DYLAN
“I want you all to know that I love you. Much more than you can ever know, and I’m sorry that my naïve cowardly actions drove such a huge rift between us for years, I can never forgive myself for that.” Our father rasped weakly.
“Don’t say a word, dad… save your energy and focus on getting better.” Savannah whispered, tears streaming down her eyes as she held onto his hands. She sat on a chair right beside his bed, I was okay with leaning against the wall. Ma sat in a couch at one end of the ward, her legs tucked under her, eyes red-rimmed from crying so much.
“Where—” A painful fit of coughs racked his frail body for a moment, cutting of whatever it was he was going to say. “I-is Brielle coming?” He asked when he had recovered.
“Yes, she’s on her way.” I informed him, my jaw clenching real hard to sooth the painful lump in my throat. I had to be strong for my mother and sister, even though I was feeling anything but strong.
“Vannah?”
“Yes dad?” She answered.
“Have you thought of names for the twins?” He asked, his hand weakly reaching out to caress her stomach. Savannah smiled, the first real one I had seen all day. “Yes. Yes I have; Nova and August. They both mean new.” She explained softly.
“Mm. Nova and August, I love it. They are the only reasons why the fact that I’m dying hurts a little bit.” He admitted with a smile. “I would have loved to shower them with so many gifts and so much love. They would have loved me more than your mother because I would be the cool grandparent.” We all chuckled at that. “Nevertheless, tell them about me; about this old frail man who loved them so much but unfortunately couldn’t witness their birth into this world. I don’t doubt you motherly skills for one but, Vannah… but please take very good care of them, and never fail to take them into account when you make decisions for yourself.”
The end of his sentence, though left unsaid, rang in the room loud and clear. He didn’t want Savannah doing anything that would hurt the kids like he had hurt us.
“I’ve also seen you with that charming young man—” Another bout of coughs.
“Dad, I think you should rest a little bit now.” Savannah suggested.“No, no. I have so much that needs to be said, let me do this. What’s his name again?”
“His name is Ryan, dad.”
“Ah, Ryan. He’s a good man, Vannah. Give him a chance, don’t let your previous experience lock your heart out to love.”
Savannah could only nod as she held onto his hand tightly, trying so hard not to burst into loud sobs.
Another bout of coughs attacked the frail old man, and he asked for a glass of water, our mother quickly coming to his aid at his request. He smiled warmly at her, and she smiled right back, love and many words unsaid shining bright in their eyes. She went back to her seat at the corner, and the room was quiet for a moment.
“And you Dylan,” I looked up at the mention of my name, wondering what at all it was he had for me.“You have already found your perfect woman, one who is willing to stay with you even when it seems like the most unwise thing to do… even if she could lose her life because of it. Do not push her away, son.”
“But dad, I’m doing this because I want to keep her safe.” I protested weakly.
“Oh, son... but there’s no where she’ll ever be safer at than by your side.” He told me.
There was a quick knock and the door burst open to reveal an out of breath Brielle, who looked every bit concerned and close to tears. She rushed to the old man’s side. “Shawn! Fight this Shawn, I know you can, don’t do this.” A tear slipped down her face, my heart clenching at the sight of her distress.
What was I thinking, deciding to stay away from her like that?
My father chuckled softly, his eyes shining with sadness. “Oh Brielle, child… I don’t think I have any more fight left in me. I’m afraid this is my end." The tears were streaming down her face now as she shook her head, probably still in denial. Savannah held onto her waist to support her, and I really wanted to go to her as well, but I just didn’t know how.
"I love you so much, Brielle… you’re my second daughter. You gave me so much hope when I had none. You always found a way to keep me light and cheery, I’m really not sure I could have made it in those trying times without you.” Another round of coughs racked the old man’s body, this time there was blood, blood that Brielle lovingly wiped off with her handkerchief.
The end was really near.
“Don’t say anything else, Shawn,” Brielle advised. “Get some rest.”
He cleared his throat. “I just have one last thing to say; take good care of Dylan for me, okay?”
She could only nod, too overcome with grief to speak.
His eyes finally sought out Ma, who sat curled up in the corner of the room, lost in thought. She was by his side in a flash.
BRIELLE
Love.
So much love.
You could see it, you could feel it in their aura, in the way they touched, the way they looked at each other.
“My lovely Patricia,” Shawn whispered, his voice thinning by the minute. I helped Savannah to her feet, trying to help her into her mother’s so the old woman could be by her husband’s side.
We didn’t make it to the seat.
Savannah winced in pain, bending over slightly. “Savvy, are you alright?” I asked her softly. A soft gasp escaped her lips, my eyes following her gaze to the wetness that trailed down her legs.
The babies were coming.
Dylan was by our side in a flash, and together, the two of us helped her out of the room, where I got help and she was quickly transferred to a labor room. Even though Shawn and Patricia had insisted, we pressed that she be the one to stay with Shawn, and that we'd help Savannah out. Dylan left to go get her stuff, and I spent the hours that followed helping her through her contractions like the nurses had shown me.
At one point, Patricia and I swapped places so she could help her daughter out since she had been through the experience before. Shawn was still hanging in there, determined to hang on now more than ever to at least see the birth of his grandchildren.
“Brielle,” He called out softly.
“Shawn… do you want something?” I asked.
“I just want you to forgive Ryan Rodriguez.” Came his words.
I was silent for a while, pondering over his words. “You know what, Shawn? I have actually forgiven him, a long time ago if I’m being honest with myself, but I just know that it’s going to take a while for me to look at him again without feeling that hurt rushing into my chest. I don’t think I’m there yet.” I admitted softly.
Shawn smiled. “I will never stop being proud of you, Brielle. Promise me one last thing.”
I chuckled softly. “Jeez, so many promises, Shawn. I’m afraid I can’t keep up.” I teased. The old man managed a laugh without coughing this time, thankfully. “Your father, Brielle. Spend time with him, I don’t know why you haven’t been home in so long, and you know if it wasn’t for his fear of flying, he would have already been here to see you.”
I hung my head in shame. “I was actually planning on going back home for a few days. I was packing when Dylan’s call came in.”
“Ah, I see.” We settled into comfortable silence, where Shawn drifted between consciousness and unconsciousness.
Dylan barged into the room, his every action quickly becoming lithe and silent when he realized that Shawn was asleep.
“How’s he doing?” He whispered. This was the first time he was directly addressing me since I got here. “Becoming weaker, but still holding on for the twins.” I confessed.
“Anna has been moved to the delivery room now, so I’m sure she’d give birth any time soon.” He told me. I could only nod, uncomfortable for the first time ever in this handsome man that I loved’s presence.
“Bree—”
The way he called my name showed that he wanted to talk about things i didn't really want to deal with now. “I don’t think now is a good time, Dylan.” I cut him off, shaking my head… but then I thought about it. “On second thought, let’s do this now.” I amended, standing up from my seat and heading out. Dylan trailed after me, the door shutting behind him quietly now that we were in the hallway. “I know what you were trying to do, Dylan.” I stated, direct, straight to the point… my anger got the best of me I guess.
His countenance was remorseful, but he wasn’t saying anything. “You’re not going to say anything?” I pressed.
Still nothing.
“Alright. I guess there’s nothing left to say then. You have decided, so I guess we’re all going to do what you want as usual, isn’t it?”
“Brielle, it’s not like that.” He insisted, reaching for my hand as I made to walk away from him and back to Shawn. “Then what is it, Dylan?”
“You want to hear the whole thing? Alright, fine. I made a bad mistake okay?” He threw at me, pacing up and down, a hand frustratingly brushing a few curls off his face. “And even though I regretted my actions, I feel like it’s too late, Brie. I mean, I can’t even believe I thought for a moment that leaving you was the best idea, and it hurts me even more to know that it took people pointing it out... th-that it took me seeing you so distressed to realise how foolish I had been.”
“Dylan—”
“I’m so ashamed of myself.” He admitted softly, coming closer and closer and closer to me. He was riddled with guilt and shame… that much was obvious, I wanted to go to him, but I stood my ground. “You’ve said a lot of things, Dylan… but I don’t know, I’m still not convinced.” I told him point blank. “I mean, you didn’t think me reasonable enough to actually include me in your decision making process, so I don’t know what this is all about to be very honest.”
“Bree, you know it’s not like that, you should try and understand where I was coming from—”
“And you think I don’t?” I couldn’t help how my voice rose. “You think I don’t? I lived the whole fucking experience for crying out loud. And yet, even then, I didn’t despair because I knew I had you, th-that I’ll always have you. But what did you do? You left me all by myself when shit got a little too real, and would have gotten away with it too had the whole Shawn issue not have happened.” I made to walk away from him.
“Brielle wait…” He dropped to his knees, wrapping his arms around me as I tried to shake him off. “Dylan! Oh my God, what are you doing? Get up!”
“Forgive me. Please, Bree,”
“Come on Dylan, stand up. This is crazy.”
I honestly understood where he was coming from, and I knew I couldn’t stay mad at him for long especially when I definitely would have done the same thing if it even meant a chance of protecting him had I been in his shoes. “Alright, alright. I forgive you Dylan, because there honestly isn’t anything to be sorry for.” I told him. He still held unto my waist though, refusing to let me go. “I get where you’re coming from, truly… I do.” I confessed. “I just wish you could have come to me, you know? Talked to me about your fears and your decision, rather than just decide behind my back.”
“I promise you Bree,” He swore, “It will never happen again—even if I’m very positive you’ll talk me out of a decision, I will always discuss them with you.” He promised, his handsome face the epitome of solemnness as he looked up at me. I couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped my lips. “Just so you know, I would have followed you on that trip to talk some sense into that thick skull of yours.” I confessed with a mock scowl, smiling when he chuckled as well.
“I don't doubt that for a second. And I would have come back with you, because I would have realized how truly foolish I was.” He declared as well, his arms tightening deliciously against my waist. “Aren’t you going to let me go?”
His grin was instantaneous. “Not until you tell me you have forgiven me.” I struggled so hard to slip my serious face back on. “You really have a lot of making up to do, and we stay together and fight problems head on from now on. Got it?”
“Crystal. Now help me of the ground?” I reached for his hand to help him out, but he pulled me down to join him, drawing a very surprised squeal out of me. “Dylan! Are you crazy? We’re in a fucking hospital for crying out loud.” I exclaimed in laughter, relishing in the way he nuzzled my neck. “Thank you for always being so forgiving, Bree. I promise to always come to you with my fears and doubts, rather than shut you out and keep things from you. I’ll be more open now, you’ll see.” We shot up to our feet, and I dragged Dylan right to the nearest sanitizing station for us disinfect. He sensibly didn’t say a word, a wry smile on his face that suddenly turned wane. I wanted to ask him about it, but I kept silent, trying to see if he was going to start opening up like he had promised. “You know what? I’m still scared Bree,” He admitted softly. “I’m scared that someway, somehow, I have just signed your death sentence by begging you to give me a second chance,” He swallowed deeply. “I don’t think I can handle it if something should happen to you again because of me.”
There it was,
Progress.
I wrapped my hands around him in a hug, planting a chaste kiss against his lips. “Nothing will happen to me, Dy. Everything will turn out just fine, you’ll see.” I promised.
My phone rang, interrupting the moment and I excitedly answered on the first ring, putting it on loud speaker so Dylan could hear.
“Patricia?”
“Savannah had a safe delivery! Everything is going great!” She cried over the phone.
“Oh my God, that’s wonderful news!” I screamed in excitement, “We’ll let Shawn know right away. Congratulations grandma.” Patricia laughed. “Thank you Brielle, thank you.