Page 53 of Reckless
Babs held up a hand. “No, Gage. Nothing more can be done. Please listen to me. I want to go home.”
He was silent, standing like a specter at the end of her bed, not even blinking.
“Gage,” I softly said, “she needs to move on to the next stage.”
He bent over at the middle, resting his head against the footboard, his sides heaving silently.
I had tears streaming down my face as I stood and went to his side, wrapping my arms around him. He didn’t let a sound pass from his lips, but he was shaking so much there had to be tears streaming from his eyes. My heart shattered into a million pieces.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I’m so sorry.”
“Gage, honestly,” Babs piped up. “I want to get out of this hospital bed. I want my own sheets and my own room and my damn nosy neighbors coming over to try to get the latest on my own personal rock star.”
His head popped up and tears ran down his reddened face, but he barked out a laugh. “You know I’ll do anything for you, even face the nosy neighbors.”
Babs nodded her head and patted the mattress next to her. “I know, son. Now, come here.”
He broke free from me and went to the side of the bed, leaning down to wrap his arms around his mother.
I took a few steps backward and slid discretely out of the room. I was no longer needed. They needed to have this time alone. There were so many things that needed to be said, so many ways this had to be accepted.
Gage needed to adjust.
I just hoped he could do it.
And that I could adjust too, after they both were gone.
