Touched By You (The Touch Series) (23 page)

Charlie isn’t just Chloe’s sister. This family isn’t just Chloe’s, they are mine too. I can’t lose Charlie. She’s my best friend. She has helped me get through some of the hardest times of my life. I can’t live without my Charlie…I have to be here for her just as she has always been here for me.

The three of us pull away from our group hug and make our way back into the ER. We’ll be able to go up to Riley’s room now so I say a silent prayer following the nurse and my family up to see the only brother I have ever really known.

After a long ass flight I’m finally going to be setting foot into my home town of Boston, Massachusetts. Once I got on the plane the flight wasn’t so bad. My head was feeling a bit better, but I knew I needed to catch up on some sleep. I remove my sweatshirt from my bag and place it against the window. Since I’ll be here for awhile I figure I might as well take a nap. I know my mind will be racing as soon as I land, so the more sleep I can get now the better.

I’m jolted awake when the plane lands on the runway. Rubbing my sleepy eyes I try to focus on my watch to see the time. It’s already eight o’clock here on the east coast and the sky is getting darker as the sun sets. I always loved to watch the sun setting at Pier Park and on the boat with Derrick. The memories of our times together make me happy, but with everything going on I wish I had a reason to smile right about now.

The thought of what I’m about to walk into scares me. As much as I wish it were me in that hospital, it really is Char. I can’t imagine my life without my baby sister in it and I’m so scared to find out what’s going on once I get there. Now that the plane is taxing the run way I turn my phone back on to see if I have any missed calls or text messages.

My palms begin to sweat and my heart starts to become more rapid. Finally a text alert pops on the screen from a number I don’t recognize.

326-555-1212 – Pete, Chris and Tony will pick you up at the airport on their way to the hospital

Okay then, so the Taylor & Sons Contracting crew is coming to get me, better than hailing a cab…I guess. I have known Pete, Chris and Tony pretty much most of my teenage to adult life. Not like they are much older than me and Char, but when they started working for daddy they instantly became an extended part of our family. They are great guys and always had our backs if we needed them. I know Char said that Derrick had been hanging out with Riley and Pete a lot over the past few months so I hope him coming to get me isn’t going to be awkward. He really is a nice guy, not quite sure why he’s still single ….hmm that is an interesting thought though. Chris and Tony have both been married for years and have a few kids each so I ‘m sure they haven’t been hitting up the pubs with the guys lately.

Oh well, I’m not here to see them. I need to see my sister and if they’re my ride to where she is, then I’ll suck it up with a smile on my face. I put my iPhone back into my purse and pull my sweatshirt over my head. The line down the main aisle of the plane slowly starts to move. I kindly wait my turn and when the guy next to me exits our row I make my move. I walk out of the plane into the tunnel and try not to breath in the stale air of the airport.

When I exit the tunnel I see all three men standing there waiting. Tony has his hands tucked into his washed out jeans with a white tee-shirt and backwards baseball cap. Chris is wearing darker jeans with a navy blue Red Sox tee arms crossed and a pout on his face. Then there’s Pete, he eyes me immediately and starts walking my way. He too is wearing a pair of faded jeans with a black tee-shirt.

I approach my entourage and give them all a big hug without saying a word. Looking into their eyes I can see the sadness knowing that a member of the Taylor family is hurt.

The guys walk us to Pete’s truck and they insist I sit up front. Chris takes my suitcase and throws it in the back while Tony opens the passenger side door for me. I appreciate the chivalry of the guys, but it makes me even more nervous that they are treating me like glass. The ride to the hospital we’re all silent. In fact I don’t think any of us have said a word since I arrived.

My chest begins to tighten, more so than it has, and I feel the need to take a deep breath. Pete must sense my sudden unease and he looks in my direction grabbing for my hand. He rubs his thumb back in forth along my palm and quietly reassures me that everything will be okay.

I look over in his direction and a small smile appears on his face. As much as I want his gesture to make me feel better and believe Char will be okay, I need to be by her side to know for sure. Thanking Pete with a nod of my head I reposition myself, take my hand back and lean into the soft leather seat of his truck.

We pull into Massachusetts General Hospital and my heart plummets to my feet. My entire body feels numb and the anxiety of what awaits us inside scares me.

Pete turns off the truck and turns to face me.

“Chloe, are you okay to get out and walk to the door? You look like you’re about to pass out.” He asks.

My body is shaking in fear. His warm hand touches my shoulder and a chill runs through me.

“We’ll walk right in with you sugar.” Tony says.

“Yeah, I’ll even hold your hand if it will make you feel better.” Chris tells me.

I turn and look at the three men standing outside the door and small sense of relief fills me. Although they are not immediate family, they’re all still here to show support in our time of need. I grab for Chris’s hand and he helps me out of the truck. I reach for my purse and hop down onto the black macadam. Pete comes around to my other side and grabs my left hand. Walking to the door of MGH I have these three strong men standing by my side. I just wish their strength was enough to erase this day from ever happening. .

As soon as Riley was taken to a room the six of us started our journey up to the fourth floor of Massachusetts General Hospital. The nurses suggested that only two of us should go in at a time and that we needed to keep him calm and relaxed so that he can rest.

Emma and Teresa were the first two to go in to see him and assured me they wouldn’t stay more than a half an hour. I wanted to be there for him, but having his sister and soon to be mother-in-law by his side seemed like a better choice. I walked over to the window in the waiting area and realized that half of the day had already passed. Looking at my watch I couldn’t believe it was four o’clock in the afternoon. We had been sitting around in the ER most of the day. Now we continue to wait to see Riley, two at a time, and hear word from the doctors once Charlie is out of surgery.

I feel a warm hand touch my shoulder and turn to see it’s my mom.

“Honey, dad and I are going to go grab something to eat. Would you like to come with us? Bryce said he’ll call as soon as he hears anything about Char.”

Her voice is so soft, so sweet and so caring. I’m so grateful to have both of my parents in my life. There isn’t two other people in the whole world who could have taught me more about support and love than my parents.

“Nah, I’m good mom. I want to be here when Charlie gets out of surgery.” I tell her.

“Derrick, don’t be surprised if they don’t let you in to see her. I know you’re close, but you’re not her immediate family.” She says rubbing her hand up and down my back for support.

“There’s no need to worry about that.” Bryce says walking over toward the window. “All three of you are considered to be Char’s immediately family and I’ll make certain each of you are able to go in and see her. She needs to hear all of us telling her to get her ass up.”

“Thanks Bryce that means a lot…to all of us.”

“Oh that is a relief, thank you Bryce. Okay Derrick, dad and I are going to leave for a bit and will be back later tonight. Do you want us to bring anything back for you guys?”

“No thanks mom. I’ll call you if we hear anything.”

I give both my parents a hug and kiss goodbye and then retreat back to the uncomfortable chairs in the waiting room.

Thirty minutes later Emma and Teresa walk out of the doors, both of their faces stained with tears. Bryce and I stand and walk toward them.

“How is he?” I ask.

“He looks like shit, but says he’s just in a bit of pain.” Emma says.

“He’s really beating himself up over this Derrick. You need to go in there and tell him this isn’t his fault. He was knocked out with the impact and feels he should have been able to protect Char.”

Tears pour from Teresa’s eyes and Bryce pulls her into a quick embrace.

Emma pulls me to the side. “Derrick I know you and Riley are close, but I do know him a bit better. Teresa wasn’t joking when she said he was taking this hard. Char is his whole world. I’ve never seen him care about anyone as much as he does with her. We need to keep him focused on getting himself better and not about her. I know it’s a lot to ask but can you do that for him? Help him not think about her?”

“Emma do you realize what you’re asking me to do? Those two have been attached by the hip since the moment they met. They have a magnetic pull and without the other they are a fucking mess. How do you suppose I help him not think about her?”

“I don’t know Derrick, but I do know my brother. If he has his way he’ll unhook every cord attached to him and march his way up to the ICU.”

“I can’t promise you anything Emma, but I’ll stay by his side. Are you going to come back in with me?”

“No, I’m going to run home. I need to shower and change. Do you want me to bring you anything back?”

“Nah, I’m good thanks Emma. My parents just left to go get something to eat. I’ll see you guys when you get back.”

Emma walks over to the chairs and picks up her things. Before she leaves she gives a hug to both Bryce and Teresa. As she walks past me she pats me on the shoulder and mouths,
thank you.

I look over to Bryce and Teresa who are sitting on a loveseat. Bryce has his head in his hands and Teresa is sitting back against the cushions with her eyes closed. I want to go in to see Riley, but I also want to be out here when the doctors come out to talk to them.

Teresa opens her eyes and sees me pacing.

“Derrick, why don’t you go on in?” She asks.

“I want to be here when they come to talk to you. I don’t want to miss seeing her.”

“Honey, I promise I’ll come in and get you as soon as they come out. You have to know that she won’t be awake right away anyhow. Go in and talk to Riley, he needs you right now.”

With that, I nod my head and make my way over to the two large doors. I push the button for them to open and I walk around the hallway till I find room 1030.

I clench my fists and feel my palms begin to sweat as I enter his room. When I walk around the curtain I see Riley is asleep. Emma was right, he does look like shit.

His head is wrapped in a white bandage and a few strands of his hair are poking through the top. I walk over to the side of his bed and can see that blood has stained his face, neck and chest area. His arm and shoulder are in an odd looking cast that is supported with a rod that is attached to somewhere on his body near his right side.

I still can’t believe this is happening. It’s like a fucking nightmare. I know my friend needs me and will probably be a wreck when he wakes from his nap. I decide to take a seat in his room and wait it out till either he wakes up or Teresa comes in to give me some news.