Page 17 of Heartbreak Hill

Warren kissed the side of her head. “I’m proud of you, no matter which way you decide.”

“Thanks.”

Moments later, Freya Andersen walked in with her son, Leif, and her daughter, Astrid. Leif was three years older than Gemma, and Astrid was a year younger than Lynnea. Behind the kids, Freya’s husband, Lars, took up most of the doorway.

Nadia hugged Freya and the kids, and then Lars. He and Rafe had been close, and she imagined he probably wanted his own time with his brother-in-law.

“I’ll give you guys some time with him.”

“Auntie Nadia.” Astrid’s small voice stopped Nadia in her tracks. “Will you still be my auntie after Uncle Rafe goes to heaven?”

Nadia crouched to her niece’s level and pushed her pin-straight blonde hair away from her crystal-blue eyes. “I’ll always be your auntie, Astrid. Always and forever.” She kissed the child’s forehead and fought back a sob. If adults couldn’t understand death, how could children? Nadia left the room, closing the door behind her, and made her way toward the waiting room, where most of her family sat.

When she rounded the corner, strong arms wrapped around her waist in surprise. “Hey, what are you guys doing here?” she asked of her twelve- and ten-year-old nephews, Lincoln and Jaxon.

“Hey, Nadia.” Adam, her former brother-in-law, came up behind her. “Sienna called and asked me to bring the boys up.” Nadia hugged Adam. She had always liked him and was sad when he and her sister divorced.

“Thank you, Adam. I’m glad you’re here. After Freya’s done, you can go say your goodbyes.”

“We appreciate that,” he said as he gripped Lincoln’s shoulder.

Nadia led her nephews into the waiting room, where her brother Reuben sat, along with their sister.

“When’s the last time you ate?” Sienna asked Nadia.

“I don’t even know.” She shook her head. “Maybe I’ll walk down to the cafeteria.”

Sienna shot Adam a look. He cleared his throat. “How about I grab you something?”

“I’m okay, I could use a break. I think.” Nadia rose and came face to face with Cleo; her anguish was clear on her face. Nadia couldn’t begin to fathom how Cleo felt, and she didn’t ever want to think of herself in the same situation. Children are supposed to outlive their parents. She went to her mother-in-law and hugged her tightly. The two women began to sob and were cocooned by the others. No one needed to see their grief.

When they parted, Cleo cupped Nadia’s face. She opened her mouth to speak, but there were no words. Nadia nodded. She understood. Warren pulled Nadia into his strong arms and held her. Nadia needed her parents. And Rafe’s.

“I’m going to get us some coffee,” Adam said, giving them a small reprieve from the sorrow-filled room.

“Adam.” Sienna said his name quietly. “Maybe order from the nearest Dunkin’. I think everyone deserves something fresh and not that watered-down crap from the basement.”

“Good idea.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket and typed as Warren directed Nadia to a chair.

“Why aren’t you in there with Rafe?” Otto asked.

“Freya, Lars, and the kids are in there now. I wanted them to spend time alone with Rafe.”

“I’m going to go see them,” Cleo said and then walked off. Again, Nadia fought against rolling her eyes. Her thoughts on Cleo were topsy-turvy at best. She was an amazing grandmother, but a meddler as a parent. Freya and Rafe couldn’t do anything without Cleo expecting some sort of consultation. When women joke that mothers and sons need to cut the cord—well, it wasn’t much of a joke when it came to Cleo and Rafe. Nadia had thrown him a cord-cutting party the first time he’d told his mother no. Once he’d said it the first time, he said it more often.

Just never to Nadia.

By the time the coffee arrived, Freya and her brood had come out of Rafe’s room, red eyed and with tearstained cheeks. The others exchanged greetings. Freya sat next to Sienna, while Adam and Lars stood, and the kids sat on the floor. The kids didn’t need to be there, but they weren’t hers, and there wasn’t much she could do about it.

The voice of her nephew Lincoln rang out. “Aunt Nadia.” She looked at him. “Do you think it’s okay if we go in and say goodbye to Uncle Rafe now?”

Tears fell from her eyes as she nodded. “Of course it is.”

Sienna kissed her sister on her cheek as she passed by and took her boys and Adam toward Rafe’s room. Nadia watched them until they’d disappeared.

“I should probably call the funeral home,” Cleo said to the rest of them.

“Please don’t,” Nadia stated quietly.

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