Call Her Mine (Harmony Pointe #1)- Melissa Foster Page 0,95
take in.”
“Yeah,” was all Ben could manage. “Why didn’t you call me?”
“She didn’t tell anyone,” Brad said. “I didn’t even know about Janie until yesterday.”
“I don’t have close friends in LA, at least not friends I wanted to burden with this. And I guess I was in denial, trying to care for Janie and prove the doctors wrong. But it was becoming harder to focus, and my headaches were getting worse. I couldn’t fool myself any longer. I knew I couldn’t care for her, and I also knew it was unfair to think I could just show up and spring her on you, but other than Brad and Nelson, I’m pretty much alone in this world.”
Ben tried to process what she’d said, but he was still trying to wrap his head around her fate.
“The morning that I was going to see you,” she said, “I had a headache so debilitating, I couldn’t speak. I was drooling, my vision blurred, and all I kept thinking was that something could have happened to Janie. The headache didn’t fully subside, but it eased enough to drive, and that’s when I took her to your house. I was so afraid that I’d get hit with another one and not be able to explain, I left the note and waited down the block where I could see the front door. Once I knew you’d found her, I left town. I was heading back to LA, but I had a seizure in the parking lot of the airport. A nurse who was on her way to catch a plane saw me. I got lucky. She knew what to do to make sure I didn’t choke. After I came out of it and regained control, which seemed like hours later, she wanted to take me to a hospital, but I convinced her to call Brad, who lives in New York City. He and Nelson have been helping me ever since.”
“We didn’t know any of this,” Brad explained. “We didn’t know she had a baby, much less left her on your doorstep. We would have been there for her throughout her pregnancy, the birth, helped her care for the baby.”
“Her seizures have gotten worse, and yesterday she told us about Janie because she was afraid to drive herself here to see you,” Nelson explained.
Ben felt like he’d been gutted—for Caroline, for Bea, and for Brad and Nelson, too.
“I don’t want to take her from you, Ben.” Tears welled in her eyes. “I’m so sorry to do this to you. I knew you could afford to take care of her, though I wasn’t sure you would want her. But when we were together that night, the way you spoke of the woman you were in love with, and your family, I knew in my heart that if Janie had any chance of finding a loving home, it would be with you. I’m so thankful you took her in.”
Fighting tears, Ben reached for her hand. “Caroline, I’m so sorry. I’ll help in any way I can. Get you the best doctors—”
Tears slipped down her cheeks, and she said, “I’m grateful for your offer, but nothing can be done. I don’t have a lot of time left, but I’m glad to know Janie has a chance for a new beginning and that she’ll be loved.” Sobs stole her voice, and Brad wrapped his arms around her.
“I know, Car,” Brad said, giving Ben a look that told of his love for his friend and his grief over losing her.
Nelson pressed a kiss to Caroline’s head, and Brad stroked his cheek, giving him a reassuring nod. “Excuse me,” Nelson said, and then he went into the bathroom.
“I’m okay. I’m okay. I’m okay,” Caroline said, as if she were convincing herself. She wiped her eyes and sat up straighter, as if she practiced schooling her expression daily, and said, “I have medications to help, but I have only a few weeks left. I just want to see Janie one last time, to hold her, kiss her, smell her. I want to apologize to her and tell her how much I love her.”
Her trembling voice and damp eyes belied her steely facade. Ben felt his heart crumbling in on itself and said, “Of course. This afternoon?”
A laugh bubbled out of Caroline. She covered her mouth with her hand, but she couldn’t hide the elation in her eyes. “I’m so tired. Can we please do it tomorrow morning? Mornings are often better for me.”