Page 191 of The Stolen Moments Trilogy

Emilia is so nervous that she looks like she might be sick. “It’ll be fine, Minx,” I whisper. “This is everything we’ve been hoping for.”

She nods and presses a kiss to her dad’s cheek. John tightens his grip on her hand and smiles at her, but I see the worry in his eyes. It’s been three weeks since he was hospitalized, and he’s finally been given permission to go through with the kidney transplantation, but considering his health, it’s far riskier than it would otherwise be.

Emilia blinks, tears rapidly gathering in her eyes, and my heart clenches painfully. I hate seeing her like this. I wrap my arm around her waist and hold her tightly. She’s trembling, her skin cold.

“We’ll see you in just a couple of hours, John,” I say, and he nods at me. He lifts Emilia’s hand to his lips and presses a kiss to the back of her hand.

I turn to escort Emilia out before she starts crying, but John stops me. “Carter, a word please,” he says. I nod at him and Emilia frowns. John shakes his head at her. “Just a couple of minutes, Princess. Like Carter said, I’ll see you later. Don’t worry too much, okay? These doctors all know what they’re doing.”

Emilia looks at me, and I can tell she doesn’t want to leave, but she nods nonetheless. She walks to the door and turns back around, taking another good look at her dad before walking out.

John exhales, the bravado leaving him the second the door closes behind Emilia. I smile at him, but I fail to hide my own worries.

“Look after her,” John says, his tone pleading. “If I don’t make it… Carter, please. If I don’t end up waking up again, please take care of my little girl. Don’t let her be alone. Don’t let her push you away.”

I shake my head and sit down beside his bed. “You’ll wake up, John. Everything is going to be fine. Don’t you worry.”

John shakes his head and grabs my hand. “My health isn’t what it was even just a few weeks ago. Even if the chance of something going wrong isn’t that big, the chance is still there. Promise me you’ll take care of my daughter. Promise me you’ll be there if she ends up having to bury me.”

My chest feels tight as I inhale, a small shiver of panic restricting my lungs. I tighten my grip on his hand and try my best to smile at him. “I will, John. I’m never letting her go again. I’ll be there for her, no matter what.”

John nods at me as the nurses walk into the room to wheel his bed away. My stomach is in knots as I walk out to join Emilia. I need to be strong for her today, but I’m barely hanging on by a thread myself. She looks at me and I open my arms up for her. She slams into me and I close my arms around her tightly. Her breathing is shaky and I rub her back gently, my lips pressed to the top of her head.

I look around the empty waiting room and hold Emilia tighter. I can’t help but be disappointed that my parents and Kate didn’t show up today. I thought the relationship between Emilia and them was slowly mending, but it looks like I was wrong.

Emilia presses her forehead against my chest and I thread my hands through her hair. “He’ll be fine, won’t he?” she murmurs, and I nod.

“Of course, Minx. He’s got the very best doctors money can buy. We’ve done everything we can. It’ll be okay. In just a few hours he’ll be teasing you about your ugly crying face.”

She huffs, a small smile on her face, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

“Your face is an ugly crying face,” she says, pouting, and I laugh.

“I love you,” I whisper.

Her smile melts away slowly, replaced by a look of sincerity. She slides her arms up, around my neck, and rises to her tiptoes. “I love you more,” she whispers, her lips brushing against mine.

I tighten my grip on her hair and kiss her harder, needing her with every fiber of my being. Our kiss is slow, intense, every emotion poured into it. It’s need, it’s desire, it’s everything.

I drop my forehead to hers, both of us breathing hard, both of us emotional. “Everything is going to be fine,” I repeat, and she nods.

Emilia and I stay like that for hours, just in each other’s arms, neither one of us speaking more than a few words. It’s like we’re both holding our breath.

Emilia’s grip on my hand tightens when the doctors walk in. They smile, and we both slump in our seats.

“Mr. Clarke, Ms. Parker, everything went well,” Dr. Davis says. He turns to Emilia and smiles. “Your father has asked for you already. Please allow me to escort you to his room.”

Emilia bursts into tears and I smile as I pull her closer. I press a kiss to her temple as I thank the doctors, and they all grin. Emilia is a wreck as we’re led to her father’s hospital room, and though I’m keeping it together quite well, internally I’m just as much of a mess.

John is smiling as we walk in, and Emilia starts crying even harder. John laughs at her, just like I thought he would, and holds his hand out for her. She grabs it and lifts it to his face, and John smiles at her, tears in his eyes.

“Princess, there’s nothing I won’t do to spend more years with you.”

Emilia nods, her hands trembling. “I know, Daddy. I’m never going to leave you alone again. I won’t leave again. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry we lost so many years. I’ll stay with you forever.”

John looks at me and bursts out laughing. “Not if Carter has anything to say about it,” he says, winking at Emilia.

She blushes, and I know we’re going to be just fine.

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