Page 52 of The Hardest Part

“Hurry, Jake.” Champagne churning in her stomach, Emily held a hand up to her mouth. “I think I’m gonna be sick.”

“Slow breaths, Em.” Billy rubbed her tummy. “We’re almost there.”

A nightmare.

That’s what this was.

A horrible B flick she didn’t want any part of.

Emily got out of the truck to see Arien running toward the trees, Kellan chasing after her, and Tanner holding up a sobbing Grams, the baby in her arms.

He’s okay.

With a sigh of relief, she wiped the tears from her face.

Justin and her mother pulled in right behind them. They ran past her, going straight inside the house.

Cautiously, she went up the porch steps, and that’s when she heard it. The sound of suffering. Agony. A deafening, plaintivewail coming from the strongest man, and the only father she’d ever known. “Uncle Matty?”

Grams ceased her sobbing long enough to look at her, then turning to Jake, she said, “She’s on the sofa. At first, we thought she was just sleeping. Your father is giving him something.”

Jennifer did look like she was asleep. Kind of.

Tanner’s voice boomed through the door. “He’s got her.”

It all moved quickly after that.

Kellan carried Arien to his room, dressed her in his t-shirt, and laid her on his bed.

He held her, wiping her tears as his own rolled down his face. Emily had never known her cousin to shed one.

God, Arien, I’m so fucking sorry, but I hope you can see how much this man loves you. Tanner. How much we all love you.

Victor pulled a syringe from his pocket. Within minutes, she was out.

The coroner’s van came and went.

And their world as they knew it went with it.

At two weeks old, Benjamin attended his mama’s funeral. A mama he’d never have the chance to know. His sister was a mother to him now.

Every day, Emily, Grams, and Kim went to the house to help however they could. Fending off visits from well-meaning neighbors. Making sure they got food in their bellies. Laundry and dishes. But it was Arien who cared for the baby.

“Leave her to it, Tanner.”

“That’s all she does, Auntie. If it weren’t for Benjie, she’d never get out of bed.”

“Arien just needs time. Trust me, everything’s gonna be okay.”

But Emily wasn’t so sure.

Her uncle walked around like a zombie, though hiding away upstairs or in his office, they hardly saw him at all.

The coroner ruled her cause of death undetermined. No one could say how Jennifer died.

“It’s a curse,” Matthew said.

Maybe it was.

---