Page 64 of Protective Love

"So, you think this is a good thing?"

"Yes," she states, taking a deep shaky breath as she finally starts to calm herself down. "You deserve to be happy. You deserve to have someone that will look after you, protect you, cherish you, and help you. I'm so glad you've finally found that. I'd also like to take credit for all of this because it was my idea to send you to London, and if it wasn't for me, none of this would be happening."

"I guess you can take credit for it when you put it like that."

We both laugh with each other, and then I sigh as I stand up from the bench and look at the time on the clock, realising I should probably get back to work.

"Any updates for me before I go?"

"You're in a good place, Aurora. Let's not think about anything else for now, okay? Just enjoy what's happening where you are and forget everything here. If you need to know something, you know I'll tell you."

"Okay, well I'm gonna head back out, but I'll probably call you again later or tomorrow."

We bid each other goodbye and then I end the call put my phone back in my pocket.

As I'm about to walk out of the staff room, Lola walks in with watery bloodshot eyes, and when she sees me, she bursts in to tears, crumbling to the floor.

I rush over to her, and awkwardly pat her back as she sobs into her hands.

"Are you okay?"

I mentally facepalm at my stupid question.

"He was married!" she shrieks.

For a moment, I'm shocked and confused, but then I connect the dots and realise she must be on about the guy that she's been seeing.

She continues to cry in front of me, and I hopelessly look around the empty room, praying that there was somebody here who could help me because I feel useless in this situation.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Jaylen

After showering for the first time by myself and without the help of the male nurse that usually helps clean me, I'm exhausted, and gladly flop down on the hospital bed with still wet hair and only a pair of grey shorts.

My legs are trembling slightly, and every muscle in my body is aching.

"Who knew it took so much effort to shower," I say to Sophia and my Aunt Louise when they walk back into the room.

"I did offer to help you," Aunt Lou says, walking over to me and cupping my jaw in a loving, motherly gesture.

"I'd rather die."

Sophia laughs, and her mother rolls her eyes.

"You realise that I used to bathe you all as children, right?"

"Yeah, I do, but I'm now an adult and I'm very capable of doing it myself. Besides, everything has grown since then, and I love you too much to shock you and end up giving you a heart attack," I retort.

"Fair point," she says, grimacing. "I best be going anyway. Michael has a meeting with Brody Garcia to finalise plans for the wedding, and after the debacle at the last meeting to do with a marriage, I'm forcing my way in to this one."

"Go give them hell, Auntie Lou."

"You know I will, sweetheart."

She presses a light kiss against my head, hugs and kisses Sophia and then leaves the room.

"Dad's going to lose his mind if she walks in that room," Sophia says with a cunning smile on her face.