Page 72 of Holding Her Heart

“Hard to say.” Aster blew out a breath. “I can’t even get a fucking holiday right so you should at least see what’s on offer while you’re there. If there’s going to be anyone else, please…not Fi. Anyone else I can at least try and live with it, but not her, Eden.”

Eden leaned in, her lips brushing Aster’s ear. “I want you like you couldn’t begin to imagine. And this time away is only going to make it all worse for me.”

“Well, I hope you still think that when you get back. H-have a lovely time. I’ll say bye to the team and find Grace before I figure out how to get out of here.”

“Call me?”

“I’ll wait to hear from you. I’m sure you’ll have much better things to do than sit on the phone to me.” Aster quickly took Eden’s hand, squeezing it tight. “Be careful.”

20

Eden gripped her gym bag in one hand, a hold-all slung over her shoulder. She peered up at the building in front of her. Was this the right idea? She wouldn’t know until she went inside. But how exactly did she get inside? She cleared her throat, eyeing the intercom at the side of the door. Flat 7 - Bennett.

She pressed the buzzer, praying Aster wouldn’t turn her away. She may need space, time to be alone. Eden didn’t know. But she needed to see her. To know that Aster wasn’t beside herself with worry. She’d sent Eden a message around an hour ago to say that she’d gone home from the hospital tonight and hoped they’d landed safely abroad, but Eden decided to simply show up instead. The last thing she needed was for Aster to demand she stay away and go back to the airport.

The intercom crackled to life. “Hello?”

“Hi, it’s me,” Eden said, stepping closer. “Eden.”

“Eden?” Aster sniffled. “Y-you’re supposed to be in another country.”

“Yeah, well, I’m here…for you.”

“Come up.”

Aster unlocked the door, the sound of the receiver dying out as Eden stepped inside the building. She tugged her hold-all higher up on her shoulder, the lift doors opening as she pressed the call button. Of course she’d love to be lying in the sun, who wouldn’t, but Aster was here, and Eden needed to be close by. Okay, Aster may not want that, Eden wouldn’t expect her to always be around while her dad was in hospital, but she could still be around for anything Aster needed. Whether that was a friendly face, a shoulder to cry on, or someone to vent to…Eden was here for it all.

As she reached Aster’s floor, stepping out of the lift, she found the object of her desire waiting out in the hallway. “Hi.”

“You’re not coming inside,” Aster said, folding her arms across her chest. “You’re going to turn around, go back to the airport, and get the next flight out.”

“Yeah, that’s not going to happen.” Eden approached Aster, her shoulder dead from carrying a stupid weight around. “I’ve taken a coach, a train, and a cab to get back to you. I want a cuppa and maybe a shower if you could stretch to that.”

Aster’s bottom lip trembled. “Eden, why didn’t you get on that flight?”

“I thought about it. I was actually at the boarding gate when I decided to turn around and come back. I just…you can ask me to go home, that’s fine, but I’m not going to Spain without you.”

“Y-you stayed for me?”

Eden knew deep down that she should have left the airport at the exact moment Aster did. She’d kicked herself once that realisation sank in, but she was here now, and that was what mattered. She smiled. “Came straight here.”

Aster held out a hand, taking Eden’s hold-all from her shoulder. As she dragged it inside, taking Eden’s hand, Aster kicked the door shut, turning the lock. “Eden, I feel awful. You shouldn’t be here. You’ve been looking forward to this holiday for months.”

“Because I was going to be with you.” Eden dropped her gym bag to the floor, taking Aster in her arms. “You probably don’t need or want me here, I’m not that important, but I didn’t know if you’d need an ear, you know?”

Aster sobbed into Eden’s chest, her arms tightening around her waist. It was a hard time for her, but God, Eden couldn’t think of anything better than holding Aster. It was all she wanted to be doing. “How is he?”

“He has to stay in until they’re happy he’s stable enough to be at home.” Aster pulled back, smiling weakly when Eden wiped tears from her face. “He’s not been taking his medication. He told me he doesn’t want to be here anymore because he’s holding us all back.”

“Oh, Aster.”

“But he’s not. He’s our dad. And we love him. He’s never been a burden to us. I don’t understand.”

“I’m sure he knows how much you love him.”

“I told him before I left the hospital that he’s not allowed to die on me. That he has to meet you and get to know you and…I need him to stay alive, Eden.”

Eden rested a hand against Aster’s cheek, remaining when she leaned into Eden’s touch. “I don’t think he’s going anywhere. He wouldn’t want to leave you behind.”

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