I listened to them talk as I ate, watching them both. But the longer dinner went on, the more tension I could feel radiating from both of my parents. It set my nerves on edge, and I began to watch them even more closely.
That’s when I started noticing the changes in Daddy. There were bruises on his right forearm, which surprised me because I couldn’t ever remember him having a bruise on him. It took longer to notice the weight loss because it was subtle, but eventually, I did.
And that was when I noticed the slight discoloration of his eyes. They had a yellow tinge to them.
“Are you sick?” I blurted out, unable to stop the words.
Mom’s fork made a loud clank as it hit her plate, her fingers having lost their hold on it as soon as I opened my mouth. Daddy’s eyes met mine, and I read the answer there even as he reached over and covered Mom’s shaking hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“We wanted to tell you ourselves,” he said with a grim twist of his mouth. “Yes, Nevaeh. I’m sick.”
“But…” I swallowed hard, feeling tears burning my eyes. My mind ran through the list of visible symptoms I could see. Bruising. Weight loss. Jaundice. I’d hurt him when I hugged him earlier, and I tried to remember exactly where my arms had been when I’d squeezed. But I wasn’t a damn doctor, and nothing was coming to mind because I wasn’t studying to go into the medical field. “What’s wrong with you?”
He glanced at Mom and sighed heavily before turning his gaze back to me. “Remember when I had that fender bender back in August? It was right after you went back to Virginia for the fall semester.”
“You said you didn’t get hurt,” I recalled aloud.
He’d been a passenger in Uncle Jesse’s SUV along with my other uncles when they’d gotten rear-ended on their way home from the studio. No one had gotten hurt from what Mom told me right after it happened.
“The seat belt caused some bruising across my abdomen, and I started having some pain. A lot of pain, if I’m being honest. Your mom made me go in for tests.” He swallowed hard and let out a strained laugh. “My past caught up with me, sweetheart. All those years of drinking caused some pretty significant damage. I have Stage 4 liver disease. I’ve had it for decades and didn’t even realize it. If it weren’t for the accident, I still might not have found out.”
“What?” I didn’t understand, or maybe I just didn’t want to understand. My mind couldn’t wrap itself around the fact that he was sick, let alone what disease he had. But it was starting to make sense, even though I really didn’t want it to. Because if there was a name for his illness, a diagnosis, then that made it real.
And I didn’t want it to be fucking real.
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” Mom finally spoke, but her voice was thick with tears. “Because Daddy is getting a new liver, and he will be just fine.”
I blinked at her in surprise. “Do you know how long people are on those damn transplant lists?” That much, I did know. “It could take years before he gets one and—”
“Uncle Shane is giving me part of his, Nev,” Daddy interrupted before I could start spouting off statistics.
“Really?” I whispered and finally lost the battle against my tears, letting them flow freely. “Are you sure he’s a good enough match? If he’s not, I’ll give you part of mine, Daddy. I know we have the same blood type. Surely we would be a better genetic match.”
“We’ve already had all the tests done, honey. He’s a positive match.”
“But maybe it would be better if I did it anyway. Let me do some research and figure out if it’s better if a child donates an organ for you to have a higher chance of not rejecting it than a sibling donating.” I picked up my phone, already typing rapidly.
Daddy reached across the table and snatched my phone from my hand. Placing it facedown on the table, he glared at me. “You are not donating anything. Neither are your sisters or your brother. This is happening because of my mistakes, and I’m not going to put any of you through that kind of pain and danger to fix them. The only reason I agreed to accept Shane’s offer was because your mom begged me to.”
“Are you crazy?” I didn’t mean to yell, but I was so upset, I couldn’t seem to control the volume of my voice. “Daddy, if the chance of survival is higher for me to give you a part of my liver, then of course, you need to take it. Don’t be stubborn. A small amount of pain is nothing if it means you get better.”
“I said no, Nevaeh. And that’s final.” He picked up his glass of water and downed half of it before pushing his chair back and standing. “Sorry, Angel. I’m not hungry.”
I watched him go before scrubbing my hands across my cheeks and finally looking over at Mom. “P-please. Let me do this. Just let me do the research, talk to the doctors, figure something out…”
But she shook her head. “He’s already made up his mind. It took weeks of me crying and pleading and making all kinds of ugly threats before he agreed to take Shane up on his offer.” Reaching over, she covered my ice-cold hand with her own. “I know this is scary. I’m terrified right now myself. But all we can do is accept your father’s decisions and pray everything works out.”
I couldn’t accept it, though. “But if I’m a better genetic match—”
“Honey, Uncle Shane’s tests showed that they are a perfect match. The doctors said they couldn’t possibly have gotten a better genetic match if they’d searched for a hundred years. Because, trust me, Aunt Natalie and Aunt Jenna both got tested, and while they were matches, they didn’t come anywhere close to what Shane’s is.” She stood and walked around the table to hug me. “It’s going to be okay, Nevaeh. We won’t lose him.”
I pressed my face into her chest and finally released the sob that felt like it had been clogging my throat from the moment I realized something was wrong with my daddy. “How can you know?” I choked out, clinging to her.
“I don’t,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “But I can’t think of any other outcome. If I do, I will definitely lose my mind.”
Chapter 5
Nevaeh
Mom made me finish dinner, but I could barely choke it down. Once the plate was almost empty, I excused myself and, grabbing my phone, ran up to my room.
All I could think about was talking to Braxton. I needed him, but just getting to hear his voice would be enough for the moment. I hit connect on his name in my call history and waited.
He was three hours ahead of me, and I knew he was at his parents’ for that damn family thing with Barrick, but I hoped he would still answer. He didn’t, and I felt a fresh wave of tears flood from my eyes as I fought back a sob.
Swallowing it before either of my parents heard, I called my next best choice of people I needed to talk to.
Mia picked up on the second ring, sounding like she was in the process of being sick again. “Wasn’t expecting to hear from you,” she muttered, and I heard the toilet flush seconds before a faucet was turned on. “Figured your parents would have you telling them minute-by-minute details of what’s been going on since you last saw them.”
“I guess your mom hasn’t told you, then,” I said, sniffling.
“Tell me what?” she said loudly, then groaned. “Hold on a second. I have to puke again… Oh gods.”
I grimaced at the sound of her retching and then dry heaving, but I stayed on the phone because I desperately needed to talk to her.
It was several minutes later before she came back on the line. “Okay, I think I’m good for the moment. Fuck, they should call this crap all-day sickness.”
“So, you really are pregnant?” I whispered just to make sure no one heard by accident.
“Apparently,” she said with a sigh. “I took a test two days ago. Remember when I had strep about two months ago? Well, those damn antibiotics canceled out my birth control.”
“Have you told your parents yet?”
“Daddy just got home, and Momma is on her way. I want to tell them together. Jagger is already making jokes, though, a
nd I’m about to murder the little asshole if he doesn’t shut the hell up.” Another sigh. “I’m also telling them Barrick and I are moving up the wedding.”
“What?” I sat up a little straighter. “But you guys took forever setting the date. I thought he wanted you to graduate before you got married.”
“Yeah, well, he shouldn’t have knocked me up. I know my parents weren’t married when they had me. I was the damn flower girl, for fuck’s sake. But I want to share Barrick’s last name before this little one makes an appearance. Which I think is in July if my math is right. Hell, I’m not a hundred percent sure.”
“When do you plan on getting married, then?” I asked skeptically. “Because you know Aunt Emmie has already been planning a huge wedding for you guys.”
“Well, that’s the thing. I never wanted a big wedding. I was thinking of having something simple here at the house before the spring term starts. That will give me time to find a dress and let everyone know where and when, have the wedding, and go on a short honeymoon before classes begin.” She sounded so excited for it, I didn’t have the heart to tell her that her mother was going to freak when Mia laid out her plans for the wedding she wanted.
“Good luck with that,” was all I said.
“Now, what should I have been told? You sounded upset when you first called.”
I closed my eyes. For just a moment, I’d been able to turn off the devastation that was making my entire being quake with fear and dread and heartbreak. But now, I couldn’t avoid any of those emotions as a fresh wave of tears stung my eyes. “Mia, Daddy is sick.”
“What do you mean, sick?” she demanded. “Like, he has a cold?”
“No,” I whispered.
“Okay, you need to explain to me what kind of sick Uncle Drake is right now because I’m starting to freak out.”
Sucking in a deep breath that did nothing to calm my emotions, I dove into the deep end and told her everything I currently knew. By the time I was done, I could hear her crying softly.
“Oh my gods. Nevaeh, I’m so sorry. This is… I can’t wrap my head around it, so I can only imagine what you are feeling right now.” She sniffled and cleared her throat. “Is there anything I can do? I mean… I don’t really know what I mean. No one has ever really been ill in our family, not like this, and I don’t understand what needs to be done at a time like this.”
“Mostly, I just want to talk to Braxton,” I told her. “But he didn’t answer when I called him.”
“Yeah, Barrick didn’t answer either when I called him right before I started puking my guts out once again.” She muttered a curse under her breath. “I bet Braxton’s parents are making them both feel like they’re about six years old right now. They’re good about pulling the guilt trip. They still blame Barrick for Braxton losing his leg.”
“Do you think he will be okay?” I asked, worried about him.
“Honey, you just found out your dad needs a new liver, and you’re worried about Braxton dealing with his loser parents?” She laughed ever so softly. “Sounds like you’ve got it bad, babe.”
“I do,” I confessed. “I love him. I think…I think I always have. How stupid is that?”
“You’re asking me?” Mia snorted. “It was kind of love at first sight for me with Barrick, so I would never say that what you feel for him is anywhere close to stupid. Intense, sure. But never stupid.”
From downstairs, I heard at least one of my siblings yelling and realized they’d made it home from their friends’ houses. I had a feeling at least one of them knew what was going on with Daddy, and I was going to tear her hair out of her pretty little head for keeping me in the dark.
“I have to go kill Arella,” I told Mia. “If you hear from Barrick or Braxton, could you pass on the message that I need to talk to Braxton?”
“Will do. I’m going to go paint the toilet a lovely shade of puke once more before Momma gets home. Wish me luck that no one puts a hit out on my fiancé when they hear my news.”
“Yeah, good luck with that,” I told her with a dry laugh, only to hear her retching again.
Hanging up to let her be miserable in peace, I tossed my phone onto the bed and jumped up. I sprinted across the room and out the door just in time to meet Arella about to enter her own bedroom across the hall.
My sixteen-year-old sister looked even more like our mother than I did, with the same natural highlights in her dark hair and the sprinkle of freckles across her nose. She’d inherited Daddy’s artistic genes, but it was acting that was her real passion. Something Mom hated, but she had never stood in Arella’s way when she’d started taking classes to improve what was a surprisingly natural talent.
Not even giving Arella time to realize I was behind her, I grabbed her by the back of her hair and twisted my fingers in the thick locks. She screamed in pain and tried to turn around to grab my own hair, but I pushed her into her room and slammed the door shut before flipping the lock.
I dragged my sister across the room and pushed her down onto her bed before finally releasing her. Seeing strands of her hair in my fist didn’t give me the satisfaction it would have during one of our usual hair-pulling fights, though.
Arella turned over onto her back and glared up at me. “What was that for, bitch?”
I bent so I was in her face, and her hot breath steamed up my glasses. Pushing them onto my forehead, I fisted my hands at my sides to keep from pulling her hair again. “Why didn’t you warn me that Daddy is sick?” I snarled.
Her eyes widened then filled with tears. “Be-because they made me promise not to tell you anything. They wanted to explain everything themselves without you doing that crazy brain thing of yours and trying to figure it all out on your own.”
“You still should have told me.” My voice wobbled, and I dropped down onto the edge of her bed. “I thought we promised no secrets.”
She sighed heavily and sat up. She wrapped her arms around me and rested her head on my shoulder. “It wasn’t my secret to share,” she explained softly. “Mom and Daddy have been stressed enough, and I didn’t want to add more to their plate by going against their wishes and telling you behind their backs.”
“Yeah,” I muttered, wiping at a stray tear that dripped down my face. “I get it.” I pulled the strands free that were tangled around my fingers and let them float to her floor. “Sorry about your hair.”
She grunted. “You should be. The only reason I’m letting this pass is because you’re upset about Daddy and tomorrow is your birthday. Consider my not retaliating my present to you. There. You’re welcome.”
I shoved her onto her back and stood. “Whatever. I’m not scared of your skinny ass.” I flipped her off on my way out of her room.
“What was Arella screaming about just now?” Mom asked as she came up the stairs.
“Nothing,” I told her. “She was just being dramatic like always.”
Back in my room, I picked up my phone in the hope Braxton might have called, but it was free of any messages. Putting my glasses back in place, I tried calling him again, and then again when I went to voice mail.
Realizing I wasn’t likely to speak to him at all that night, I finally sent him a text.
Nevaeh: Today has royally sucked. I really need to hear your voice right now. Please…just call me. I don’t care how late it is. I… Just… Please?
Chapter 6
Braxton
I hadn’t worn a suit in so long, I felt like I was being choked by a toddler with the tie of my tux as soon as I put the damn thing on.
Normal families didn’t require a person to show up wearing black-tie attire for a damn family get-together. My family was anything but normal, however. They flashed their money around like it was an accessory, demanding the world take notice. I’d hated the pretentiousness of it growing up.
After witnessing Mia’s and Nevaeh’s families at their annual Christmas party for the last few years, seeing people who were just as rich as my own parents act like money wa
sn’t the most important thing in the world, I’d looked back on my childhood and hated it even more.
Barrick grabbed a glass of champagne off a tray one of the many caterers was carrying around the lower level of my parents’ mansion and tossed back its entire contents in one gulp before replacing the expensive stemware and grabbing another.
“How long until they make their damn announcement and we can go?” I muttered, wishing I could start throwing back a few drinks myself. But I’d been in pain all day, and I never risked mixing my medication with alcohol.
“Knowing your folks, probably won’t be for hours. Fuck, I’m starving. These canapes are disgusting. Let’s grab some burgers on the way home.” Pulling out his phone, he checked for texts from Mia and muttered a curse when he read something on his screen. “Dude, do you have any missed calls? Mia says Nevaeh is trying to reach you.”
I pulled out my phone, saw a few missed calls and a text lighting up the screen. My eyes scanned over the message and my gut clenched.
Kitten: Today has royally sucked. I really need to hear your voice right now. Please…just call me. I don’t care how late it is. I… Just… Please?
Glancing around, I saw the library appeared empty. As I entered, I shut the door and leaned back against it since there wasn’t a lock on it. Swiping my thumb over her name, I closed my eyes and waited for her to answer.
“Hello?” Her voice sounded husky with tears and sleep, putting me on red alert.
“What’s wrong, Kitten?” I asked softly, when I wanted to demand answers. Who upset her and made my sweet little Nevaeh cry?
“Brax,” she whispered and sniffled. “Sorry, I guess I must have fallen asleep.”
“Why are you crying?” I clenched my hand around my phone, but I quickly relaxed it a little when I heard something begin to crack.
“I got the worst news tonight.” Her voice broke, and then I heard her sucking in a shuddery breath. That sound made it impossible for me to breathe until she spoke again. “Oh God, Braxton. I…I really wish you were here right now.”
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