Page 54 of Jett

Jett’s sleepy chuckle echoes in my ear. “As nice as it is waking with your hands on me, are you gonna get that, babe?

I yank my hand back and sit up. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“You fell asleep during the movie and I didn’t feel like driving home to an empty house.” He clears his throat and shifts against the mattress. “The phone, darlin’.”

“Right.” I flick on the lamp and check the number on my screen. Shady Acres.Josh. “Hello?”

“Mrs Cole?”

“What’s wrong.”

“It’s your husband. I’m afraid he’s taken a turn for the worse. His doctor has given permission for Joshua to receive a higher dose of morphine for the pain. The priest has already read him the last rites.”

I blink.Am I still asleep? What the hell is she talking about? I pinch the bridge of my nose to ward away the pain in my skull. “Pain? Last rites? What do you mean? I was just there with him a few hours ago—he was doing fine. I know he’s had a hard time shaking the pneumonia but—”

“Mrs Cole, we believe he’s suffered another stroke. His waiver prevents us from taking measures to keep him alive should he haemorrhage again. I suggest you get here soon.”

“I ... oh my God. I’m coming. I’ll be there soon. Tell him I’ll be there soon.” I let the phone fall from my hands onto the duvet cover and I stare at it.

“Babe, what’s wrong?”

I glance at the man in my bed. A man who isn’t my husband.Jett. I close my eyes as a sob escapes me, and I cover my mouth to keep from screaming. “It’s Joshua.”

I break down, deep sorrowful cries. Jett pulls me close, holding me as I fall apart. I don’t have time for this.We don’t have time. My husband is lying in a bed across the city, dying, and I’m in bed with a man who isn’t him.

“I have to go.”

Jett climbs off the mattress and throws his shirt and leather cut on. “Where are your keys?”

“I don’t know. You can’t be in the room. He wouldn’t want that. He’ll think I’ve replaced him already.”

“Raine, I’m taking you. You’re in no state to drive.”

I frown. I’ve been preparing for this since Joshua’s accident. I knew one day I’d have to let go much sooner than I’d anticipated, much sooner than a marriage should end. But it ended the day he attempted suicide. He’s dying this time, for real.

Twenty-four hours ago, he was doing fine. Twenty-four hours ago, Jett and I were sitting in his room and he was okay. And now? “We need to go.”

“You need your jacket, darlin’.”

I look down at my jeans and T-shirt. I don’t remember how I got to bed. I guess Jett carried me in. Thank God he didn’t change me out of my clothes.

“It’s cold out.”

I throw on the same leather jacket I wore yesterday and head to the door, grabbing my purse. Jett picks up the keys and ushers me into the hall.

“I’m not ... I’m not ready.”

Jett rests his hands on my shoulders and ducks his head until I meet his gaze. “None of us ever are, Angel.”

***

ISIT WITH MY HUSBAND, holding his hand in mine as the registered nurse gives him a butterfly injection. I talk to him as he wheezes and stares up at the ceiling as if the angels from heaven have come to take him from me. I talk until my voice turns hoarse, because I can’t stand the silence. I hold his hand until the wheezing becomes too loud to ignore. Finally, his hand twitches and then stills.

Lifeless.

I stare at Joshua’s face. It’s slackened with what looks like sleep, but it’s one he’ll never wake from.The wheezing stops. Everything stops. Including his heart. It seems so strange that mine should keep beating, even though it has just shattered into a million tiny pieces.

“Joshy?” I gasp. “Joshua?”

---