Page 58 of The Nanny's Homecoming

“Certainly.” The pastor and his wife sat down again.

“Leave the baby asleep, Gabe,” Mrs. West said. “I’ll watch him.”

Brooke and Gabe each took one of Macy’s cold hands and went to Darlene’s room. The air inside the cubicle swam with scents of alcohol swabs and medication. Darlene was as pale as the white sheets. A yellow fluid dripped with a steady tick-tick into one arm.

Darlene opened her eyes and immediately reached a hand toward Macy. The little girl rushed to the bed and buried her face against her mother.

Brooke’s heart hurt to watch. She remembered having a sick mother. She remembered wishing she could make things better.

She gripped Gabe’s hand, felt his reassuring squeeze and was painfully glad for his company.

“Brooke.”

Brooke moved close to the weak voice, taking Gabe with her.

“What can we do for you, Darlene?”

Tired eyes lifted to study Brooke’s face as if gauging her sincerity. “Take care of my baby.”

The request jolted Brooke. “You’ll be up and around soon, Darlene. But sure, Gabe and I enjoy hanging out with Macy. We’ll be glad to spend more time with her if that helps you.” She snuck a peak at Gabe’s grave face, hoping he agreed.

“No, you don’t understand.” Darlene moistened puffy lips. “Macy, baby, go wait with Reverend West. Let me talk to Brooke for minute.”

“Can I come back?”

Darlene mustered a smile. “You better. I need a good night kiss.”

Macy nodded and backed out of the room, probably not fooled by her mother’s bravado.

As soon as the door closed, Darlene’s focus returned to Brooke and Gabe, asking for something Brooke couldn’t understand. “No one knows exactly what may happen with this disease. Or when. But the flares are getting worse.”

“What does your doctor say?”

“That I could have a few weeks or a few years.” She moved restlessly, rustling the sheets. “It’s the few weeks that scare me. I’m not afraid to die. I’m afraid for Macy to be alone.”

Gabe reached for the pale, puffy hand lying against the sheet. “She must suspect things aren’t good.”

“I want to prepare her but I don’t know how. Will you—?” She pulled her hand from beneath Gabe’s to grasp Brooke’s arm in a frantic grip. “She admires you both so much. Talk to her, Brooke. Help her through this. She’ll need you.”

Brooke wanted to back away and say, “Me? Why me?” But she couldn’t. The woman was in dire straits with few options, and for whatever reason, she’d fixated on Brooke helping Macy through a hard time.

Pulse thudding, she covered Darlene’s fingers with hers. “If you’d like, she can stay with me until you’re out of the hospital. Or anytime at all. Just say the word.”

“Yes. Thank you. Thank you.” The tension left Darlene. And as if she’d used every bit of energy she had left, her head dropped back against the pillows. She closed her eyes and said no more.

Gabe felt the trembling in Brooke’s hand long after Darlene fell asleep and they’d tiptoed from the room. She must be as confused as he was. Darlene seemed intent on drawing him and Brooke into Macy’s life. Why them?

“She has no one,” Brooke said quietly as if she was thinking the same thing.

“Makes you realize how blessed you are, doesn’t it?”

“Yes. I have family everywhere, most of which I haven’t appreciated as much as I should.”

“I hear ya.” His family was small and he spent as much time as possible with them. Tonight, his efforts didn’t seem enough. Family mattered.

“My heart breaks for Darlene. She’s a mother who loves her child and knows she may not be around to care for her. And she’s all the child has. The uncertainty must be horrible.”

They entered the waiting area to find A.J. awake and fussy. He reached immediately for Brooke.

“A dad could get a complex,” Gabe grumbled, but secretly he was thrilled with the way A.J. and Brooke had bonded. He’d done some bonding with his neighbor, too.

Brooke clasped A.J. to her shoulder and rocked while they spoke quietly with the Wests.

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