotated his hand in a forward motion, needing more information than her hair being gone. Who gave a shit about that?

“The side of her head is bandaged over the staples. Hair might never grow back there.”

“Jesus,” Parker growled unintentionally, growing frustrated, wanting to get past her fucking hair. “How was she?”

“Fine, I guess,” the boy shrugged, deep in thought. “She’s all drugged and sleepy. I’m going back to my room to rest.”

Parker wanted to punch the guy. He didn’t deserve her. As soon as Violet was better he’d find her a man who did.

No he wouldn’t. He hadn’t completely changed.

His moms soon came and it seemed everyone got the chance to see her but him. When it was finally his turn the nurse said she needed her rest.

Parker couldn’t believe he wanted to cry over that. He was turning into an emotional mess. He had cried more in the past few days than he had in his entire life.

Ryder stood at the doorway to Maggie’s room, where Lily was holding her hand, head resting on her other arm. She appeared to be sleeping.

Part of him wanted to turn around and leave. The other part – his heart – needed to see for himself that Maggie was breathing.

He took a small step into the room, barely making a noise.

Lily’s head came up, “Hi.”

“Is it alright…” Ryder trailed off, looking at Maggie. “Is it alright that I see her?”

“Of course.” She got up, scanning him and his disheveled, unhinged mess of dirty clothes, and days’ worth of stubble, “You know, I need some coffee. Do you mind staying with her until I’m back?”

He shook his head no.

“Do you want anything?” Lily asked on her way out.

Once again, he shook his head no.

Ryder reached a hand out, hovering over Maggie’s hand. Most of her body was in casts, but her right hand was free. He touched it, his sorrow overriding his fear. His hand melted into hers, his body sinking into the chair Lily had been in.

He never wanted to let go of her delicate, soft hand. Ever.

He didn’t talk. What would he even say?

Lily came back a half-hour later. He reluctantly let her hand go, letting Maggie’s mom take the chair.

He didn’t leave though.

Ryder leaned against the window sill, “Mind if I stay?”

“No, it would be nice to have the company.”

That’s where he remained, and where he planned to remain until somebody kicked him out.

The next day the nurse allowed another wave of visitors. The only two people Violet hadn’t seen yet were Parker and Ava. Ryder had just left. He could barely look at her. That was fine by her; she was tired of seeing the horror in everyone’s eyes as they tried to mask it in their features.

Minutes ticked by. Violet feared another day would pass and she wouldn’t get to see the one person she wanted to.

Her mom came back.

Both her parents had been with Maggie, allowing Violet’s visitors alone time.

She was envious they got to be with her sister, who she missed and was getting desperate to see.

Her heart sank when no one else followed her mom in, “No more visitors?”

“Not for today.” Her mom took the seat next to her, taking her hand. Sensing her daughter’s thoughts, she straightened out her bed while she talked. “Parker hasn’t left. He even sleeps in those God-awful chairs. His moms have to force him to eat.” She paused, fluffing a pillow, contemplating how much to disclose. “Tylor spends the whole time at his hotel except for the few minutes he gets to be in here. Ava’s been here too, although she and Wes go home at night to sleep. She doesn’t think you two would want her in your rooms. I told her that was ridiculous.”

It
was
ridiculous. Violet may not be happy with her, but Ava was family. She didn’t always have to like them, but she always loved them.

“How is Maggie?”

Her mom tried her best not to cry, sniffling into a well-worn tissue, “Still sleeping.”

Lily refused to say the word coma, choosing to believe her daughter needed a deep rest in order to recuperate. Nobody called her out on it.

“How about you, Mom? When was the last time you slept?”

Lily waved her hand, “You sound just like your father. I sleep at night, like the rest of you.”

That was bullshit. The staff had been accommodating to her parents, bringing them cots to sleep on at night; still, she had heard her tossing and turning all night. Her dad was no different.

Her mom went to work doing the lymphatic drainage techniques a nurse had shown her how to do on Violet’s body. Lily had wanted to be the one to do it every day instead of one of the nurses.

“I love you, Mom.” Violet hadn’t told her that nearly enough.

“I love you too, sweetie.”

Violet spotted Parker walking past her observation window.

Her monitors went wild.

She tried to steady her breathing, taking in long, calming breaths, not wanting a nurse to come in and see what had caused them to spike.

It took so long for the door to open that for a moment Violet feared Parker was only passing to see Maggie. When it did, it was slower than slow.

Parker’s head poked in.

He gave her a sheepish turn of the lips, unsure as he slid in, “Okay if I come in?”

She smiled, “You already are.”

He eased the rest of the way in and shut the door.

First his eyes remained glued to hers, then they began soaking in the rest of her.

Violet had never seen him appear vulnerable before as tears watered his eyes.

“Are you in pain?” He asked in such a soft voice that it reminded her of Ava.

“Sometimes. Then a nurse comes and gives me my next dose of pain meds.”

“God, Vi,” Parker choked on his words, putting a fist to his mouth.

She needed to talk; if he cried there would be no stopping her, “I thought I’d see you sooner.”

“I didn’t think you’d really care to see me.”

“Don’t be stupid,” she tried smiling bigger, but it hurt. Everywhere hurt. “Sit. Distract me with a story or something. I’m going crazy in here.”

He took the seat next to her bed, eyes on the gauze wrapped over her head. His palms uncontrollably wiped his thighs.

“Please stop staring,” she begged.

“Ha,” he scoffed. “How am I not to? Have you seen yourself, Vi? It’s fucking huge.”

“That’s what she said,” Violet tried joking.

“Wow,” Parker laughed. “I can’t believe you just said that. You’re such a nerd.”

“Takes one to know one.”

He grinned, “Oh, okay. I see how this is going to be.”

They began bantering back and forth until his time was up.

Violet’s head pounded from all the smiling and laughing, but it had been worth it. For a moment life had been normal again.

Ava came out of the single stall restroom with flushed cheeks, checking to make sure her sweater hadn’t gotten stuck in her pants.

Wes was right behind her.

“You were supposed to wait a few minutes before coming out,” she uttered out of the side of her mouth as they walked towards the waiting room.

He only laughed, giving her ass a squeeze before he veered to the left to make his way towards a nurse that would let him into the ICU.

The first thing Ava saw upon entering the room was chestnut brown hair smothering her face, arms wrapping around her neck.

“I’ve been a mess,” Dakota broke down into Ava’s shoulder. “I keep having nightmares over the accident. I don’t know how I’m going to get past this.”

Ava patted her back, “It’s okay.”

She led her to two side-by-side chairs to comfort her friend.

“I’ve barely slept and look like a complete disaster,” Dakota further wailed.

Ava thought she looked pretty fantastic in weathered denim jeans, an off the shoulder blouse, hair in soft waves, and makeup expertly applied. Compared to Ava, who had been in the same clothes since yesterday, had dark circles under her eyes, and hair a knotted mess on the top of her head.

Ava continued to soothe her distraught friend long after Wes went to be with his sisters.

Parker was pacing the room, calming his anger that Violet’s boyfriend had interrupted their time together.

“What if Maggie doesn’t come out of it?” Dakota pondered, reaching into her purse for a compact.

“She will,” Ava responded with assertion.

She refused to believe that she wouldn’t. This was Maggie, her best friend since she was seven. This couldn’t be how it ended.

Dakota was wiping the black mascara under her eyes, “Well, if she doesn’t, Wes will need someone to comfort him.”

“Maggie will be fine,” Ava somewhat snapped, getting annoyed, not wanting to talk about Maggie being anything less than a survivor.

“I don’t know. I once watched this episode–”

Ava cut her off, “Please. Stop.”

“Just keeping it real.”

“Well, don’t, okay?”

“Geesh, fine.”

Ava felt bad for snapping at her, “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. I just wish you’d be a little more empathetic towards other’s feelings right now.”

Dakota was right. Ava wasn’t the only one hurting. Everyone dealt with things in their own way.

She decided to appease her friend and find a middle ground. Instead of talking about Maggie not making it she shared something she had been stewing on the past day or so, “I keep wondering if it would help if they had Maggie and Violet in the same room. The three of them are so connected. She needs to know Violet’s okay, hear her voice, feel her close by.”

Dakota shrugged, reapplying lip gloss, “Maybe. So when does Wes come back?”

“Not until visiting hours are over.”

Dakota frowned, “Oh. Well, that won’t do.”

Dakota got up, exiting the room. Out of curiosity, Ava followed.

Dakota flagged down a nurse, “Excuse me, nurse.”

“Yes?”

“My dear friend Maggie Baxter is here and I desperately need to see her. What room is she in?”

“Family only,” the nurse’s brusque manner was lost on Dakota.

“Surely you can find out if they will allow us? Tell them Ava Stone was asking.”

The nurse grumbled and went on her way. A few minutes later she came back, ushering them through the security system to the ICU.

Ava hovered outside the door to Maggie’s room while Dakota strode right in, offering her condolences to Mr. Baxter.

Mr. Baxter lifted his brows, looking at Ava in a “Who the hell is this?” kind of way.

She couldn’t respond. Her eyes had landed on Maggie, covered in casts.

She placed a hand on the door frame to steady herself, her legs giving out.

“Whoa,” Wes wrapped an arm around her waist from behind, his mouth inches from her ear, keeping her standing. “First time seeing her?”

Ava nodded. Wes squeezed the hip he was supporting.

“She’ll be glad you came,” his free hand tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. His finger trailed down her jaw.

“I doubt that,” she mumbled, unable to remove her eyes from his.

“Ava, she loves you.” The word love was said with such depth and intensity that Ava felt it all over her body.

Dakota cleared her throat, forcing Ava and Wes to lose their focus on one another.

Wes kept an arm around Ava’s waist as he greeted Dakota.

“Oh, Wes, I’m so sorry about your sisters,” Dakota poured out her grief. “I haven’t been able to sleep thinking about Maggie and what could be done to help her.”

“Yeah,” Wes’s features turned to stone, the hopelessness of what to do weighing down on him. He forced Ava into the room with him.

“It finally hit me this morning, and I had to come rushing over,” Dakota eagerly carried on. “I got to thinking about the bond the three of you must share. What if they could have Violet and Maggie share a room? I know it’s a long shot, but I just thought that if Violet was here, that somehow Maggie could sense or even hear that her sister was alright.”

Wes dropped his arm from around Ava’s waist, moving over to Dakota, wrapping his arms round her and twirling her around, “That’s brilliant.”

His lips smashed against hers for a fraction too long, “Why didn’t I think of that?!”

Still holding Dakota off the ground, Wes turned his head to his dad.

Mr. Baxter was already striding out the door, “I’m on it.”

It was childish of Ava, but she wanted to mention that it had been her idea. She kept her mouth shut. What did it matter?

The next few hours were a whirlwind of activity as the Baxters fought whoever they could to make it happen.

Dakota left, giving Wes her number, “Call me, let me know what happens?”

“I will,” he pulled her in for a tight hug. “Thank you. I can feel that this will work.”

“I’ll pray that it does.”

Ava had to look away from the obvious way the two held each other a bit too long.

“Are you going to the funeral tomorrow?” Wes asked Dakota as they separated.

“Of course.”

“Come find me.”