Page 89 of Roaring Fork Rockstar

“Tell me more about the Cloud Kingdom,” Luna asked as the nurse prepared her IV.

Holt launched into an elaborate tale about mystical creatures who could jump between puffy white clouds, his voice steady and calm as the medication began flowing through Luna’s veins. His stories had become our anchor—a bridge between the harsh reality of treatment and a world where anything was possible.

Hours later,after Luna had fallen asleep, the three of us—my father, Holt, and I—stood in the hallway outside her room. The treatment was complete, and now came the waiting, managing side effects, and the long hours of hospital life.

“I’ve arranged for a place for us to stay,” Holt said. “It’s right across the street. Two bedrooms, full kitchen.”

“That must have been expensive,” I protested. “I could have?—”

“Let me do this, Keltie,” he said softly. “Please.”

My father cleared his throat. “I think I’ll go check it out. Maybe rest a bit.”

I smiled at him. “Thanks, Dad.”

After he left with the keys Holt provided, exhaustion washed over me. “What if it’s worse than last time?”

Holt took my hand and kissed it. “We’ll help her through it.”

I looked through the window into Luna’s room, watching her chest rise and fall with each breath. “You helped her be brave today.”

“So did you, Keltie.”

I turned to face him fully, taking in the fatigue etched around his eyes and the worry lines on his forehead. “You should go rest too. You’ve been up since dawn.”

Holt shook his head. “I’m staying right here with both of you.”

“But—”

“No buts. I meant what I said to Luna. When it comes to the hard stuff, you lean on the people who love you.” His hand came up to cup my cheek. “And I love you both. So much.”

A nurse appeared in the hallway. “Ms. Marquez? Luna’s awake.”

Holt and I walked into the room together. Luna’s eyes were drowsy, but alert.

“Hey, Luna-bug,” I said, sitting beside her on the bed. “How are you doing?”

“Okay.” She looked past me to Holt. “IsAbuelostill here?”

“He’s resting at the place where we’re staying,” Holt explained. “It’s right across the street, so he can return anytime you want.”

Luna’s expression turned serious. “Are you staying with me tonight, Mommy?”

“Of course I am. I’m not going anywhere.”

Her gaze moved to Holt. “Will you stay too?”

“You can count on it,” he promised, pulling his chair closer to her bed.

Luna’s small hand reached out, grasping his larger one. “Good. Because I need both of you.”

These seven words hung in the air, crystallizing something I’d been feeling but couldn’t articulate—we had become a family.

Her eyes began to drift closed again, but her hands still held ours, creating a physical link between the three of us that mirrored the emotional one growing stronger each day.

“Sleep, baby,” I whispered. “We’ll be here when you wake up.”

“Promise?” she murmured, already half asleep.

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