Page 65 of What He Always Knew

After two weeks of barely any conversation, of absolutely no love shared in our bed, I assumed he’d given up. I assumed he was finished, just waiting out the time I’d promised him, knowing what would happen at the end of it.

But he was here, in a time I needed him most. He already had everything handled. He knew exactly what I would need, and he took care of it —beforeI even got to the hospital.

He was here.

And Reese wasn’t.

But now wasn’t the time to think about any of that.

Dad was the first one I saw once I’d made it to the room, after I’d done as Cameron suggested and made a stop by the restroom. I started in on my story telling him why I was late, but he shook his head and swept me into a bear hug.

“No need for all that. You’re here now.”

“Is Graham inside?”

Dad nodded, and his eyes looked just as tired as Cameron’s had. “They just asked us to leave for the evening so Christina could get some rest. He’s saying his goodbyes to her now, though truth be told, I’m surprised she convinced him to leave, at all. I think the only reason he was okay with it is because he didn’t sleep much last night, either, knowing they’d be flying.”

“Charlie! Oh, Charlie, you made it.”

I heard Mom’s voice before I saw her, and I turned just in time to catch her hug.

“Hey, Mom. You okay?”

She pulled back with a sniffle, but a smile, nonetheless. “I’m better now that you’re here, too. Did Cameron find you?”

“He did,” I answered. “I think he was going to grab some coffee and head back this way.”

“Bless his heart. He’s done so much for all of us tonight.”

My heart squeezed again, and I opened my mouth to respond when the door to Christina’s room opened behind me.

I turned, finding my brother there, and he looked worst of all.

Graham had always been a larger version of myself — same dark hair, same dark eyes, and same knock-off version of our mother’s nose. Where I was petite, he was just over six foot and shaped more like Dad with his broad shoulders.

I hadn’t seen my brother cry since he broke his arm in tenth grade, but his eyes were red and puffy, his expression long and sad as he forced a smile.

“Hey, Sis.”

“Graham,” I whispered, pulling him into a hug and holding him there. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay. Both my girls are okay.”

I pulled back then, eyes wide. “Bothgirls?”

Graham nodded. “They did an ultrasound to make sure she was okay, and they didn’t know we hadn’t had our appointment yet. The doctor said, ‘Her heartbeat is strong and steady.’” Graham choked out a laugh. “I think I blacked out for a second.”

I laughed with him, squeezing his arms. “A baby girl. Congratulations, big bro.”

“Thank you. Do you want to say hi?” He pointed to the door behind him.

“No, no. Let them rest. I’ll see Christina first thing in the morning.”

Mom and Dad were down the hall at the nurses’ station, talking with someone behind the desk. Graham watched them for a moment before walking me away from Christina’s door.

“Where were you tonight?”

I swallowed, avoiding his eyes as I picked a piece of lint off my shirt.