Page 51

“I can’t…” I choked, pressing a palm to his chest. “You can’t expect me to prepare for losing you. I need positivity right now. I need to believe that you and Paris will wake up from your surgeries, recover well, and that life will continue. Please.”

I leaned my forehead against his chest, inhaling the clean scent of soap—no designer cologne allowed before the operation. His arms wrapped around me, holding me secure and steady.

“I don’t want your money, Richard. I don’t want your buildings or your businesses.”

“What do you want then?” he asked quietly.

“You.” My voice cracked. “I just want you.”

20

THE BRAVEST

VIVIAN

By the timepreparations for the operation began, Paris was a bundle of nerves. They gave her something to help her relax, and she settled into her pre-op room, tucked beneath the blankets. Her curls were pulled back and hidden, and her cheeks looked unusually pale, with a small IV secured on her arm like a badge of courage. Even her fuzzy socks peeked out from under the covers.

She was far too young for all of this. Why did this have to happen to her?

Before his own pre-op procedures, the nurses permitted Richard to do a brief visit to her bedside, and the moment her face lit up, I knew a beautiful father and daughter bond unfolded.

He leaned in, his hand softly brushing her cheek as he asked, “Are you ready, my little explorer?”

With a slow nod, she replied, “Will you be brave?”

Smiling, he said, “Only if you promise to be brave too.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he held her tenderly, as if cradling something fragile.

“I’ll see you later,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Remember, we have an entire world to exploretogether soon. And Paris, there’s something I want you to know: even though we’ve only met this week, you are my little girl now. You’ve taken up residence in my heart, and I will always love you.” He tapped his chest.

“I love you, Daddy,” she whispered back.

Observing them, my hand flew to my heart, and I held it there.

I followed Richard into the corridor that connected their rooms. His turn came first—the surgical team would harvest his kidney before attending to Paris. I gripped his hand tightly, as though it were the only tether keeping him grounded.

“You’re going to be fine,” I reassured him, running my thumb over his knuckles. “The nurses are keeping Paris calm so that I can join you in the operating room and wait until they put you under anesthesia.”

With a low chuckle and a wink, he replied, “You’ll distract the surgeons, and I don’t need them making any mistakes—you’re too damn beautiful for this sterile place to handle.”

“Richard, seriously,” I said gently. “It’s my turn to be there for you.”

“Then go be with our daughter. She may appear brave on the outside, but inside she must be terrified,” he said with a faint smile. “You know, I thought that by April, once we’ve both recovered, visiting Paris would be wonderful. Spring transforms the city into something breathtaking, as I’m sure you remember. I’ll arrange for a nanny and tutor so we can steal some time together and perhaps walk down memory lane from the night we first met.” He kissed the back of my hand.

“Sounds lovely. But first, let’s get through this,” I implored, nodding as I forced a smile despite the lump in my throat.

His eyes grew somber and his voice dropped. “Vivian—tell her I’m the luckiest man to have known her.”

Tears ran unchecked down my cheeks, and I made no attempt to wipe them away. “No, you’ll tell her yourself when this is all over,” I whispered softly.

A throat cleared from someone on the surgical team, reminding us that time was short. In the final seconds, panic set in. “There’s so much I want to say to you, Richard.” It was so natural for our daughter to express her love for this remarkable man; the words were poised on my lips, yet my past kept them at bay.

He squeezed my hand one last time and studied my face as if etching it into memory. “You don’t have to say anything. Your eyes speak volumes. But I’ll say it—I love you, Vivian.”

Those words lifted my heart, and I kissed him through my tears as if it were our last farewell—just in case—while clinging to hope for more time together.

Once both were wheeled into surgery, our friends and family gathered to wait with me in our room.