Page 67 of One Night With You

“And every single kid here knows that once they’re out of here and healthy and ready to play outside, they have full access for a one-of-a-kind trip through the Montgomery security jungle gym.”

“Are you sure they’re not going to be too small for that?”

“We’ve already been working with an engineer to make sure that we can modify anything that we need to. My cousins know what they’re doing.”

“Okay, good. I’m just so excited for all of this. I guess I needed a little bit of joy too.”

“Of course you do. We’re here for all of you. And we have three bakeries on the line who brought in food that all of you can eat as parents and family members, as well as food that’s approved by their doctors that wethink some of the kids can eat. We know not everybody is feeling up to it, but we have something if they want it and can have it. And later, just like with the obstacle course and jungle gym, they can come to the bakery and bake along with one of our family members.”

“I’ve been to Icing and Cafe On the Rocks. I love them both. I can’t believe that they’re in your family.”

I pointed to Kingston. “His family. I’m just a hanger on.”

“Sorry, my mother already adopted you.”

I rolled my eyes at that, even though my heart warmed, and Buckley’s mother smiled so brightly, her eyes actually shone for an instant.

“You two remind me so much of me and my husband. He’s at work right now because we need his medical insurance for this, or he’d be here with us.”

“It’s no problem. We’ll save him a couple tattoos and a cupcake.”

“Oh he might not get a cupcake. I looked at them before we got here, and I think they’re mine now.”

I knew she was putting on a front for us, but that was fine. We would do what we could for today.

In the end, we laughed with the children that we could, and waved at Buckley through the isolation in place. He was sitting up, and smiling, waving at us. His voice was a little raspy, and he still had dark circles under his eyes, but his mother had said he lookedbetter. I wanted to believe that was true, and not just a mother’s hope, or wanting to make us feel better or to alleviate our worries.

I wanted him to be safe.

There were children with caps on their heads, and bright pink wigs. Giggling fourteen-year-olds with braces and tubes all over their bodies. There was a small little toddler in a crib, bouncing on her feet, as she had one of those feeding tubes that broke my heart. But she clapped her hands at us, and we said our hellos and she got her sparkling little unicorn.

Every single one of the parents hugged us, even the ones that were a little skeptical about a bunch of bearded and tattooed and pierced people showing up. We probably weren’t the normal crew to show up on a random Thursday to try to make kids smile. We did our best to stay out of the way, and our best not to break down.

Phoebe and Kane were there, as well as Leif and Nick and Hudson and Sebastian. We hadn’t wanted to overwhelm them with us, and we promised we would be back.

From the way Leif was mad texting the group chats, I had a feeling there was probably going to be a new Montgomery plan in place for future visits, and not just this hospital. And not just this wing.

This was why I loved this family. And this was why I was falling in love with Kingston.

On our way out as Kingston went to go talk with Leif, I pulled my brother to the side, honestly surprised to see him here.

“How are you holding up?”

My brother looked off into the distance, the sharp peaks of the Rocky Mountains bright white with snow. He was silent for so long I was afraid I had made a mistake. Not just by asking him, but by bringing him along at all.

“I’m glad I came.” He cleared his throat, and looked down at me, his eyes watery. “I miss her. With everything that I have. I miss her. I see her in our kids, and I see her every day. Every time I close my eyes. And when I wake up in the morning, I still feel like she’s right beside me. Even though she’s never lived in that house. She never got to see this house. But she’s no longer in pain. And my kids don’t get to know the woman that I loved. But those kids in there? I have to believe that they’re going to survive. That they can beat this. Because I need them to get out of those walls. I need them to run around with my kids. But seeing them? It reminds me that there’s still a fight out there. And maybe I should join. You know?”

Tears were freely streaming down my face at thatmoment, and I hugged him tightly, ignoring his cursing as he reluctantly held me back.

“I’m fine, little sister.”

“Well I’m not. So hold me.”

“Your big buff boyfriend is on his way to do so as well. You’re okay.”

“I need those little kids to be okay. But I don’t think they all will be. The math just isn’t there.”

“Then don’t think about that. Think about the joy that you brought them today. It’s all we can do in this moment. Always. You did a good thing here today. And from the way that those parents seemed to relax just for an instant? You gave them peace.”

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