Page 78 of The Reaper
The nurse stayed for a few more minutes, explaining what would happen next and who Nathan would be speaking to. Once she’d finished, she asked, “Is there anyone else I can call? Someone to take over so your son can have a break?”
He looked at me, and I could see he was thinking the same thing I was. Not Leah. He wasn’t ready to tell her, and I didn’t want to bring her here. She’d have to know eventually, but not yet.
“I’ve got a sister that lives in Merivale. Lizzie. I have her number saved on my phone,” he said, and I stood up, going to Nathan’s bag to take his mobile out and pass it to him. “I’ll ring her myself if that’s okay?” Nathan added, speaking to the nurse. “I don’t want her to freak out when she hears it’s the hospital calling.”
The nurse smiled and left, and I did too, telling Nathan I’d give him some privacy on his call but that I’d be right outside the door.
Once I heard Nathan’s muffled voice tail off at the end of the conversation, I went back in.
“I still can’t believe you stayed here.” He stared into his lap and sighed. “I don’t know what to do.”
“You don’t have to do anything. Concentrate on getting yourself better. I need you to do that for me because she needs you. But more than that, you need to do it for yourself.”
His eyes welled up as I spoke.
“I know we haven’t started out on the best footing, but I know better than anyone about moving on and leaving the past behind. Everything you’re bottling up inside, it has to come out eventually. You can’t hold it in anymore. It’s not healthy.”
I wasn’t an expert, and I was afraid of saying the wrong thing, triggering him and making him feel worse. At the moment, he was on a knife’s edge, and I didn’t want to be the one to tip him over. So, I did what I thought was best. I stayed quiet and just sat with him, waiting until his sister, Lizzie, arrived.
When a woman with frizzy blonde hair burst through the door, I knew it was his sister. They looked so alike.
“Nate, what on earth has happened?” She looked across at me then thrust her hand forward. “I’m so sorry, I’m Lizzie. And you are?”
I stood up to shake her hand, but Nathan interrupted me.
“This is Devon. He’s Leah’s boyfriend. He found me and brought me in.”
Lizzie grinned, and still gripping my hand, she turned to Nathan.
“Boyfriend? You both kept that quiet.”
“We’d like you to keep this quiet too, if you can. Leah doesn’t know I’m here.”
Lizzie sighed.
“You can’t mollycoddle her forever, Nate. She’s a grown woman.”
“I know that, but I just need a few days. I’m not ready yet.” He turned to look at me. “Will you… I mean, I can––”
“I’ll tell her,” I stated, knowing exactly what he was getting at. “Just let me know when and I’ll tell her whatever you want her to know. I’ll bring her to you, when you’re ready.”
“Thank you,” he replied, his voice full of emotion.
I left soon after that. I knew Nathan would be in good hands with Lizzie, and I wanted to get back to Leah and make sure she was okay. Things had become fractured, but we weren’t broken. All of this was just a bump in the road. Life wasn’t easy, not for anyone, but with her by my side, I felt ready to tackle anything. We’d get Nathan the help he needed. I’d do anything to make her happy. It wasn’t going to be an overnight cure, I knew his recovery would be tough, and there’d be setbacks, but we’d get through this as a family.
My family.
Leah, me, her dad, my mum and Brooke. The soldiers would always be my brothers, the family I chose. But now, I had a family of my own to take care of.
Mine.
And I would do a damn sight better job than any of the male role models I’d had growing up, because I’d be there, loving, listening, giving it my fucking all. Leah May was it for me. The end goal. And I couldn’t wait to start living my life with her.
My little raven.
My world.
My end game.
