Page 17 of Wildest Forever (Lovelock Bay #3)

CHAPTER NINE

PACEY

M y own heart aches at seeing Gerry looking as poorly as he does. I follow Morgan out the room, a heavy sigh escaping her.

“I know that look,” she whispers as she steps onto the landing. I close the door behind myself and meet her in the middle of the landing.

“What look?” I ask, twisting my head to look back at the door.

“The look Carlos gave me; it's bad news...” her voice trails off, fingers against her lips as she nibbles on her already short nails.

“Hey, hey,” My voice is rushed as I close the small gap between us, cupping her face into my hands as I tilt her head back so she has no other option but to look at me, trying to reassure her.

“He is with the best person... you've got to try and keep positive... can you do that for me?” my eyes bounce between her beautiful blues, and she nods over and over again and I don't miss the blanket of unshed tears that threaten to fall.

“Good girl,” I whisper before I drop her face and I lean against the stair rail as she resumes her pacing of the landing as we wait for news.

Given the situation, I won't voice my concerns over the doctor, but it's quite clear that he may have a little crush, or vice versa.

He didn't seem to like the fact we were married and I know, I know, I played into it a little too much as I curled my hand around her hip and pulled her against me, but I just wanted him to know that she was mine.

My head lifts when I hear the door handle twist and she is by my side in an instant, her fingers back near her mouth. He closes the door quietly behind him before he even looks at us.

Nothing is said.

His eyes are on Morgan and Morgan only.

But whatever is going on, she seems to know exactly what is going on.

“How long?” she just about manages to squeeze out.

“A couple of weeks...” he trails off before his hand is on her shoulder and jealousy bites at my skin,“I'm so sorry, Morgan,” but as soon as those words leave his mouth, my heart throbs inside my chest in an unbearable ache.

Skating my eyes to my wife, I watch as she runs her tongue over her full bottom lip, her beautiful green eyes fill with unshed tears and I am desperate to swipe them away with my thumb pad.

Carlos shuffles on the spot, his eyes not lifting from hers as he begins to speak.

“I will be back tonight, I can give him meds to make him comfortable. I can get nurses in too, twenty-four hours a day to help you both out...” he pauses as he drops his hand from her shoulder and looks at me with a knowing look, a quick raise of the brow and I know he is more telling her than asking.

“It's going to be a lot for you to deal with Morgan, I really do suggest you accept the help.”

She says nothing, just keeps her eyes on him and I'm not sure if its the shock or she just doesn't know what else to say to him. Carlos steps aside and levels himself to me.

“Thanks doc, we'll be in touch once we have had a chance to talk.” I clasp my hand in his and give it a firm shake before I turn and lead him down the stairs.

“Try and get her to accept the help,” Carlos says as he plucks his hat from the back of the door and places it on his head before he is picking his bag up again.

“I will,” I nod, running my hand around the back of my neck and rubbing slightly.

Carlos sighs, and I can see the sadness in his eyes.“How bad is it?” I say quietly, mindful that she is just above us.

“He has an infection, he has had it a while and what with everything else going on in his body...” he pauses.

“When I saw him a month ago, he was riddled... we knew it would be three months if that, but I prepared him for the worst and gave him a month,” and I swallow down the lump that has housed itself in my throat, nodding as I take in his words.

“He is ready to go, think he may have been holding on to make sure she was going to be looked after,” and he gives me a lopsided smile.

A smile slips on my lips momentarily.

“I'll wait for your call, I can have the nurses here for supper time.”

“Thanks,” I mumble, reaching behind him and twisting the door handle, pulling it open as I wait for him to leave.

He gives me a heavy nod before he steps across the threshold, and I shut the door quietly behind him.

Dropping my head, my chest aches.

My own grief bubbles at the surface and I know she is going to have to go through this all herself.

I may be here by her side, but I can't take any of this pain away and it guts me to my core.

Inhaling sharply, I stand tall and climb the stairs to find her but when I reach the top, she hasn't moved.

She is still standing there.

Anchored to the spot.

Fingers pressed against her lips, but this time she isn't biting on her nails.

Her glassy eyes are pinned to her granddad’s bedroom door, and I know she is seconds from letting the tears fall.

Stepping in front of her, I hear the inhale of her trembling breath. I reach up, curling my fingers around her wrist and slowly pull her hand away, my head tilts to the side, dipping it slightly and that's when she finally looks at me.

“Baby,” I whisper to the quiet room and that's all it took. I pull her into my body, her head on my chest and I wrap my arms around her trembling body as she sobs, her tears soaking through my tee but I don't care.

I just hold her until she is done.

My lips press to the top of her head as I close my own eyes, pushing down my own grief as I let her cry.

Once she had calmed down, I walked her into her grandad’s room and then slipped out silently so she could spend time with him.

I took myself downstairs and put away breakfast, then cleaned the dishes before drying and putting everything back. Sure, it took me a while to find out where everything went, but I got there in the end.

Moving upstairs, I walk into my room and make my bed up before reaching for fresh clothes.

I needed a shower. Padding across to the main bathroom, I close the door behind me and turn the faucet on for the shower before I hear the bang in the pipes.

Placing my hand under the water, I wait for it to warm up before I peel my clothes from me and dump them in a pile on the floor then stepping into the shower tray as I wash the morning off me.

I needed to prepare myself for what was about to come.She was going to be distraught and heartbroken, and I had no idea how to comfort her.If she is anything like how I was, she will push everyone away and of course, she only has me and Dusty.

I needed to get her familiar with my family, needed to introduce her to Sunny and Conrad so she always had someone to turn to if she ever needed it.

Even if she pushed me away to the point of hating me, I would still be here for her.

Because that's what I promised.

I promised her grandad that I would look after her and their ranch.

Scrubbing my skin and then my hair, I rinse the suds off before turning the shower off and wrapping the towel around me. Drying myself, I dress and brush my teeth before I hang my towel up to dry and make my way back to my room.

Gerry's door is still shut and I am assuming that she is still in there.

I didn't want to disturb.

Glancing at the time, it was nearing midday.

I had some laundry to take over to mom's and I needed to catch up with Austin.

Pacing the small hallway, I debated going up there to let her know that I was leaving. I really didn't want to just disappear and her wonder where I had gone.

Stopping when I stand at the bottom of the stairs, my eyes drift up when I hear the sound of floorboards creaking above me. I hold my breath for a moment, then finally make my way up them as I search for her.

Gerry's door is now ajar and hers is wide open.

“Morgan?” I call out as I step to the entrance of her room and I see her sitting on her bed, all docile, fingers locked in front of her, eyes cast down.

I lean against the door frame as I look at her.

She looks so small.

“I'm going to pop up to the ranch, did you want to come for a drive?” I ask and her head lifts, red rimmed eyes bouncing between mine and I am waiting for her to decline my invitation, but she doesn't.

“Can you give me ten minutes to shower? Then if it's okay, I would really like to come with you,” her bottom lip trembles.

“Of course,” I smile at her, “I'll speak to Dusty, tell him to stay close to your grandad.”

She nods, pushing from the bed as she slips into her own bathroom that is adjoined to her room.

Glancing towards Gerry's room, I walk over quietly as I poke my head around and make sure he is still breathing.

“Rivera,” he rasps and I step into the room, hands rubbing together as I close the gap between the both of us.

I sit on the edge of the bed, and his breathing is rattled.

“She knew this day was coming,” he says as his glassy eyes drift to the door.

“I know,” I say softly because what else am I meant to say to him, “but it doesn't make it any easier,” I slip in just as his sights are on me.

He sighs heavily.

“I am going to try and get her to let Carlos get some nurses in, help her out...”

He smirks.

“Good luck,” he winks at me, and I chuckle lightly.

“I don't want her to burn herself out, what with the ranch, keeping on top of chores...” my own eyes move to the door. “I will help out where I can but she is a proud lady... she doesn't want to be seen as being helpless.”

“Exactly that,” his hand reaches for mine as he places it on my wrist, “just give her time, and you're going to have to make the call with Carlos and the nurses because she won't like that... but once they're here, once she sees how quick I am going to deteriorate...”

“Gerry,” I say softly, shaking my head.“She would rather be with you in your last days. I agree on the nurses, but, she won't just step away.”

He grumbles.

“I'm going to take her up to the ranch, she is going to need family around her over the next few weeks, I don't want her to feel any more isolated than what she is feeling now so I will arrange to get Dusty to sit with you whilst we're gone.”