Page 87 of Wild Hearts

“I don’t know,” I admit. I put my indicator on and do a U-turn in the direction of my hometown. “It doesn’t sound good, though.”

She reaches out and grabs my hand. We don’t speak on the drive back to the hospital, despite having so much to work through. We’re both lost in our own thoughts and I’m praying to God that Maribel will be okay. Shehasto be okay.

ALFONSO IS WAITINGfor us in the emergency room when we get there.

“Dad,” Lachy chokes out, gripping on to his father’s arm. “What’s going on? Where’s Mum?”

Jordan doesn’t say anything, but his fists are clenched by his side.

Alfonso pulls his sons in for a hug and my stomach drops. “My boys,” he says, as tears roll down his cheeks. “Your mama gave a good fight,benedica la sua anima, but it was her time. It was just her time.”

Ivy sinks into the nearest chair and Harley wraps his arm around her as she sobs onto his shoulder. Wren buries her face in my chest, while I just stare at my best mates, numbness creeping over my body.

Maribel had only been home for a couple of days. How could she have gone downhill so fast? I shake my head. It doesn’t make sense.

“Can we see her?” Lachy asks, wiping his nose with his sleeve.

“Of course,” Alfonso says. He signals a nurse who leads Lachy and a reluctant Jordan through the double doors.

I step forward and embrace Alfonso. “I’m so sorry,” I say, trying to control the tears that threaten to fall. “She was a good woman.”

He pats me on the back. “She was,” he agrees. “And she loved all of you.” He strokes Ivy’s cheek. “She wanted–” He pauses to clear his throat. “She wanted to spend a couple of days at home with her beautiful boys, and she got her wish.” He sniffs and wipes at his eyes.

“You mean, she knew?” I ask.

He nods. “Sì. But she didn’t want them to spend her final days mourning her.”

“Jesus Christ,” Harley mutters. He looks up at Alfonso in horror. “Sorry, but–” He shakes his head. “They’re going to be devastated.”

“Why did you let them come to Theo’s baptism?” I ask. “They should have been here. They should have been with Maribel.”

“It’s not what she wanted, Brady.” He pats me on the back. “She was at peace with her decision.”

Fuck.I push my hand through my hair. Everything that has happened in the last twenty-four hours pales in comparison to this. Harley’s right: this is going to absolutely gut Lachy and Jordan.

“Is there anything we can do for you, Mr. Rossi?” Wren’s quiet voice asks from behind me.

“Alfonso, please,” Jordan’s dad says softly. “You may have only been around for the summers but you’re like family,farfallina.”

Wren blushes and I wrap my arm around her, pressing a kiss to her temple.

“If you could put up a sign at the shop for us, that would be wonderful. We’ll be closed for a month.”

“Sure thing.” I nod. “We should let you get in there with your family. Tell the boys we’ll come by tomorrow.”

We each hug Alfonso, and Harley gives him Jordan’s keys before we make our way back out to the car park.

“What do we do now?” Harley asks.

I shrug. I have no idea. “I guess we should go past the Scoop and then we can go back to our place?”

No one argues, they just climb into my car. I glance back over at the hospital, wondering how the hell I’m going to help my mates through this.

---