Unexpected Fall

by Ryan, Kaylee

  “She’s a stubborn one that woman of yours.”

  I laugh. “Don’t I know it. That’s why I’m in this situation.”

  “Give it a few days.”

  “Yeah, actually, I’ve been working on something. I think I’ll head home tonight. At least at home I’ll be able to be productive.”

  “I’d say that’s a good call on your part. I plan on staying. I don’t have anything going on really, and she needs the support.”

  “Thank you, Amelia. Keep me updated if there’s anything I need to know?”

  “You got it. Drive safe.”

  “Thanks.” I end the call and quickly pack up my room, and head downstairs to check out. Once I’m in my car, I fire off a text to Mom and the girls letting them know what’s going on and that I’m on my way home. Then I call Ridge.

  “What’s up?” he answers.

  “I’m coming home.”

  “What? Why?”

  “She’s not taking shifts. Amelia says she doubts she’ll leave long enough for me to sneak in another visit.”

  “I’d say you’re right. She probably only left the first time to get herself under control from pushing you away.”

  “Ridge? Is that you?” I ask, laughing.

  “Fuck off. My wife has a theory and I happen to agree with her.”

  “Oh, yeah, care to enlighten me on the rest of this theory?” I’m hoping it’s the same as mine—she’s scared. My plan could backfire, but at least I’ll know I fought for her.

  “She’s having a tough time” is his reply.

  Kendall is her best friend, well, outside of me. I’d like to think I take that top spot. “I know.” I sigh.

  “She’s overwhelmed and worried about everyone and everything she loves, what she has left. However, my wife also thinks that this plan of yours is going to work.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yep. I have to admit it’s a good one.”

  My fingers are crossed. “Hey, so I’ll be in town this week, at least for a couple of days. You need me on site?”

  “No, actually, we’re supposed to get rain all day tomorrow, so we’re out if that happens.”

  “Okay, well, keep me updated.”

  “We get rain, we’ll be at your place. Help you get things in order.”

  “Appreciate, man. I’ll talk to you soon.”

  We end the call, and I get lost in my thoughts as I make the drive home. It’s only a couple of hours, but it gives me time to sort through everything in my head. I have a clear vision of what needs to be done. Now it’s time to set the strings in motion.

  * * *

  It’s been one hell of a week. Each day Amelia checked in letting me know that Dawn was staying at the hospital. I threw myself into my plans for winning her back. I finished up late last night with the help of our friends and family. Now, I’m headed back to Mason. She said give it a few days and it’s been a week today since I’ve seen her. That’s too damn long, so I’m going to her.

  We’ve texted off and on this week, but it’s been seven long days since I’ve heard her voice or held either of them in my arms. Time’s up. I’m prepared and ready for a fight.

  My first stop is the hotel. This time, it’s the one where she and Amelia have been staying. “Staying” is putting it lightly when it comes to Dawn. Amelia convinces her to leave the hospital to shower, but she always comes right back. I’m staying at the same place. I’m not hiding that I’m here. She needs to know that I’m not giving up. That she can push as much as she wants, I’m going to push right back. At least as long as I still see the love in her eyes. When she can look at me without it appearing like she’s tearing her own heart out and tell me that she no longer wants me in her life, then I’ll accept defeat. I’ll always love her, but I’ll let her go.

  The drive is uneventful, and I spend the majority of my time planning my speech to win her back. Check-in at the hotel is a breeze since I already had a reservation. I dump my bags and rush back out the door to the hospital. I’m just walking through the main entrance when my phone rings. Glancing at the screen, ready to send whoever it is to voice mail, I stop when I see Dawn’s name. It’s like she read my mind.

  “Hey, beautiful,” I greet her.

  “Mark.” She sobs the word and I take off running to the elevators.

  “Dawn, baby? What’s wrong?” I jab the button for the elevator, willing it to open faster. Finally, the doors slide open. “Dawn, I might lose you, but I’m almost there. I just got onto the elevator.”

  “You’re here?” she asks.

  “Yeah, baby. Where are you?”

  “The nursery.” She sniffs.

  “Okay. I’m coming to you. I’ll be right there,” I say, but silence greets me. “Fuck.” I shove my phone back into my pocket and watch the numbers climb, praying that it takes me straight to the top floor. Luck is on my side, and as soon as the doors open to the top floor, I’m jogging out and down the hall. When I reach the nursery, Dawn is coming out of the door, tears streaking down her face.

  My heart thunders in my chest from both adrenaline and fear. I open my arms and she rushes into me. I hold her close as tears continue to fall from her eyes. “Baby, you have to tell me what’s wrong,” I urge. Her grip on the back of my shirt tightens as her cries grow louder.

  “I can help,” Lynn says. “Come with me.” She motions for us to walk down the hall and into a room that says Staff.

  Dawn has a tight grip on me, and I’m lucky I got her to move down the hall, so we stand, declining Lynn’s offer to sit. “Is it Daisy?” I ask Lynn. My mind races with the possibilities of what could have happened.

  She shakes her head. “Dawn got a call from the Emergency Room about fifteen minutes ago. Seems her sister has been brought in for a drug overdose.”

  Motherfucker. I tighten my arms around her. “You don’t have to go see her,” I whisper to Dawn.

  “I-I have to. I’m her next of kin,” she mumbles into my shirt. “I hate her, Mark. I hate my sister and I know that’s a terrible thing to say.” She pulls away and sad eyes peer up at me. “I hate her.”

  “I know, babe.” I kiss her forehead. What I want to say is that I hate her too. I hate her for causing the accident that killed their parents. I hate her for what she did to the little girl who’s stuck in this hospital because she didn’t care enough to take care of herself and her unborn child. I hate her for everything she’s done to Dawn. Everything she’s put her through.

  “How’s Daisy?” I ask.

  A small smile tilts her lips. “She’s growing and doing so well.”

  “Good. Let’s go down to the ER, see what’s going on. She’s safe here.” I look to Lynn who nods.

  “I’m not leaving her side. The ER has already called up to us, letting us know birth mom is in house. I promise you she’s going to be fine.”

  “Let’s go.” With my arm around her shoulders, I lead Dawn to the elevators, hitting the button for the bottom floor where the ER is located.

  “I don’t know how much more I can take,” Dawn whispers on the ride down. “I don’t know how to help her.”

  Not knowing what to say to that, I don’t say anything. When the elevator doors open, the chaos that is the ER greets us. Making our way to the receptionist desk, we ask for Destiny.

  “Dawn,” a masculine voice says from behind us.

  Turning, we see a guy who’s about six foot, thin as a rail, and has sunken eyes. His hair is a greasy mess, and his clothes look like it’s been weeks, maybe longer since they’ve been cleaned.

  “C-Cal? What are you doing here?” Dawn asks. I feel her stiffen beside me.

  “I brought Dest. She wasn’t acting right,” he says, his head twitching. His eyes roam all around the room as if he’s nervous to be here.

  “Not acting right?” Dawn asks. “She fucking overdosed, you idiot. What did you give her?”

  “Just a few pills. She was hurting from that kid. Just gave her something to take the edge off.�
��

  “That kid is upstairs fighting the effects of the drugs her mother did while pregnant,” she seethes.

  “Fuck, I thought it was dead. She didn’t tell me.”

  Dawn freezes. “Are you…? Is the baby yours?” she asks.

  “Nah, not this one.”

  “What do you mean not this one?”

  “She got rid of one a couple of years ago, said it was mine. This one though, it’s hard to tell. She’s been around, doing ah… favors to get what she needs. Right out of rehab she was jonesing for a fix.”

  “Oh my God.” Dawn breathes the word.

  “What?” He raises his hands in a “what do you do” manner. “You know how it is.”

  “Leave,” I say, my voice low and deadly.

  “Hey.” He backs up. “I don’t want no trouble.”

  “Now.”

  “I’ll just be over here. She owes me, and I ain’t leaving until I collect.”

  With more calm than I feel, I guide Dawn to the waiting room, and just so happen to see an officer. He catches my eye, and I nod toward the jackass we were just talking to where he sits in the corner of the room. Eyes still wild and roaming. When he sees the officer, he stands but doesn’t move. I would remember him anywhere. He’s strung out, looking a hell of a lot worse than the last time I saw him, but I remember him. The day he showed up at Kendall and Dawn’s apartment with the letter from Melissa. I can’t believe he’s the one who has been supplying Destiny with pills. When they say it’s a small world, they really mean it.

  “The family of Destiny Miller,” a nurse calls out.

  Together, we stand and walk to the door. “Destiny is my sister,” Dawn says.

  The nurse nods. “Come with me. The doctor would like to speak with you.” Quietly, we follow behind her. “Have a seat,” she says, once we’re in a small private room. There is nothing in here but four chairs. It’s small and uninviting.

  “I have a bad feeling,” Dawn says.

  I do too, but I don’t tell her that. “Come here.” I pull her chair closer to mine and lace our fingers together.

  “How did you get here so fast?”

  “I was coming to see you. I couldn’t stay away any longer.”

  She wipes a tear from her eye before it has the chance to fall. “I’ve missed you, Mark.”

  “I’ve missed you too, Pixie. Daisy too.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for pushing you away.”

  “I’m here, where I want to be. That’s all that matters. We’ll figure the rest out. Just don’t shut me out again.”

  “Never.” She shakes her head adamantly. “If this is where you want to be, with me and Daisy, we want you here too. More than anything I want you here.”

  I cup her face in my hands. “This is not where or how I wanted to do this, but I’m not letting another chance pass me by. I love you, Dawn. I want a life with you, whatever that is, however it looks, whatever it turns out to be. I want that. I want it with you.”

  She loses her battle with her tears. I’m not sure if it’s from where we are or if it’s from my admission. My guess is a little of both. “I love you too. So much,” she says, just as there’s a knock at the door.

  “Hi, I’m Dr. Travis.” He extends his hand to Dawn and then me.

  “We’ve met,” Dawn says sadly. “You were working the night my parents passed. Car accident,” she adds.

  “I’m sorry for your loss,” he says kindly.

  “Thank you. How’s my sister?”

  He shakes his head and I know we’re in for another round of devastation. I can feel it. “I’m sorry. We did all that we could do. Her heart stopped. We weren’t able to bring her back.”

  “W-What?” Dawn asks.

  “I’m so sorry,” Dr. Travis replies.

  She nods. “So, what does that mean for her daughter?”

  Recognition crosses his face. I’m sure Daisy’s case is well-known around the hospital.

  “We have custody of her, from the courts,” I explain.

  Again, he nods. “As her next of kin, it will be your responsibility to arrange services if you wish to do so. As far as the baby, that’s up to you.”

  “Thank you, Dr. Travis.” I hold my hand out for him and he accepts.

  “Take all the time you need,” he says, and leaves the room.

  “Tell me what you need,” I say, wrapping my arms around her once again.

  “I’m not sure.” She hugs me back, then steps away. “I mean, I’m sad. She’s my sister and I wish I could have helped her. She didn’t want help, you know? I mean, she was in rehab and was pregnant, knew she was pregnant and still used again. Daisy is paying for that decision.”

  “Our girl is strong,” I assure her.

  “I need to plan services I guess. Honestly, I’m not sure who would come, but it needs to happen. My parents would want that to happen.”

  “Okay. I’ll call the funeral home that we used for your parents.”

  She nods. “I need to see Daisy.”

  “Let’s go.” I kiss the top of her head, and lead her out of the small room and back to the elevators. I catch a glimpse of the officer placing that Cal character in the back of his cruiser right by the door before we load.

  “I can’t believe it was Cal who was supplying her. Of all people.”

  “I was thinking the same thing. I’m glad you and Kendall got away from him.”

  “We knew he was toxic and he wouldn’t accept that Kendall said things were over between them.” The elevators doors open and we step out. “That’s life. It just seems to have a way of working out.”

  “That it does,” I say, kissing her temple. “Let’s go see our girl.”

  Together, we head to the nursery, suit up, and for the first time in a week, I see Daisy. “Look at you,” I say in awe. “She’s grown so much.” I look at Dawn. She has tears in her eyes as she watches me.

  “She has,” she agrees.

  “You’re going to be home in no time.”

  “You good with her?” Dawn asks. “I’m going to go ahead and call the funeral home and….” She swallows hard.

  “I can call them.” I start to stand.

  “No, you stay. I need to do this. I appreciate the offer and you being here, but I need to take care of it.”

  “Okay. We’ll be here waiting on you.” She blows me a kiss and leaves the room. “And you, little lady, I missed our snuggles,” I tell Daisy. Her breathing is even as she rests against my bare chest. It’s a sad day for my girls, and I hurt for them, but at the same time, they’re with me. Where they belong.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Dawn

  Today was hard. I’m emotionally and mentally exhausted. Never did I imagine that less than a year after burying my parents, I would also be burying my baby sister. It’s not something I would wish on my worst enemy.

  I hated that I had to leave Daisy at the hospital alone. I was struggling with it all when Amelia called and offered to come and sit with her. I thanked her about a million times then made sure she was added to the visitors’ list at the hospital, and there would be no issues. She was listed, but I already knew that. It was more my worrying than anything. I just hate thinking of Daisy there all alone, without anyone who loves her close.

  It’s taken me time to come to the fact that these people, they’re not just Mark and Kendall’s friends, but mine as well. They’re my family. The only family I have left. And I am so utterly grateful to them for everything they have done for me.

  “You want to go home and change?” Mark asks.

  That’s something else that’s new. Though the realtor has shown my parents’ house several times, we have yet to get an offer. At first, I was frustrated but now, I see it as a blessing. Mark has convinced me to stay there, or at least shower there to save money on the hotel room. That’s after I had to argue with him about paying for my room for me. This was my compromise. My parents’ home is in a subdivision about ten minutes from the hospita
l, so I’m still close. Not only am I close, but Daisy is doing great. She’s off her oxygen, gaining weight, and eating like a champ. My theory is that Mom and Dad knew I would need a place to stay close by. That’s why we haven’t had a buyer yet. Call me crazy, but that’s what I’d like to believe.

  I wasn’t sure I could handle staying here, but it’s been okay. Mark has been with me every step of the way. I’m worried about his job, but he assures me he’s fine. Kendall even went as far as to have Ridge call me and tell me himself. I guess that’s the perks of working for your best friend. I’m still worried about money. Mark said that his condo rental is bringing in income, and he has some savings. I think his exact words were “Babe, I was a bachelor for far too long. I’ve saved. I’m okay.” I didn’t argue after that. It’s selfish, but I want him here. He wants to be here, and I’m not strong enough—or foolish enough—to push him away again.

  “I’m sorry.” I reach over and rest my hand on his shoulder.

  “For what?” he asks, not taking his eyes off the road.

  “Pushing you away. I feel like we’ve barely had time to talk since you’ve been back. I’m sorry. I just didn’t want to be a burden to you.”

  “You could never be,” he says, placing his hand over mine and giving it a gentle squeeze.

  “You signed up for a baggage free girl.”

  “Well, a lot has changed. You’re no longer single.” He looks over and grins. “And we have a baby girl who needs us.”

  “You do that a lot, you know.”

  “What?”

  “Call her ours or refer to us as your girls.”

  He shrugs. “Is that not right? Are you and Daisy not mine?”

  “I mean, I’m your girlfriend, but Daisy, she’s my niece.”

  “She’s a few court documents away from being your daughter, Pixie.”

  “I know that. It’s kinda freaking me out,” I admit.

  “Why?”

  “I’m her sole provider. It’s up to me to care for her, provide for her, raise her to be a strong, confident woman. That’s a lot for me to process.”

  “We’ll get her through it.”