Page 122 of Almost Beautiful (Beautiful 3)

Jesse sighed. “No one’s ever alone at the hospital.”

“You know what I mean.”

“She’d slipped into a coma the day she passed. She wouldn’t have known if anyone had made it there to visit.”

“You mean, if I had made it to visit.”

“You didn’t know. Hell, I didn’t know until after,” he said. “Abby, she was in a warm, comfortable bed right up to the end. You should take comfort in that.”

“I guess so,” I said, looking down at my hands.

“I should go. I left without telling anyone and I have to … I should go,” Jesse said.

I stood and he hugged me, but I kept my arms at my sides.

“Call me, okay? I’m here for you.” He waved, but just as he reached for the knob, someone banged on the door. Jesse looked back at America and me, and then turned the bolt lock and the knob.

Travis was standing in the hall. He didn’t seem surprised to see Jesse, but he was still unhappy to have to shoulder past him to get to me.

I was prepared for a jealousy-fueled lecture, but he took me into his arms and held me tight.

“I got here as quick as I could.”

“That was … really quick,” America said.

“I’m, uh …” Jesse said, pointing at the door.

“I appreciate you bringing her here,” Travis said, his cheek still against my hair. “Still, fuck you, though.”

Jesse nodded. “Fair enough.”

He closed the door behind him, and Travis squeezed me tightly. “I’m so sorry, Pidge,” he whispered.

I looked up at him. “How did you …?”

He frowned, the same way he did when he was telling me his itinerary before he left. “I came as soon as I heard. I had to move Heaven and Earth, but I’m here now.”

“How? How are you here? Now?

Travis chuckled, nervous. “One of the organizers heard what happened, got me a private plane and then I was here.”

I hugged him again, pressing my cheek against his chest. “I’m just glad you’re here.”

“Me, too.”

“Okay,” America said, tossing her phone to her bed and then sitting next to me. Her follow up was soft and comforting. “Once you identify her, the funeral home will step in. Then you’ll have some decisions to make. Jesse sent me the address to her apartment. It’s in Boulder City, about forty minutes from here.” She looked at her watch. “But … I’m sorry Abby we have to go to the morgue now.”

I shook my head.

“I’ll be with you,” Travis said.

America hugged us both. “You don’t have to do this alone.”

“I don’t know that I can do this at all.”

“Yes, you can,” America said, meeting my gaze. “You have to. There’s no one else.”

I closed my eyes for a moment, to get my bearings while they kept their arms around me. America was right, I wasn’t alone. I had my husband and my best friend with me, the two people in the world I was the safest with.