Chapter 35: High Highs and Low Lows

“Brennan,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. “I love you.”

“Good.” His grin was infectious. “I love you too. And I want you to be my wife. Really. Will you marry me?”

I didn’t hesitate. I’d spent so much time overthinking everything, it was time to just live.

“Absolutely,” I responded.

We shared a kiss, and for a moment, we reveled in the promise of our future together. I drifted off to sleep in the chair next to Brennan.

***

I was roused from sleep by Belle’s gentle shake, the aroma of coffee wafting in the air. I sat up quickly, glancing at the bed. Brennan was still asleep.

Belle took a seat next to me, handing me one of the coffee cups she held. I took a sip, the strong brew exactly what I needed.

“How are you feeling this morning?” Belle inquired.

“Good.” I smiled, a hint of mischief in my eyes. I could be honest with Belle about the proposal; she knew everything. “We’re engaged. Officially.”

Belle’s grin was wide as she pulled me into a hug. “Congratulations!”

“Thank you.”

“I know this isn’t the best time for an ‘I told you so’.” She chuckled. “But I did tell you so.”

I returned her smile. “You can gloat,” I replied. “Everything is going to be okay now.”

Brennan insisted I go home to rest. I had to head into the office in the morning to rearrange some meetings and push everything back a week.

Melody had been handling things, but now it was time for me to step in and smooth things over with some of our top-tier clients.

For the first time since the accident, the moment my head hit the pillow, I fell into a deep sleep.

***

When I woke up the next morning, I shot Brennan a quick message before hopping into the shower and changing into my work clothes. The house was still quiet when I left.

I drove Brennan’s car to the office, trying to ignore the knot of anxiety in my stomach. I felt sick, lightheaded, and I knew it wasn’t because of the baby.

Everyone would know by now that Brennan had made me his partner, that Wolf Industries was ours. I didn’t want anyone thinking I’d slept my way to the top.

As I stepped into the elevator after parking the car, I was tempted to hit the “door open” button. But I couldn’t avoid the office. I had a job to do.

When the elevator doors opened at the top floor, I walked out, trying to project confidence.

Lucy watched me as I approached the reception desk. She stood up and leaned over.

“Grace—uh, I mean, Ms. Reynolds. How is Mr. Wolf?”

I smiled. Lucy wasn’t judging me, she seemed genuinely concerned. I shook my head.

“Please, just call me Grace. It feels strange to change that now because of a job title.” I took a deep breath and crossed my arms over my chest. “Brennan is improving. He woke up yesterday.”

Lucy’s smile was wide. “That’s such a relief. Everyone has been really worried. Well, I’ll let you get to work. I’m sure you want to get back to him as soon as possible.”

I nodded and turned, heading down the corridor to the office I’d worked in for three years.

Melody was at my old desk. She looked up at me and smiled.

“Ms. Reynolds, can I get you a coffee?” Melody asked.

I shook my head, glancing into Brennan’s office.

“I’m good today, thank you, Melody. I know my office is ready, but I think I’ll work from Brennan’s this morning. And please, call me Grace.”

Melody nodded. “I’ll send you the urgent requests. Most of our clients are understanding of the situation, but there are a few that need attention.”

“Thank you, Melody. I’ll let you know if I need anything.”

I settled into Brennan’s office and tackled Melody’s to-do list, finishing by 11:30. As I prepared to leave, I glanced over at Melody.

“You can leave early if you’d like.”

Melody leaned back in her chair, smiling. “Thank you, Ms.—sorry, Grace. I’ll see you when you’re in next?”

I nodded. “Most likely tomorrow. You know how this place works. Something always comes up. See you, Melody.”

I left the office and drove to the hospital.

I was still in my work clothes, decidedly less comfortable than my usual attire. I wanted to swap my heels for my comfy chucks, but I was eager to see Brennan.

I navigated the hospital corridors and entered Brennan’s room. He looked like he’d been crying; his eyes were red and puffy. It was a sight I’d never seen before. He was always so composed.

Jaq was holding his hand and Sam was gazing out the window.

Brennan’s eyes, still so captivating, met mine. He managed a smile.

“Hey. How was the office?”

“Great.” I paused, setting my purse down on the chair next to Jaq. “What’s happening?”

Jaq stood and hugged me. “Come on, Sam. Let’s give them some privacy.”

Once Jaq and Sam had left, I took Jaq’s seat. My hand found Brennan’s. He gave it a gentle squeeze before almost letting go.

“The doctor ran some tests this morning. Another specialist reviewed my scans and found a partial fracture on my spine.

“It’s in a tricky spot and they think a bone fragment may have damaged part of the spinal cord. I can’t feel anything from the waist down. If my spinal cord is affected, I may never regain feeling.”

My blood turned to ice. I hadn’t been here, and Brennan had faced all of this alone.

“It’ll be okay,” I whispered.

Brennan scoffed and withdrew his hand from mine.

“Did you catch that? I might not walk again, might not feel again… How can I be enough for you if I can’t give you everything, Grace?”

His voice was laced with self-loathing, and it tore at me. I hated that he was here because he felt obligated to surprise me.

I scooted the chair closer and clutched his arm. “Brennan, you already give me everything.”

“But I might not be able to make love to you again. I might not be able to run and play with our child. You deserve so much more. Both of you do.”

“We deserve ~you~! I want you, Brennan. I want us, our family. No matter what happens, that won’t change.”

Brennan shook his head.

“I’m going to step back from Wolf Industries. As soon as I can leave the hospital, I’m going back to the vineyard with my parents.

“You’ll be taken care of. Wolf Industries will still be yours to run, until you need maternity leave. I’ll arrange for some suitable stand-ins to meet with you.”

I let go of Brennan’s arm, my brow furrowed. “You’re leaving me?”

“It’s for the best,” he said softly.

“According to who?” I nearly yelled. “You? Right after you’ve received some potentially life-changing news?

“Brennan, less than twenty-four hours ago you proposed to me. You said you wanted forever with me. You said you would never leave me or our baby.”

Brennan shook his head. “That was before.”

I knew he was scared, and he was trying to run because of it. I’d been there, I’d been through it. Only days had passed, and now everything was all messed up again.

“Don’t do this, Brennan,” I pleaded. “Don’t push me away because you’re scared. It doesn’t help, believe me. The fear just morphs into something else—”

Brennan scoffed and looked me in the eye.

“This is entirely different. I’ve made my decision.”

“No,” I replied.

“Excuse me?”

“You don’t get to just leave me and our baby. You don’t get to decide that all by yourself. It’s not different. You’re saying this because you’re scared, right? I was scared too.

“I came back because I’d rather be scared and with you than pretend I can live without you. Guess what though, Brennan? As soon as I was back in your arms, that fear evaporated.

“I love you, no matter what. Injured or not, I love you.”

Tears welled up in Brennan’s eyes. He closed them to stem the flow, but they trickled down his cheeks and onto his chest anyway. His sobs were deep and guttural.

I sat on the bed beside him and held him. It took a moment before he responded, but then he did.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, his hot breath hitting my neck. “You’re right. I’m terrified.”

“We just have to take this one day at a time,” I replied. “I’m not going anywhere. I know this will be hard, but I also know you built your entire empire from the ground up, Brennan. If anyone can do this, it’s you.”

Brennan didn’t say anything. I could feel him though. His sobs shook through him, and it occurred to me I hadn’t really seen him be broken. He had always been the strong one, even before all of this.

I held him and just let him break until his sobs slowed and his breathing evened out. After a few minutes, he pulled back, his eyes met mine, and he shot me a weary smile.

“I love you. I’m sorry.”

I shook my head. “No need for apologies. The last few days have been a mind fuck. Especially for you. I love you too, Brennan. I’m not letting you go.”

His lips brushed mine, igniting a fire within me and melting me on the spot. His love was intrinsic to my being. I felt it in my soul. No matter what, I knew that feeling would never change.

“Ah, I take it you talked him around,” Jaq said a few moments later as the door opened.

“I just needed reminding that I’m in love with someone headstrong and bossy,” Brennan said.

“Bossy?” I replied. “I think you wear that crown.”

Brennan chuckled.

I moved off the bed and back onto the chair next to it. Jaq sat next to me and handed me two coffees. I passed one to Brennan.

“The others need to get back,” Sam exclaimed, sitting down. “Work is piling up and the stand-ins are struggling.”

“Of course. You guys could head back on your holiday if you wanted to. Aside from my breakdown earlier, I’m sure Grace and I will manage.”

“But you’ll need us when you get back to the apartment!” Jaq exclaimed. “Grace is pregnant, she can’t do it all.”

Brennan held out his hand, and I slipped mine inside it.

“We’re going to take everything one day at a time. If I need support at home, I’m privileged enough to afford home care. I’m going to prove these doctors wrong, Mom.”

He looked at me and smiled, his eyes bright for the first time since I’d walked into the room after work.

“And when I marry her, I’ll be standing at the end of the aisle watching her walk toward me.”