Page 108 of Free to Run
She picks up the giraffe I just placed by her bed and hurls it at him. I laugh.
“What was that for, little girl?” Charlie roars.
“I have to cart all this, plus two brand-new babies home tomorrow, Charlie. Gifts couldn’t wait until then?” Cassidy wails.
Charlie shifts with the package in his hands. “Okay. If you don’t want your message and gifts from Ali until then, I suppose I can take them home.” He starts to make his way toward the door.
Still holding my niece, I block it. “Alison? That box is from Alison? You know where she is?”
“I think you need to see the video she sent me first,” Charlie says. Pulling his iPad from under the box, he moves over to the bed where Cassidy is sitting.
Still holding Laura to my chest, I think of her namesake, my mother, and pray for a miracle. I move over to the bed to stand behind Cassidy as she holds the device. My eyes are trained on the screen. “Whenever you’re ready, Cass.”
My sister’s trembling finger presses Play on the video. For a moment there’s nothing, and I’m a heartbeat away from choking Charlie for taunting us. But then I see her.
“Hey, everyone,” Alison says softly. She looks tired. She looks beautiful.
She looks like she’s been crying.
“I am so happy for both you and Caleb, Cassidy. This is the most joyous time in your life. Be blessed by every second. Jared said you had a little boy and a little girl. I know they’re going to grow up just as beautiful as their Mama and Daddy.
“I hope you don’t mind my intruding on family time to tell you how incredibly proud I am of you for being so strong, for never giving up hope, and for knowing that Caleb was the one for you. Look at what precious miracles you got for those dreams, Cass. I’m so proud. So proud.”
I watch as she blinks rapidly and clears her throat. At her next words, it’s me who can’t breathe.
“Keene must be over the moon with joy that you delivered safely. I know he was worried this whole time. Even though it was for reasons he and Caleb didn’t share right away, you have to admit, you probably felt better having both of them so close during your pregnancy. All the little worries disappeared when they were around. It was hard for you to lose control so fast, but they helped you through it. That’s what having an amazing husband and brother are for.
“You were right, you know? All those times you got on my case about your brother? Keene is…everything someone could wish for, and nothing they could ever dream of. I hate I held that dream in my hands and I lost it by being so careless. So foolish.
“Promise me you’ll convince him it wasn’t him or his actions, but it was me who was broken. Please, Cass. If there’s just one more thing I can ask, it’s that.
“There are things I’ll be back to share soon. Things I should have shared before I left. I just couldn’t leave my apology to you any longer. Not when your life is filled with so much joy.
“That’s all I want for you, Cass, is for you to always smile. To always be happy. To always feel the same joy you did the moment your children were placed in your arms.”
I watch as my Alison blows a kiss at the video with tears cascading down her cheeks.
“All my love, Cass and Caleb. And congratulations again.”
The screen goes black.
The room is silent. I’m choking on emotional overload since I heard her voice for the first time thirty-six hours ago. I can’t begin to speak.
“Cass? Here’s her gift to you,” Charlie says softly. He’s holding out a plaid bag with white tissue paper. An odd choice for a baby gift.
Cassidy immediately drops the iPad in her lap and wipes her eyes. Reaching for the bag, she pulls out the tissue. Inside is a notecard with the letterhead of Watson, Rubenstein, and Dalton printed on it.
Mama and I used to walk around antique stores all the time. It wasn’t until I was shopping for your bundles of joy I remembered that. Thank you for giving me that goodness of my past—XO, A
Inside are delicate silver baby cups. Obviously hand etched, one is for a boy and the other is for a girl. “They’re so beautiful.” Cassidy turns her face up to mine. “Keene, you can use these to find her, can’t you?”
I damn sure can. I’m about to tell her so, when I hear Charlie say, “I don’t think he’ll have to.”
My head snaps toward him. He’s holding out a long flat box toward me.
“Give me my niece, Marshall, and I’ll give you the box with your name on it,” Charlie jokes.
Walking on unsteady legs, I move around the bed. Charlie puts the box at the foot so he can accept little Laura into his arms. “There’s a baby girl,” he coos. Nodding toward the package, he says, “Go ahead.”
