by Mia Kayla
"You know me.” I sensed the smile in his voice. “Go big or go home."
I could picture him rubbing his Santa Claus belly, which eased the pain in the middle of my chest.
"I love you, Daddy."
"Love you, too."
When I hung up, Tene, my sister who is usually void of any emotion, pulled me into a hug. Not her regular shoulder bump or fist pound, but a full-on hug that I felt everywhere.
I think she hugged me for her benefit, to be her anchor because I knew she was on the verge of losing it.
"You think he'll be okay?" she asked quietly.
Usually, it was she who comforted me, the older sister taking care of the little one, but today she leaned on me with most of her weight. And like she had always comforted me in the past and had been that rock, I knew I had to be hers right now. "When have you ever known Dad to lie down and not fight?"
She nodded against my shoulder, and we held each other in silence. When she finally pulled away, there was a glimmer of curiosity and something else in her eyes. "So ... um, Cade's brother is Jordan Ryder? And he's adopted. Jordan filled me in on the way here."
She swatted me playfully. "I mean, really? Ryder is a common last name, but what were the chances?"
"I so know," I said. "And you don't watch movies?" I quirked a dubious eyebrow.
She pulled back and popped out her hip in a signature Tene move. "Well, I can't be filling his ego up any bigger than it already is. I'm sure he has the whole world to do that."
We both smiled. It felt good to smile.
Tene sighed. "We better start going. I want to get home as soon as possible. If we leave now, we'll get home at around three or four."
I nodded. Right now, the only thing that mattered was getting home to my father.
Chapter 25
Jordan, Wyatt, and Tene were on our heels as I entered Cade's house to pick up my belongings.
"What time is your father's surgery tomorrow?" Jordan asked. His sweet smile melted hearts across the universe, and my sister seemed a little dazed and a lot confused at the look he was giving her.
Cade had noticed, too, and the muscle of his jaw ticked.
I answered for us both because, for the first time in the history of Tene's life, she fell silent.
"Early morning. Seven o'clock. Something like that." All I knew was that I had to be there before my father woke up. I'd promised. "That's why we should start heading back."
"It'll take you hours to drive there,” Jordan said. “Why don't you take the jet?"
"You have your own personal jet?" Tene piped up beside him.
"Well,” Jordan grinned, his dimple popping from his cheek. “Not mine; it's Wyatt's."
Wyatt's eyes protruded, his voice deepening. "It's not. It's our jet."
Jordan waved a hand in Wyatt’s direction. "His Daddy bought it for him."
"Daddy?" Tene mouthed, turning toward me for answers. I could see her mind churning, trying to work things out in her head, but there was no way she was going to figure this one out—that Wyatt was the bastard child of Bill Hendricks.
Wyatt's face reddened. "Fuck you," he muttered to Jordan. He stormed up the stairs, the house shaking when he slammed a bedroom door.
"Why do you taunt him all the time, Jordan?" Cade's eyes were hard, his voice authoritative like a parent. "You need to stop that shit."
Jordan ran one frustrated hand through his hair. "Okay, I didn't know he'd go all PMS on me." Jordan threw up both hands. "Fine, fine. I'll go apologize and rub his balls." Jordan loped toward the stairs and stopped, turning back to us with a grin. "You can use the jet, but you'll have to go with us to get our tattoos."
He didn't even give us a chance to respond before he ran up the stairs and I heard him banging on Wyatt's door. "Open up, bruh. I'm sorry, a'ight? You know I love you. So, open up and forgive me so we can get some ink." Bang, bang, bang. "Come on, Wyatt. We're family. You can't hold a grudge forever. Dude, let it go. You know you're the reason that we have a better life now. That we can put Mom in a good home, that we started the businesses. It's all you, Wyatt." A lighter knock echoed down the stairs, but the walls of the house were so thin that there was no way you couldn't hear it. It sounded as though Jordan was tapping his head against the door. "Wyatt, I'm sorry, all right?" Another tap. "I'll stop."
Tene's face brightened, her mouth forming an “O.” She pointed at Cade. "C-J-W Investments. You're the investment company that owns all the restaurants and bars around the nation." She clasped her hands together, overjoyed that she had figured something big out. "Wow." The woman with oh-so-many words had only one to say—“wow.”
She tilted her head, eyes curious, and I could read all the questions filtering through that brunette head of hers. "Aren't you guys going to explain this to me?" She dropped her hands to her hips. "Angie, did you know that CJW Investments was part Cade's?"
I nodded guiltily but also feeling impatient. "Yeah, but it's a long story, and we really need to go. Go home. I promised Dad." We'd be stuck here until tomorrow if I answered all of her questions.
Jordan strolled down with one arm wrapped around Wyatt's shoulder. Wyatt appeared sullen still and in a sour mood, but whatever Jordan had said had gotten him to open the door and come down.
"You guys aren't going home until we go get our tattoos," Jordan reminded us.
"Tattoos?" Tene's eyes brightened. Her body was untouched by ink just like mine.
"We get tattoos to commemorate our sister and Dad who passed," Wyatt said. "We get one every year." Given that they were pretty tatted up, I wondered where else they were going to place their ink.
Cade tilted his head from side to side, releasing the tension in his neck. "They can't go. They have to go home."
"The jet will get them there in forty-five minutes,” Jordan argued. “I can just have their car shipped back. No big deal." He eyed my sister with a little smirk. I was surprised Tene could form words given the way he ogled her.
I bit my bottom lip, twisting my hand together. "I promised Dad I'd be there before his surgery. We just can't waste any more time." My pitch was low, steady, and serious. I’d made a promise, and I needed to keep it. "Plus, if we leave soon, we can get some sleep."
My sister peered up at me, listening to my voice of reason and nodded. "You know what? You're right. We need to go."
Cade lowered his head, but not before I caught the downturned look in his eyes that mirrored mine. "Take the jet anyway,” he said, softly. “You'll get there faster."
I was packed, and we were in Cade's car in under ten minutes. Cade held my hand fiercely through the whole drive, as though he never wanted me to leave his side. I wanted to enjoy it, sink into it, but I couldn’t sit still. All these thoughts of our mortality were really getting to me. Minutes and seconds ticked by like we were on borrowed time. Both of our families had money—we were lucky—but one thing we’d never be able to buy was time.
When the car pulled into the private airport just outside the city, tears nearly burned the back of my eyes. I didn’t want to leave. When would I see him again? We were together, so I had nothing to fear, right?
Jordan put the car in park, right by the private plane that said CJW in letters sprawled right above the wing. Wyatt sat right next to him in the front, waiting for direction.
"Let’s give these two lovebirds a moment alone." My sister cleared her throat beside me.
Jordan peered behind him and nodded. "Yeah. Come on, Wyatt, let's give Christene a tour of the plane."
When the door shut behind them, I buried my head into Cade's chest, my whole body falling into his.
"I'm not ready to leave yet." I unbuckled my seat belt and hopped in his lap. "Thanks for taking me here to meet your mother, your brothers. I ... I had so much fun in the short time I've been here."
His hands pressed against my sides, caging me in his arms, against the warmth of his body. "Come here," he said, lifting my chin.
I wrapped my arms around hi
s neck, and he pressed his lips against mine. Being here with his family, miles away from Rosendell where we didn't have to hide, felt like a dream. As soon as my father was out of surgery and cleared and well, I vowed to make everything right. To tell them about Cade. Tell them about us. Tell them I was in love. "You're coming back to Rosendell, right?"
He nodded.
"Say it, then. I want to hear it. Tell me you're coming back for me." Anxiety was laced in every word that left my mouth.
"I'm coming back to Rosendell." His eyes blazed. "I'm coming back for you."
I framed his face with my hands, my fingers running against the stubble on his chin. "I love you. I want to be with you." I kissed him fiercely and firmly and with a passion that radiated in my chest.
He inhaled deeply, then pulled back, locking his eyes with mine. "I want you, too. Not just for a night. Not just for the next few months. I want you for years, for life, for forever."
Chapter 26
We arrived at my apartment at one o'clock in the morning and were both bone tired, but for some reason, Tene wanted to know every single detail about the Ryders, and I enjoyed giving her the lowdown. Jordan and his personal assistant had made sure that we had a private car waiting for us upon our arrival into the airport, which made our trip seamless.
We knew luxury. Tene and I had been born into luxury and had money. The difference was, where the Armstrong name was known in Rosendell and the few surrounding cities, CJW Investments was known on the world stage.
Private planes were not something we had access to. My father had chartered a plane a few times, but we had never owned our own. The Ryder brothers had money that only big boys played with.
I keyed into the condo and dropped my belongings on the floor. "Tene, we could get in a few hours before we head to the hospital." My mind was running like it was in a marathon, nonstop thoughts filtering through my head, but my body was so unbelievably exhausted I knew I was about to knock out standing up.
"Yeah, let's do that. Set your alarm and I'll set mine, too, just in case." She kicked off her shoes and readjusted her messy bun. "Crazy night, huh?"
"The craziest," I said. Every one of my muscles ached with fatigue from the long day.
She laughed to herself. "I can't believe Jordan Ryder is Cade's foster brother. What’re the chances?"
I laughed and walked to my bedroom where she followed. "Yeah, well what were the chances that I'd leave Roland for a tattooed bartender?"
She brought her hands to her lips to stifle her laughter. "Things are just so unpredictable."
I slipped on a T-shirt and shorts and chucked some clothes in Tene's direction.
"Angie ... I think I may have a crush on Jordan." Her voice was like a schoolgirl’s as she slipped on my clothes.
"Tene?" I lifted an eyebrow. "You've always stalked Jordan Ryder, so nothing has changed."
We headed to the bathroom and brushed our teeth in front of the double sinks. I didn't know if I should’ve been worried that Tene had extra toothbrushes in her purse. I knew she had quite a few sleepovers and didn't know if that was the reason, or if she always wanted to be prepared.
"He's much hotter in person."
"Yeah, he is," I agreed.
We both slipped into my bed, facing each other.
"His eyes,” she sighed. “He has sex eyes."
Every single one of my bones wanted to go into deep slumber. "I can't believe you told him you didn't watch TV and pretended not to know who he was." I yawned.
We both laughed softly.
"That was pretty good, huh?"
"Yeah, it was."
We watched each other for a few seconds, then I yawned again, which was followed by her yawn.
Sleeping in one bed together reminded me of our teenage years when Tene would hop in my bed after a date and gush about her latest boy toy. Oh, how times had changed.
Her eyes fell shut and so did mine. Tiredness was taking us both under.
"Angie?"
"Mmm?"
"I've never seen you this in love,” she said sincerely. “And I've known you all my life."
My eyes popped open to assess her face, but her eyes were still shut. Her words confirmed what reigned in my heart.
"I'm happy you're happy,” she added. “You and Cade just ... fit. And it made me realize ..." she said, whisper soft, already dozing off. "You and Roland never did."
Her approval blanketed me in warmth, and I smiled, snuggling closer to my sissy. Then I fell asleep, dreaming that I was in Cade's arms.
Our alarms both sounded at 6 a.m., and we bolted from the bed, delirious from the lack of sleep and anxious to see Dad. We were silent as we approached Rosendell Central Hospital, both of us too preoccupied and worried to speak.
This high-risk surgery would open my father's heart today, unblock his arteries and fix him up, or ... I didn't like to think of the “or.” I refused to think of the “or.”
After his heart attack and multiple stents put in to unblock his arteries, this had to work. "Everything is going to be okay," I said as Tene drove like a maniac into the hospital parking lot and shifted my car into park.
"It will," she said.
Though neither of us had gusto in our voice. Our words were merely words without the strength behind them.
When we walked into the hospital, Tene reached for my fingers just as we did when we were younger, and she was ushering me to cross the street. This time was different. It felt like she needed my hand to comfort her, for the security that nothing would run us over.
I squeezed her fingers in return, and, before we entered his room, we put on our happy faces. This was what my father needed. He hated us worrying about him, and I didn't want to give him another thing to weigh him down right before he went into surgery.
Our smiles were big, but both of our palms were slick with sweat.
We walked in together and dropped our hands to see our mother and Nana sitting in the corner. Nana was holding her rosary, reciting Hail Marys that we could hear out loud.
Tene's smile was plastered on her face, but her step faltered, and my face fell. She had always been a better actress than me. I’d been prepared for him to be in bed. I’d been prepared to see both my mother and Nana in the room with him. What I hadn’t been prepared to see was him hooked up to machines, an oxygen mask on his face and for my powerful father to look completely helpless.
A small cry escaped my mouth. "Dad!" There was no way I could disguise my worry as I rushed toward him and dropped to his chest. "Daddy."
My mom cowered, hugging herself as though she was two seconds away from falling apart. She was built like Tene, unable to show emotion, which made this so much worse. She turned around so we wouldn't be able to see her break down, but it was the light shake of her shoulders that told me she was far from okay.
I readjusted myself against his chest, making sure not to interfere with any tubes attached to him.
"Don't cry for me, Angelica." His voice mimicked the “Don't cry for me, Argentina” song.
It was meant to cheer me up, but it only increased the dread in every fiber of my being. "You're going to be fine," I said, trying to convince my own self. Maybe with repetition, I’d believe it.
"Of course, I am." His breaths came out in short puffs, as though he was using all his energy to speak. The gusto behind my father's normally powerful voice was absent, buried under the tubes that tied him up like a cobweb.
"Just save your energy because you'll need it after this surgery, and then I’m going to kick your butt in golf."
A chuckle escaped him and then a sigh, as though it hurt to laugh. "Where did you go, honey?"
I didn't answer because I didn't want to lie. I didn't want to tell the truth, either.
I swallowed. "Dad, I just want you to get well and not worry about me. I'm okay. I'll be fine."
I rested my head on his chest, afraid he'd be able to read the lie in my eyes.
"I always worry about you. And Te
ne, and, most especially, your mother." His hand tenderly stroked my hair, and I didn’t want to move. "I'm so proud of you, little girl. For the person you've become. The way you've taken over the business."
I stifled a cry. "Dad ... You're not dying. Don't you dare talk like that."
"I know, but I feel like before I go into this surgery, I wanted to say that." I lifted my glistening eyes to him, and he brushed a tear from my cheek. "Don't cry, baby girl. I'm not leaving anytime soon. I'm going to walk you down the aisle, deliver you to Roland, and watch you get married and pop out those grandkids," he said with a weak grin.
"Dad ..." I squeezed his hand in mine, not wanting to let go when there was a knock at the door.
A nurse popped in. "Mr. Armstrong. The doctor will be in to talk to you and prep you for surgery." She offered him, then the rest of us, her cheery, professional smile before approaching him and tinkering with his cords and checking his vitals.
I wanted to hold up my hand and tell the world to take a time out. I wanted a few more seconds with my Dad, to speak to him, to bask in his company.
A knock on the door and the doctor stepping into the room had my heart beat racing. "Mr. Armstrong, how are you feeling today?"
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
"Daddy, I love you."
"Why is it like you're the one saying goodbye?" he joked.
"I'm not." I squeezed his hands harder as my mother, Tene, and Nana approached his bed to give my father kisses.
We watched them wheel my dad, the patriarch of our family, out of the room and down the hall. And then we waited in the waiting room.
Minutes ticked by. Then hours. The surgery was supposed to last two hours, but time dragged, like watching ice melt or paint dry.
I sat, stood, stretched, and did everything possible not to stare at the clock that ticked molasses slow.
One cup of coffee. Two. Three. And still no word from the doctor.
I sat in silence between my mother and Tene. Nana was still heavily praying, her rosary in hand, her eyes shut tightly.