Page 56 of Fractured Heart

“Is it true that you were there that night to save Lake?” Wave asks.

“It wasn’t just her I was trying to save, Waverly,” he answers honestly.

“If you’re looking for me to drop to my knees and weep because my daddy has suddenly come home, then you are fucking mistaken, old man. I lived my life without you, we didn’t need you because we had her.” She flicks her chin toward her mother as Roberto’s face falls. “If you’re here to make amends and try to form a relationship with me, then let me drop a bomb on you before you try to play the daddy card. I’m fucking both of them and if you have a problem with that then you can eat shit.” She doesn’t wait for a reply as she grabs Trey’s hand and drags us inside the house with her mom and dad’s laughter following after us.

“I see she takes after you,” we hear Roberto say as we enter the house to see Knox standing there with a sour look on his face.

“Did you put him in his place?” he asks Wave.

She snorts. “You took over being my dad years ago, that fucker has his work cut out for him if he thinks he is sliding back into my life without working for it.” Knox shoots her a wink as he tells us to follow him out the back. The second we step out the back the three of us slam to a halt at the sight of Taylan, Lake, Kimber, Anna and the two boys standing out here under fairy lights. Wave’s face is a picture of horror as she wheels around on both Trey and me. “Tell me this isn’t where you drop to your knees?”

Trey and I both laugh and shake our heads. “I will get on my knees for you anytime you like but we aren’t proposing.” Trey turns to me looking confused. “Are we?”

“No. I had nothing to do with this,” I answer.

“Say you’ll get on your knees for my sister again fucker and I’ll break your teeth,” Knox sneers.

“This was all me and the girls,” Lake says, drawing all our attention to her. She motions for Wave to come to her, which she does with us following behind. Lake pulls Wave in for a hug then releases her and places her hands on her shoulders and smiles lovingly. “I love you, Wave, we all do, which is why we thought it was important for you to have a place to visit.”

Wave frowns and cocks her head to the side. “A place to visit?”

Lake nods and clasps her hand as she leads her further into the garden which has a large fountain in the center of it. Taylan told me about the shrine they had built for her and Knox’s baby that she lost because of me. I feel like I shouldn’t be here and stop moving but Knox pushes me forward.

“Trust her,” he mutters. I nod and follow after the girls who come to a stop next to a white sheet that is covering something. Beside it sits a headstone that reads.

Your wings were ready but our hearts weren’t.

Beloved baby of Knox & Lake.

Guilt churns inside me at the sight of that headstone, that baby should have been here but my grief and anger took its life. I will spend the rest of my days trying to make up for the innocent life I took.

“I know you’re strong and fuck, I admire that strength, Wave, I always have but I need to be the strong one now,” Lake says in a watery tone. I spy Roberto and Clara entering the garden from the corner of my eye.

“Why?’ Wave whispers clearly feeling uneasy.

“Because you were always the one to hold me up and be my rock, it’s my turn to be yours.” Lake looks to Taylan and nods her head. He grips the sheet and yanks it off exposing another headstone. Waverly tears her hand from Lake’s as she stumbles back into me. I grip her waist, holding her up when she begins to tremble at the sight before us. The headstone has a statue of a baby with wings above it but it’s the inscription on the stone that has Wave shaking and gasping for air.

My heart breaks for the moments we will never share.

My arms ache for the cuddles we will never have.

My soul longs for its forever missing piece.

The moment your heart stopped mine changed forever.

Laiken Knoxville Bronson.

Beloved baby boy of,

Waverly ‘Doxy’ Bronson.

Lakeland moves to stand in front of Wave who is full on shaking in my arms now. “He deserved a place to rest. I always dreamed we would have children together and they would grow to be best friends like us. Our babies will grow up together but in a better place where they will be waiting for us to join them one day. You lost your son and we know that you're devastated but let us share in your pain and mourn the loss of the beautiful boy we never got to meet with you because we love him too, Wave, and we are here for you.” A sob tears out of Wave. I wrap my arm around her waist as I anchor her to me. Trey reaches out and rests a hand on her shoulder, Knox steps forward and gently pushes Lake aside so he can grab his sister's face in his hands.

“It is the greatest honor I have ever had in my life to have my nephew named after me.” I swallow past the lump in my throat at the sight of Knox fighting back his tears. “I never got to meet my namesake, my nephew, but I fucking choose him, sister. That little boy may never get to meet us but he sure as fuck will feel how much we love him from the afterlife.” When Knox pulls her to him, I release her without a fuss. She clings to her brother as she cries and he buries his face in her hair. “I choose you, Waverly.”

“I choose you, Brother,” she chokes out. I move to Lake and wrap my arms around her, she melts into my hold and returns my embrace.

“Thank you for giving her this, Lay, she really needed it,” I say as I pull back and stare down at her.

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