Page 26 of Broken Love

Licking her lips, she opens her mouth, but nothing comes out. Grabbing the pitcher of water, I pour her a glass and pop the straw in before bringing it to her lips. Brushing a finger gently down her cheek, I offer my silent support.

“I didn’t want to intrude.” Her feeble voice is filled with more emotion than I’ve ever heard before.

“I see.” Lux writes a few things on Windsor’s chart before getting to her feet again. “I’ll be back to check on you in a few hours, but the doctors think you’ll be ready to go home in the morning.”

The torment on Windsor’s face kills me because we know her, we know her kind heart, and losing her sister before she ever gets the chance to know her will eat her up inside.

“I’m sorry, Lux.” The nurse nods before leaving.

Kissing Windsor on the forehead, I follow the other woman out. “Lux, wait, please.” It’s hard maintaining a lowered tone so I don’t disturb other patients or draw attention to the woman when I want to bark commands at everyone around me.

“Yes?” Her professionalism is back in place.

“She didn’t want to hurt you. Or disrupt your life. She wasn’t even going to seek you out, but I think the loneliness got to her,” I try to explain.

“I’m not angry, Mr. Graham, I’m shocked. Because if what she told me when we first met is true, then we have another sister out there somewhere, and I can’t imagine how Windsor held it together when we spoke. Knowing what she knew and keeping silent about it must have been incredibly difficult for her.”

“You’re not writing her off then?” I want Windsor to have all the happiness in the world, and if that means convincing Lux to forgive her, I’ll do it.

“Gosh, no. I’ve wanted sisters my whole life. Now I have one and another who doesn’t know we exist. Our father is a real piece of work.” The last part is growled with frustration.

Which makes me think of something. “Have you heard from him lately? He called Windsor last week, but she didn’t want anything to do with him.”

“Couple weeks ago, he called, but I was on shift. Haven’t called him back. My mom was pissed. I think if she sees him again, she just might kill him. Especially after I tell her I have two sisters.” Lux’s smile is genuine this time; she’s thrilled to know about Windsor. “Please tell her I’m happy to have her as a sister; I’m just in shock. I will be by later, but my patient load is heavy today.” She’s off again, and I know Windsor will be happy to learn that she’s a welcome surprise in the woman’s life.

Windsor

I feel like I’m drowning in a dark abyss with no bottom in sight as I wait for Tucker to return. Tanner lies beside me, stroking my hair and holding me tight to his chest. If I’m honest, he’s the only reason I haven’t exploded into a panic attack over the thought that all my fears about my sisters are coming true.

There is too much going on for my mind not to conjure up the worst possible scenarios and how much Lux must hate me. I deceived her from the moment we met, but everything I said was filled with so much truth and heartache. She just didn’t know it was all about her.

“You’re working yourself up, baby.” Tanner’s lips on my hairline are the only thing keeping me centered right now. “Breathe slowly.”

As Tucker returns, I hold my breath until he settles into the chair next to my bed. It’s too small to fit all three of us, much as I’d like that to happen, and I can only be happy about going home tomorrow.

“Lux is excited but shocked,” he starts. “She wanted you to know she’s not mad at you, just surprised she was one of the sisters you spoke to her about.” Silent tears slip down my cheeks as I nod at him, offering up a watery smile. “Rest now, sweetheart. We need you strong before we take you home.”

A weight lifts from my heart, and I feel like I can breathe again. It’s not perfect, but it’s more than I’d hoped for, and I feel as though things can work out for the better now. “Home,” I murmur, wondering if they mean theirs or my tiny, little apartment.

All that night, sleep is erratic for me. Between my tumultuous emotions, disturbing dreams, and hospital noise, I don’t think I get an ounce of rest before being woken up in the morning by a doctor who takes a seat in the chair that Tucker has occupied since I arrived.

“Miss James, we need a word before I discharge you today,” she says with a sympathetic smile. Tanner and Tucker pace on the other side of me near the foot of the bed, waiting for the woman to speak what’s on her mind. She glances back at them and gives a faint nod, which brings the two men to sit on the bed with me—Tucker at my hip and Tanner at my feet.

“What’s wrong?” I’ve been around enough doctors to know when there’s bad news.

“I’m very sorry to say this, but the poison caused your body to reject your fetus. You’ve had a miscarriage, Windsor.” I blink blankly at her, struggling to make sense of her words.

“But… I wasn’t pregnant.” I realize how stupid it sounds, but I can’t bring myself to accept what she’s saying.

“You were, for a very brief time. Only a few weeks. The poison, however, took the fetus before it had a chance to grow and alert your body to its presence. I’m terribly sorry.” She continues talking, offering mental health options, assuring me that I can try again in a few months’ time. I don’t listen to a word of it.

Someone hates me so much they tried to kill me, and they took a baby I never knew existed, let alone that I wanted, away from me. They stole a life worth ten times my own. They stole the one pure piece of me that was also part of Tanner and Tucker.

Sinking further into the bed, I turn away from the brothers to stare out the window as the doctor leaves. Grief consumes me as I think about the life I was unable to protect. Rationality has no place with me right now. It doesn’t matter that I had no idea I was pregnant; I knew the possibility existed because we hadn’t used protection our one time together, and I never did make it to the pharmacy.

“Windsor, baby.” Tanner lays down behind me, pulling me in close to his chest as I silently cry. “This isn’t your fault.”

Yes, it is, I want to scream but can’t find my voice at the moment.

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