Page 46 of Just One More Moment

“Please, can I go first?” Fallon asked, her eyes red-rimmed.

“Go ahead. Take Lizzie with you,” Remy said. “I’m sure she needs to see for herself that he’s okay.”

The woman they all knew well gasped. “I couldn’t do that. One of you boys should go with her.”

Aiden strode over and held both her hands in his. “We all know who Dad will want to see. Go ahead.”

“It’s okay, Mom. I’ll be waiting when you get back,” Brooklyn said.

Lizzie smiled in gratitude. “I won’t stay long. Come on, Fallon.” Hand in hand, they walked back the way the doctor had gone.

Dex turned to his the rest of the group. “Who knew about Dad and Lizzie? Fallon? Brooklyn?” His tone sounded more like he was curious than upset.

They each shrugged.

Remy felt the same way. Maybe when he’d been younger, it might have bothered him to see his father moving on with someone new but Alex’s focus had always been his kids. As far as Remy was concerned, his dad had been alone for too long.

They dispersed from their large group and he found Raven sitting in a chair, waiting for him.

He strode over and sat down next to her. “I’m sorry I left you alone.”

“I heard what the doctor said but I didn’t want to intrude.” Raven tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

He frowned, taking her hand and pulling her closer. “You couldn’t intrude if you wanted to. I need you here.”

Her soft smile warmed him.

“Are you okay?” she asked, stroking his face in her hand.

“I’m not sure. I just know I’ll feel better when I see Dad for myself.”

“I don’t blame you.” She glanced up at him, her eyes wide with concern. “Why do I think you’re going to let everyone else go first?” she asked.

“Because you know I love my siblings?” She pursed her lips and he recognized that narrowed-eyed,I’m thinkingface. “What?” he asked.

“Later,” she murmured.

Why did he have a feeling he wasn’t going to like what he heard?

***

It had beena long day, Raven thought, as she finally changed into her nightshirt, otherwise known as her stolen T-shirt, and climbed into bed beside Remy. He lay with one arm behind his head, looking scrumptious with the sheet rumpled at his waist, his abdominal muscles on full display.

But tonight wasn’t about sex. It was about talk and comfort, which she’d sensed Remy needed ever since getting the phone call about his father this morning.

She lifted the covers and crawled beneath. “Are you okay?” He’d been quiet since he’d gone in to visit his dad.

“Yeah. I’m just beat.”

She nodded. “Did you talk to your father or did you just sit with him?” she asked, turning to face him.

“Dad was worn out. I just sat by the bed and let him know I was there.”

Of course, she thought. Because after Fallon and Lizzie returned from their brief check, Aiden and Brooklyn had gone in to see Alex. There were many times today when Raven had gotten the sense there was something more than friendship going on between the two. Next was Dex and Jared, leaving Remy to go last, just as she’d predicted, and Alex, exhausted.

“You’re a good brother, letting everyone else go first to see your father.”

“I’m the oldest. I try and hold things together when shit goes bad,” he said, surprising her.

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