“For?” she whispers against my mouth.
“For just being you. I love you.”
“I love you, too. Now, let’s get in there and save poor Storm before Belle has him married off to one of her princess dolls.” Tru laughs.
And it’s in this moment, I just know that everything is going to be okay.
Everything will work out as it should.
Two Months Later
Storm and I are sitting on some chairs in the corridor, out by Tiffany’s room. The doctor is in with her.
Tiffany isn’t doing well at all. She’s been deteriorating rapidly these past few weeks. I don’t think she has much longer left.
I arranged for Tiffany to see the best doctors LA had to offer, and they took over her treatment.
But her cancer is too advanced. There’s nothing anyone can do for her, except to make her as comfortable as possible.
A week ago, Tiffany had to be moved into the hospital permanently, as she now needs round-the-clock care, and her doctor advised this was the best place for her.
So, Storm has been living with Marie at their house.
I want him to move in with us now, but I don’t want to push it even though we’ve been getting closer recently.
Bob, Tom, Denny, and I have been spending a lot of time with Storm. We want him to feel like he’s a part of the family. And I think we’re getting there.
My kids love Storm. From that first moment they met him, it was like they’d always known him.
He’s been building a real bond with them. It’s amazing to see.
Tru has been incredible. She’s been spending time with Tiffany, getting to know her better. I know that couldn’t have been easy for her. She did it for me but more for Storm.
He loves her. I can see it in the way he looks at her. And Tru loves him right back.
They’ve developed a great friendship. More so recently, as Tiffany has been deteriorating, he’s been turning to Tru when he wants to talk.
I’m so fucking lucky to have Tru.
When I think about what’s happening to Tiffany and how I came so close to losing Tru after her accident, it makes me hold her for that much longer, makes me tell her how much I love her so many more times.
I know how fortunate I am to have her here with me. And I will never take that for granted for one second.
“How you doing?” I ask Storm, who’s staring intently at his cell, playing on some game.
He’s been quieter lately, which isn’t surprising. He’s had a lot of changes in his life.
A new city. A new school.
His mother’s illness getting worse.
I can’t even imagine how hard it is for him at the moment.
Storm doesn’t get a chance to answer as a shadow falls over us, and I look up to see Tiffany’s doctor, Dr. Munson, standing before us.
“Jake, can I have a word?”
“Sure.” Getting up, I tell Storm, “I’ll only be a minute.”
I follow Dr. Munson a little farther down the corridor until we’re a ways from Storm.
“There’s no easy way to say this…” He folds his arms over his chest. “The new drugs we put Tiffany on aren’t helping her anymore.”
I blow out a breath. “How long?”
“A week—at the most.”
“Hell.” I close my eyes on a blink as I blow out a breath, my mind immediately going to that kid sitting down the hall.
Even though we knew this was coming, it doesn’t make it any easier to hear.
“Tiffany has asked to see you—alone,” he emphasizes, his eyes moving to look at Storm.
I get the message loud and clear. Don’t tell Storm anything.
“Okay.” I leave Dr. Munson, and I walk back over to Storm.
His eyes lift from his phone to me as I approach.
“I’m just gonna go in and see your mom, alone, for a minute. Then, I’ll come get you. Okay?”
“Yeah. Whatever.” His eyes go back to his phone.
I know he’s trying to act like he doesn’t care, doesn’t want to know why his mother wants to see me alone, but I know he does.
I stare at him for a moment, feeling an ache so deep in my chest that it would take a miracle to get it out.
Leaving Storm, I walk to Tiffany’s room and push open the door, letting myself in.
Her head is turned, and she’s staring out the window.
She looks so small in that big bed.
She moves her eyes over to me when she hears me enter.
“Hey.” She smiles. “Dr. Munson talk to you?”
“Yeah, he did,” I say gently as I sit down on the chair by her bed.
“You didn’t tell Storm?”
“No.” I shake my head.
“Thank you. I want to be the one to tell him…you know?” She blows out a breath. “But I wanted to talk to you first because…well, I want to thank you for everything you’ve done for us—bringing us here, accepting Storm into your family.”
“You don’t need to thank me.”
“I do. You are a good person, Jake Wethers, and don’t let anyone ever tell you any different. God, back in those early days, you used to terrify me.” She laughs softly. “All that natural confidence and arrogance is intimidating. Yet I still wanted to be close to you. Same with Jonny. Moth-to-flame syndrome with you two. Most girls had it around you both.”
I let out a chuckle. “Not most. All.”
“And there it is.” She laughs again. “I’m glad you’re happy. You picked real well with Tru. She’s amazing.”