Chapter 34: Wake Up

I crawled back under the covers about thirty minutes later, but sleep eluded me. I tried to shut my eyes and unwind, but it was a lost cause.

I was still sprawled on the couch, my mind a whirlwind of emotions, when the early morning sunlight began to seep into the apartment.

When the others emerged from their rooms, I instantly felt like an outsider. I knew they didn’t mean for me to feel that way, but I couldn’t help it.

I excused myself and retreated to the bedroom. After a shower and getting dressed, I ventured back out to the dining room.

“Coffee?” Jade offered.

I settled down at the table, the scent of freshly brewed coffee wafting into my nostrils. My stomach growled, signaling that I needed to eat, but the mere thought made me nauseous. Besides, I’d had cookies and milk just a few hours ago.

I shook my head. “I think I want to head back to the hospital.”

“Of course,” Kate responded. “Alec and I were just about to leave for there. We can give you a ride. Jade and Blake will come later when Mom and Dad need a break.”

I nodded and stood up. I grabbed my purse and keys and left the apartment with Kate and Alec.

They chatted during the drive, but my mind was elsewhere. As unrealistic as it was, I was hoping to walk into the room and find Brennan awake.

I couldn’t stop myself from entertaining the thought, so as we entered the hospital and navigated the corridors, my stomach fluttered with nervous anticipation, only to be met with a crushing disappointment when I walked into Brennan’s room to find him still hooked up to all the same machines as when I left him.

Jaq and Sam looked surprisingly refreshed for having stayed overnight.

“The doctor will be in soon,” she whispered.

I frowned. “This early?”

“Yes, they’re taking him for a scan. To see if they can start reducing the sedation.”

I nodded and walked over to the bed. I pressed my lips against his forehead, fighting back the urge to cry.

The doctor came in and explained the procedure before Brennan was wheeled out of the room. Kate and Alec took Sam to get coffee, leaving Jaq and me alone.

I fiddled with the ring on my finger, guilt coursing through my veins.

The first time I’d worn it, it had been a sham. Now, I’d only put it on because he’d had it on him and I’d found it. It had saved me from answering questions, but it still felt wrong.

“Everything okay?” Jaq asked.

I nodded, but tears began to stream down my cheeks until I was sobbing uncontrollably. This time Brennan wasn’t there to pull me into his arms and whisk me away.

Jaq moved until she was next to me. Her arms enveloped me.

“He loves you, and he loves this baby.”

I nodded and made a feeble attempt to stop the tears.

“Jaq, there’s something I need to tell you,” I murmured.

“Oh?”

Brennan would have kept the secret. I know he would have. As much as he’d claimed he would have gone alone to that wedding, he did care what his parents thought of him.

We were together now, that was all that mattered. Jaq needed to know the lengths I’d go and how deep my love was.

“Brennan and I weren’t really together when we came back for Kate’s wedding.” I let the words seep out, less like ripping off a band-aid and more like pouring a glass of wine.

“He didn’t want to be a disappointment, and I agreed to pretend to be his fiancée. I handed in my notice, and he said he’d let me forgo the notice if we did this.”

Jaq nodded. Her hand stayed tightly clasped around mine.

“On some level I’d always felt something, but I’d buried it, and I guess he had too. I love him, more than words can explain. But I shouldn’t be wearing this ring. Not until…”

I paused and bit my lip.

“I know,” she said simply. “A mother senses these things. I could see there was something there, so I left it.”

~She’d known. ~All this time? I frowned and swallowed hard.

“I saw the teddy bear and the empty ring box in the bag, Grace. He was planning to give it to you. For real.”

Maybe she was right, but it felt wrong wearing it when he hadn’t given it to me ‘for real.’ I went to slip it off, but Jaq placed her hand over mine and stopped me.

“Grace. My son loves you. He wants to marry you. We all love you. Keep it on.”

I smiled and nodded. “Okay.” I turned and looked at her. She was smiling at me. For the first time I didn’t feel like I was hiding something. “Will you tell the others?”

“I don’t think we need to,” Jaq replied. “You are the love of my son’s life, Grace.”

The others returned before Brennan came back from his scan. Jade and Blake arrived before him too. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the nurses wheeled Brennan back into the room.

“The doctor will be in shortly to go over the results,” one of them said before leaving.

The doctor walked in holding an iPad in his hands. He walked to the head of Brennan’s bed and sucked in a breath.

“Brennan’s brain activity is great. We’re going to slowly lift the sedation and remove the breathing tube. It’ll take some time before he is fully alert.”

I looked down at my hands. They were white from gripping so tightly. My nails were digging into my skin so much that I could see the indents. I let out a choked breath and looked at Brennan.

He was going to wake up. He was going to be okay.

Everyone had a lot of questions, so I sat back and let them ask them. I couldn’t take my eyes off Brennan. Nothing and no one was going to pull me away from my chair until Brennan’s eyes opened.

Once the doctor left, the rest of the day started to blur. The sedation took a while to wear off, then they removed the tube.

Belle checked in and made sure we had everything we needed around four, and the others went with her to sort dinner. It was just Sam, Jaq, and I when Brennan’s eyes flickered open.

His brow furrowed, and he tried to lift his hand to his throat, but it barely moved. His eyes darted around the room, filled with panic.

Sam rose from his chair, announcing he was going to fetch the doctor. Jaq and I moved to either side of the bed.

His gaze landed on his mother first, his eyes brimming with tears. Jaq stifled a sob, lifting his hand for him and pressing her lips to the back of it.

A knot formed in my stomach. What if he didn’t remember me? I was no stranger to clichés. It felt like I’d been living in a rom-com for the past few weeks.

I’d found my soulmate against all odds. It seemed only fitting that he’d forget me. How could I expect a fairy-tale ending?

I felt myself start to hyperventilate as I considered all the possible outcomes. Suddenly, I felt trapped and terrified. My skin turned cold and clammy, and it took all my strength not to bolt from the room.

“Grace.” His voice was raspy, as if he’d been chain-smoking for decades. I looked back at his warm, honey-brown eyes. They were focused on me, a faint smile on his face.

“I’m sorry.”

I let out a sound that was half-laugh, half-sob. I leaned down and pressed my lips to his.

“I love you.”

“Love you more,” he countered. I would have argued, but the doctor chose that moment to enter the room.

He explained to Brennan what had happened and the extent of his injuries.

He informed Brennan that due to the swelling on his spinal cord, it was unlikely he’d regain movement in his lower half. In a few days, they’d do a scan to check on his healing progress.

Brennan took it all in stride. Once everyone had finished fussing over Brennan, Belle led them back to our apartment, leaving Brennan and me alone.

“You should have gone home to sleep,” Brennan murmured.

I shook my head and placed my hand over his. “I could have lost you.”

“But you didn’t. I’m here, and you’d be a fool to think I’m leaving you or our baby.”

I twisted the ring on my finger and held up my hand.

“I’m sorry. I found the ring when I got here, and I knew your parents would be coming, and I—”

“Grace.” He interrupted me, lifting my hand to his lips. “That ring was yours from the moment I first saw you. I just didn’t know it yet. I love you. I want forever with you, with our family.”