Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 90464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Fuck, the slur in her speech is killing me.
I move closer and sit down on the side of the coffee table. Keeping my voice soft so I don’t wake Lainey, I ask, “How’s your vision?”
“Blur . . . comes . . . and . . . goes.” She sucks in a deep breath. “I want to . . . talk . . . about my . . . funeral.”
God help me.
Nova comes to sit on the floor beside my legs and gives Rachel a loving smile. “What do you want us to do?”
“Fireworks.” Rachel lets out a soft chuckle, which makes Lainey curl deeper into her. “Cremate me . . . and shoot my . . . ashes . . . up in fireworks. I want to go . . . out . . . with a . . . bang.”
A sad smile tugs at the corner of my mouth as I nod. “Whatever you want.”
“I’ve made a . . . video. Watch it before . . . the fireworks.” She takes another breath, and when she talks again, there’s no slur, “I only want the three of you at my funeral.” Her gaze widens, and she looks at Nova. “Get the camera from my bedroom so you can record me. Hurry!”
Nova runs out of the living room, and Rachel locks eyes with me. “I want a day where I have all my lasts. Help me walk. Have Nova help me shower. I want to eat a steak you made on the grill and to drink a glass of our most expensive wine.”
I make mental notes of everything.
“I want to see the ocean and watch Lainey build a sandcastle.”
I nod. “When?”
“Tomorrow.”
I start to shake my head, saying, “You’re not dying tomorrow.”
She gives me a pleading look. “I can have another seizure that might make it impossible for me to do any of those things.”
“Okay,” I agree. “I’ll arrange everything for tomorrow.”
Nova comes flying down the stairs. “It’s recording!”
Rachel shakes Lainey. “Wake up, baby.”
“Mommy?” my niece asks as she lifts her head.
“Listen to me, sweetheart. Quickly,” Rachel hurries to get the words out before the slur returns. Lainey sits upright, then my sister gives all her attention to her daughter. “I love you so much! You are the greatest joy of my life. Things might get bad for a little while, and after I leave, Uncle Easton and Nova will take care of you.”
When Lainey begins to cry, Rachel uses her left hand to wipe her daughter’s tears away. “And even when I die, I’ll still be here.” She places her palm over Lainey’s heart. “Right here forever and always. Okay? I’ll watch over you every second of every day. I’ll cry with you when your heart hurts, and I’ll laugh with you when you’re happy. I love you so, so, so very much, Lainey.”
“I love you, too, Mommy,” my niece sobs. “Does it hurt?”
Rachel shakes her head. “Not at all. When I go, it will be like falling asleep.”
Lainey lets out another sob. “What happens to you afterward?”
“I’ll go to be with the angels, where I can watch over you.”
Her left hand cups Lainey’s cheek. “I love you unconditionally, Lainey. You are the most beautiful, bravest, and smartest daughter ever. Don’t let anyone tell you differently. You deserve the world.” Rachel takes a deep breath. “I . . . love you.”
Her hand slips away from Lainey’s cheek, and she stares blankly ahead of her for a few seconds.
“Shit.” I grab hold of Lainey and move her off the couch right before Rachel starts to seize.
“Mommy!” my niece cries.
Nova drops the camera and grabs hold of Lainey before rushing out onto the veranda with her.
I lean over my sister. “I’m here. You’re okay. I’m here, Rach.” Digging my phone out of my pocket I hurry to find the number for the doctor and press dial.
“Dr. Barlow,” he answers.
“It’s Easton Rowe. Rachel is having another seizure.”
“Make sure there’s nothing near her that can hurt her.”
“Done.”
“There’s nothing you can do but wait for it to pass. When she’s coherent again, give her the prescribed medicine.”
“That’s it?” I bark.
“Unfortunately, there’s nothing else we can do. I’ve contacted hospice, and they’ll send a nurse out first thing tomorrow morning. The only thing I can suggest is that you bring Rachel to the hospital where we can make her comfortable and care for her until the end.”
“No. I want her to stay at home.”
“Okay. I wish there was something we could do, Mr. Rowe, but it’s out of our hands now.”
“Thank you,” I bite the words out through a clenched jaw. I end the call, forced to watch as Rachel shakes uncontrollably. When it finally stops, I feel completely defeated. I brush her hair out of her face and whisper, “Rach? Can you hear me?”
She blinks a couple of times, and when she tries to talk, her words are garbled. Tears flood her eyes as they lock on me.