"You need to take it easy," he reminded me. I didn't need any reminding, the ache in my body the telltale sign that I wasn't totally healed.
I dropped down onto my bed and Blake tucked me in. After my emotional visit with my mom, I needed him to be close. I needed the relief his touch gave me on my emotions.
"Will you hold me?" I asked. I never needed people, but I needed him now.
"Sure," he said as he kicked off his shoes and lay down beside me on the bed.
He opened his arms so I shifted into them and lay my head against his chest. I let out a sigh as I felt a peacefulness settle over me.
"Thank you," I murmured and his arms wrapped around me.
"No—thank you," he said as he pressed a kiss to my forehead.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Keri
The loud banging on the door woke me up with a start. I closed my eyes again, hoping the person would go away. I was lying in a nice warm cocoon and I didn’t want to move but the banging continued. Blake had his arms still wrapped around me but released me when I pulled away and sat up. Yawning, I rubbed my eyes.
“I’m coming,” I muttered, still trying to get my bearings as I climbed over Blake to get off the bed.
I opened the door and rubbed my eyes as I stifled another yawn. When I opened my eyes, I saw a distressed Curtis.
“It’s your mom,” he told me. I felt the presence of Blake behind me.
“I’m coming,” I said. Just as I was about to hurry out of the room, Curtis put his hand up to stop me.
“It’s too late,” he whispered and I saw his eyes glisten with unshed tears.
I faltered for a moment, stepping back, putting my body against Blake’s.
“What happened?” Blake was the one to ask the question.
The words ‘too late’ echoed in my mind. It was too late. My mind couldn’t understand the implications of that statement.
“Her heart just gave out,” Curtis said, watching me with concern. “We tried everything we could but it wasn’t enough.”
It wasn’t enough. The words repeated inside my mind.
“I need to see her,” I said in a calm and level voice. Curtis and Blake both looked at me. I wasn’t reacting the way they’d expected and they were worried, I could see it in their eyes.
“Sure,” Curtis said as he stepped out of my way to allow me to pass him.
I walked barefoot down to the medical center with Blake and Curtis following close behind me. Members of my pack stopped to watch me as I walked into the building, oblivious to everyone around me giving sympathetic looks.
It was like I was surrounded by a bubble to keep everyone out and I was alone with my rapidly beating heart and the dread building in the pit of my stomach.
There was a deafening silence as I approached my mother’s room. For a few seconds I hesitated outside the door, trying to build the courage to step inside her room.
As I stepped into the room, my breath hitched as my gaze swept over my mother’s still body. Just a step inside the room, I hesitated again. She was unmoving, her eyes closed, and for a few brief moments I allowed myself to take it in.
She looked so peaceful. It was like she was sleeping, but I knew better.
I moved forward to stand beside the bed. At her side, I reached for her hand. It was strange to hold her hand and not have her hold mine back. I leaned over her and brushed the hair from her face. Even in death she was beautiful.
My emotions began to build up inside of me. The proof was in front of me. My mom had breathed her last breath and she was gone. Heartache and grief began to push up inside of me. The emotions were suffocating me from the inside.
I wanted to argue that I’d been cheated. I was supposed to have her just for a little longer but there was no arguing with death. Closing my eyes for a moment, I took a deep breath before shoving the emotions down. It was too much to deal with.
