Page 90 of Dancing in the Rain

This was a tough decision for anyone, never mind a child. It was one thing they hadn’t discussed. Finally, Chloe said, “Yes.”

Peyton nodded and they returned to the room. She glanced at Drew over her shoulder. “Will you stay?”

He nodded.

Chloe climbed onto the bed as she often did and lay down beside her mom. Peyton sat and held Sara’s hand. And they were with her.

“She’s gone,” the nurse said softly a while later.

Peyton nodded, the pressure behind her eyes and cheekbones so intense, her eyes so full of tears the room was a blur. Her heart felt crushed in her chest. Chloe’s face was wet and red, her lips trembling as she gave her mom a last kiss on the cheek. “Bye, Mommy.”

Peyton almost lost it then, but held on to her control by her fingernails.

“Stay as long as you want,” the nurse said. “As long as you need.”

Peyton carefully laid Sara’s hand on the bed and turned her attention to Chloe, rounding the bed to stroke her hair and hold her shoulders. “I don’t want to go,” Chloe sobbed. “I don’t want to go!”

Peyton sucked in a shaky breath.

“Maybe she’s not really dead,” Chloe said, desperation in her voice. “Maybe she’s just sleeping. How do they know? Maybe it’s not true. We can’t leave her!”

Oh, God. Pain knifed through Peyton’s chest.

The door opened and Drew appeared. He took in what was happening, his eyebrows sloped down in a sad slant, his mouth tight.

Peyton met his eyes and nodded. He joined her and she stepped aside.

“Chloe.” He touched Chloe’s shoulder.

“She might not be dead,” Chloe sobbed.

Drew hesitated, then reached out and picked her up. He turned her in to his arms, cradling her head into his shoulder, and she cried in racking, heartrending sobs as he carried her out of the room.

Peyton closed her eyes and tipped her head back, then took a last look at her sister. “Bye, Sara,” she whispered. “Never forgotten.”

Chapter 19

“I hate leaving you two.”

Peyton bit her lip as she handed Aunt Laura a cup of coffee.

Her dad’s sister had come from California for the funeral. Now that was done, she was flying back to San Francisco tomorrow.

“I wish I was closer to you.” Aunt Laura picked up the mug. With her trim figure and hair in a stylish cut and most likely expertly colored, she didn’t look the fifty-nine years old she was. “California is so far. Since your mom and dad passed, I’ve wished I could do more for you. Especially since Sara got sick.”

“It’s okay, Aunt Laura.” Peyton tried to smile reassuringly. “We’re grown women now.”

“I know. And you’re amazing. Your parents were so proud of both of you. Your job in New York—working with all those high-profile businesses. And Sara being a lawyer…and such a great mom.” She sighed. “This is so unfair.”

“It is.” Peyton swallowed. She’d been struggling to keep her emotions under control all week, since Sara had passed away. Being so busy had helped.

The last week had been a blur, preparing Sara’s funeral. She’d left detailed instructions of what she wanted with her usual practical planning. Peyton still wasn’t sure how Sara had had the strength to do the things she had. Planning your own funeral had to rank right up there as one of the most horrible things in life to deal with.

There’d been a lot to do to carry out Sara’s wishes. Having something to focus on kept her busy, and to her surprise, Drew had been there to help. She wasn’t sure why that surprised her, other than this wasn’t exactly a fun time and he really didn’t have to be there. But he was. He’d stepped up to do so much, often without even being asked, and his broad shoulders had been dampened by tears more than once, between her and Chloe.

She’d been dealing with Aunt Laura and other family who’d come from out of town and friends who wanted to help. People she didn’t even know—coworkers of Sara’s, parents of Chloe’s friends, old friends of her parents—stopped by with food and cards and flowers. They had so much food in the fridge Peyton wouldn’t have to cook a meal for the next year. But the thoughtfulness touched her.

She’d also had to meet with Sara’s attorney about probating her will. There were still a million things to be done with credit cards, bank accounts, investments, and life insurance.

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