Her tears fall harder and I reach for her, wiping her cheeks with my hands. “Emma?” I whisper.
“There is medication but it won’t help that much. I’m going to die, Wyatt. The medication will only prolong my life by a few months. There’s no cure.”
Aiden jumps up and storms out. I watch him through the glass doors as he falls to his knees and cries. I’ve never seen him so broken. My eyes go to Momma who is crying silently and even Dad can’t keep the tears back.
And then my eyes find Emma’s. I see the truth in them.
“How long do you have?” I don’t know where the questions are coming from.
“Fifty percent of people with ALS die after two to three years. Twenty percent make it to ten years and ten percent makes it to fifteen years. It differs from case to case. No one is affected the same way.”
“So we still have time?” I ask like an idiot.
“I don’t know, Wyatt. I don’t know how much time I have left.” She falls to my chest and my arms hug her close. “I don’t know if I’ll see Laurie grow up.”
That breaks me. Her last sentence rips me to shreds.
I hold her tighter and the tears start to flow. I can’t make a sound. There’s too much pain.
Emma is dying.
I’m losing another sister.
Laurie is losing her Momma, and Aiden will lose his wife.
It feels like we’re losing the heart of our family.
~*~
Chapter Twenty Four
Scarlett~
My phone rings and I see it’s Chloe. I find it weird that she’s phoning me. “Hi, Chloe?” I half ask, not sure why she’s calling me.
“Scarlett, is Wyatt there?” she asks.
“He’s at Aiden’s. Have you tried there?” I ask, and then I look at my watch. It’s already past nine. I didn’t even notice the time.
“Zac woke up!” Chloe says and then she starts to cry. “None of the family is answering their phones. Can you drive to Aiden’s and go tell them?”
Happiness floods me like a tidal wave. Zac’s awake! “Sure! I’m going now!”
I’m so excited that I run around the apartment like a blue ass fly, looking for my keys.
I don’t care about the speed limits as I race to Aiden’s place. I park my bike behind Wyatt’s car and run inside.
“Zac’s awake!” I yell as I run through the house.
I run into the den. “Zac woke up!”
The smile dies on my lips when I see Mr. and Mrs. Holden’s somber faces. Aiden is holding Emma and they’re both crying, like ugly crying. My eyes find Wyatt where he’s standing with his back to me, just staring out into the darkness.
“Did somethin’ happen?” I ask carefully. I don’t know what to do now.
I walk slowly to where Wyatt is standing and place my hand on his arm. When he looks down at me, his eyes are clouded with pain.
I frame his face in my hands. “Babe?” I ask, hoping he’ll tell me what’s wrong so I can try to help.
“Emma,” he whispers brokenly.
My eyes dart to Emma. She’s still wrapped up in Aiden’s arms. I don’t see Laurie and panic flares hot through me.
“Did somethin’ happen to Laurie?”
Emma rips herself free from Aiden’s hold. She stares at the floor and her breaths are racing over her lips. “Laurie is fine. We should all go to Zac. He needs us now that he’s woken up.”
“Okay,” I say, feeling very confused.
Mr. Holden gets up and pulls Mrs. Holden up. “We’ll see you at the hospital.” I frown as they leave and look back to Wyatt.
“Will you tell me why everyone is cryin’?” I whisper.
He shakes his head and then the words comes out in a pain filled rasp, “Emma is sick. They say there’s not much they can do. There’s no cure.” He grabs me to him as his words shudder through me.
Wyatt cries brokenly in my arms and all I can do is hold him.
~*~
Chapter Twenty Five
Wyatt~
It’s funny how everyone chooses to ignore the elephant in the room.
Since the night we all found out that Emma is sick, no one has mentioned it again.
Aiden pretends that everything is just fine, and I know it’s how he’s trying to cope.
Emma smiles every day. She’s not angry. She’s not broken.
Zac has been released and apparently Chloe is nursing him at home.
Scarlett watches me. I feel her eyes on me. Because, I’m the one that’s not coping. I can’t hide the devastation I feel.
I can’t pretend everything is back to normal.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m so happy that Zac pulled through and that he’s getting better.
But, I can’t pretend to not feel gutted. Emma is dying. Every day is a day less that she’ll be with us.
Every day is a day more that the anger in me builds.
I feel the hurt squeezing at my heart.
I’m angry. I’m fucking angry! She’s so young!
~*~
I think I’ve forgotten how to smile. Time is going by too quickly. Instead of days, weeks are just disappearing. It’s like time is racing to kill Emma. Time has now become an enemy.
I lie awake at night, fighting nothing but time.
Scarlett turns over and places her head on my chest. “I know you’re hurtin’,” she whispers against my skin. “I know you feel helpless and what I’m going to say might sound cruel, but you can’t just give up, Wyatt. Emma is dyin’-”
“You don’t think I know that!” I snap. I get up and walk to the living room. I don’t need a fucking reminder that my sister is dying.
“Wyatt,” Scarlett whispers behind me. “You’re not hearin’ me. Emma is the one dyin’, but for now she’s still here. She’s still alive. You’re all treating her like she’s dead already.”
Scarlett’s words hit hard. She’s right.
“When Momma got sick, I was devastated. Daddy was broken, but we never treated Momma like she was dyin’. She was still with us. We spent as much time as we could with her, and after she died we mourned. Only after she died did we accept the fact that she was no longer with us.” I can hear the tears in Scarlett’s voice. “I did the same thing with Daddy. Only after he died did I mourn. I was still angry and hurtin’ when you came along. I blamed everythin’ and everybody for my parents dyin’.”
Scarlett places her arms around me and rests her head against my back. “I understand what you’re feelin’. But you have to be strong for Emma. Don’t let her last months be filled with sorrow. Celebrate her while she’s still here and when we’re alone you can break down and I’ll be there to pick you up. But for Emma, you need to be strong.”
I turn around and grab Scarlett to me. “I’m not as strong as you,” I whisper into her hair.
She pulls me back and her hands fame my jaw. There is so much love in her eyes as she looks up at me. “You are one of the strongest men I know, Wyatt. You’ll find the strength for Emma. You can break when you’re with me. You can shatter into a million pieces and I will keep them all safe.”
“What did I do right to deserve someone as wonderful as you?” I whisper.
“You loved me when I was at my lowest. You gave me a safe place to break. You gave me time to find myself, and you’re givin’ me a place to heal. Let me be the same for you.”
I crush my mouth to hers, needing to breathe her. I need to get lost in her. Just for a moment I need to forget everything and be with the woman I love.
I yank her shirt off and then go for her slacks. I can’t calm down. I can’t move slowly. The need to be with her is overwhelming everything.
“I need you, Scar,” I say as I yank my shorts off.
Her hands slip into my hair and her mouth is hot on mine. It’s as if she understands what I need. She pulls at my hair and bites at my bottom lip and I get lost in her.
I grab her ass and yank her up against me. Her legs go around me and I walk
us to the room. I drop her on the bed and crawl over her. Her legs open wide and I don’t even think to check if she’s ready for me. I press my body to hers and with one thrust, I fill her.
She throws her head back, arching her breasts against me, and she cries out, “Wyatt.” She always manages to make my name sound like a prayer.
I pull out and immediately thrust back into her. I need so much more of her. I pull out and turn her around. I grab her hips and pull her ass up and then I slam back into her. Her whole body arches. I grab a fistful of her hair and pull her head back, and then I wrap my other arm around her waist to keep her in place, and then I just slam into her, seeking release.
“Harder,” she cries. “Fuck me harder, Wyatt.”
I let go of her hair and grab her shoulder to hold onto. I use all my strength to thrust into her. Sweat beads on my chest. It feels heavenly to take her like this.
Her body tenses and I move faster, and then she screams with pleasure. It’s erotic to know I made her scream in ecstasy. I keep thrusting hard and her hips move back to meet me with every hard thrust. My whole body comes alive for the first time in days as I come, filling the woman I love.
~*~
I wake up with Scarlett sprawled on top of me. I’m instantly hard as I remember the sex from the night before.
I pull her body further on top of mine and bring her legs to my sides. She lifts her head, a sleepy smile on her face. I pull her down and it feels amazing to enter her heat.
“Hmm…” she purrs as I start to move inside of her. “I can get used to wakin’ up like this.”
I keep my eyes on hers and whisper, “Marry me. I want you to be mine.”
She stops moving against me and a soft smile plays around her lips. “Don’t marry me because you’re scared of the time we’ll have together.”
I thrust into her. “I love you, Scarlett. I want to spend my life with you, whether it’s a month or sixty years. I want you as my wife. I want all of you.”
She leans down on top of me, placing kisses along my jaw. When she reaches my mouth, she whispers, “Yes, Wyatt. It’s only ever been you and it will only ever be you.”
I spend the morning getting lost in Scarlett before I force myself to face the world.
~*~
Chapter Twenty Six
Scarlett~
Life is filled with obstacles and who knows why certain things happen.
You have to take the bad with the good. Appreciate the good while you have it, it will give you the strength to face the bad.
Wyatt wants to go buy a camera so we’re out camera shopping. He asks the sales clerk a million questions before he decides on one.
I’m surprised when we don’t go home, but to Aiden’s place.
“Are you ready for this?” I ask him.
He smiles at me and then takes a deep breath. “I am. Everythin’ you said is right. Emma is still here. We don’t know when she’ll go so I’m going to spend as much time with her as I can.”
We get out and Wyatt knocks before he opens the door. As we peek into the living room, Emma is struggling to get up from the floor. Laurie is lying on a blanket in the middle of the room. Emma sees what I’m looking at and she smiles apologetically. “It’s hard to move her. I’m scared I’ll drop her. So Aiden brings everything here for me, so I can easily work with her.”
I shake my head, and put on a brave smile, “I think that’s a great idea.”
Wyatt clears his throat and then he walks to Emma. He helps her up and then gives her a huge hug. “Hey, Little Sister of mine.” He gives her a kiss. “I brought you somethin’.”
Emma smiles at him and I can see the relief in her eyes. “Am I getting a present?” she asks and there’s even a spark of excitement in her voice.
“Yes,” Wyatt shows her the camera. “It can do anythin’ you want it to do. I was thinkin’…” he clears his throat again, “it would be a good idea to make recordings for Laurie.” He holds the camera as if he’s unsure if he’s doing the right thing.
Tears spill over Emma’s cheeks and she places a hand on Wyatt’s cheek. “Thank you, Wyatt. That is such a great idea. There’s so much I want to tell her. Will you help me?”
He smiles through his pain and I’m so proud of him.
“I’ll do anythin’ for you,” he whispers and then he kisses her forehead.
I know he needs this time with her. He’ll regret it later if he doesn’t spend as much time with her as possible.
I know in my heart that he will be okay, that he’ll make it through this heartache. He is so much stronger than me and look at me, I’m doing better every day.
I made it through the past two years and I know he’ll make it through the difficult months to come.
My Wyatt is strong. It’s one of the qualities I love about him.
Wyatt taught me how to be strong when all I wanted to do was give up. Wyatt taught me to laugh, to love and to live.
The End…
Emma’s story will continue in Zac.
*Please read on to see where Chloe and Zac’s story starts and to see where Emma and Aiden’s story starts.
CHLOE
A TAINTED INK NOVELETTE
Chapter One
Snow Patrol – Chasing Cars
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaKr98ktoxU
Chloe~
“Oh, Sunshine, that baby is Big Ben.” I wiggle my eyebrows suggestively. Emma’s face pinches with confusion, and I know I should stop but she’s so easy to take the piss out of.
“But it’s so … ah …big,” she tries to chuckle, but gives up with a nervous gulp. She cups her hands over her belly and caresses it lovingly. She’s due to pop in three weeks and I mean pop. My best mate’s gone and gotten the size of a baby beached whale. I take in Emma’s glowing complexion, her blonde hair that’s up in a messy ponytail, and sparkling green eyes. She looks so happy. Unlike the last time I saw her back in the U.K., when I had to get her away from that bitch who dared to call herself a mother. I’m so glad she’s making a new life for herself here in South Carolina with Aiden, she deserves to be happy.
This visit is long overdue and with the baby on the way, it was a perfect excuse for me to come to America for the first time, and visit with my best mate.
“Surely that doesn’t all fit, you know, up there?” Her eyes bulge huge.
I bite the inside of my cheek to hold the laughter back. “That’s nothing, Sunshine. Want to see my favorite? I keep this big fella for special occasions.” Lifting an even bigger vibrator from my luggage, Emma’s hand flies to her mouth. “I present The Eiffel Tower!” Her cheeks stain a rosy pink. I should stop but she’s making it so easy.
“Bloody hell, Chloe! That thing should have its own set of kidneys and lungs.”
I can’t hold back anymore and sink to the floor in a fit of hysterical laughter. I missed this with Emma, our days of laughter when we were studying together at the nursing college.
“Sounds like y’all are havin’ fun in here.” Aiden steps into the room with a broad smile on his face. His eyes rest lovingly on Emma before he glances in my direction. He frowns lightly but soon amusement settles on his handsome face. Emma really got herself a dishy bloke. They sure make the blokes different here in America to what I’m used to in England. They make a stunning couple.
“I wanted to know if you’d like somethin’ to drink,” Aiden’s eyes drop to the vibrators I’m holding and he starts to laugh, “while you finish … ah … unpacking? We’re thinkin’ of putting some steaks on the grill.”
“Just two sodas, love,” Emma gets out, while trying to control her laughter.
“Hey, talk for yourself! I’m not the pregnant fairy here. I’ll have a beer,” I quickly rectify her.
“Are you getting’ the order or flirtin’ with your wife?” someone else says, and then he comes into the room. Sweet baby minions! Talk about a tall drink of hot and deadly handsomeness. I could have some fun with this blue-eyed hunk.
&
nbsp; “Emma, your photos are all bollocks. They don’t do Zac any justice.” I launch forward like girl on a mission, one that’s found a man to devour. Emma told me all about Zac’s past and how he lost his wife, Laurie, four years ago. He needs some cheering up and I’m just the right woman for the job before I head back home to England.
I throw my hands around his neck and press my lips hard against his unyielding ones. When I pull back, it’s only to see a shocked face staring back at me. His eyes flit from one vibrator to the other on either side of his head, then back to my face.
“It’s just vibrators, Zac. Girl’s got to have some fun, right?”
~*~
Chapter Two
Kings of Leon – Use Somebody
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRgFeZa_I48
Zac~
Crazy. That’s the first word that comes to mind, this woman is all kinds of crazy. Just like Aiden would say. Talking about Aiden, I glance to him, lift an eyebrow and dart my eyes in the brunette’s direction, who finally lets go of me and puts her choice of weapons away.
Aiden leans against the wall, tuck his hands into his jeans pockets, and makes himself comfortable.
I tilt my head and give him the wipe-the-amused-smile-off-your- fuckin’-face-look. True Aiden style he only smiles bigger. Little shit! I’m going to make him do all the paperwork for the rest of the month. Some brother he is. I know next to zero about women, then enters crazy over here and I’m looking for my running shoes.
I glance at my watch and smile at Emma. I’m getting myself out of here in one piece while I still can.
“What half-arsed excuse are you going to use to get away?” Crazy chick zooms in on me again. “You’re seriously going to bail on me? I can see you’re eyeing your watch. That’s so rude, Zac,” she confronts me right there. Damn, I’ve never met anyone as forward as her.
“Does your mouth come with a filter?” I hit back. Normally I would keep to myself but I can’t stop the response. I call ‘em as I see ‘em, and she’s rubbing me up the wrong way.
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