Chapter 20

Cassie

It took me a few minutes to realize we were all there but our kids weren't, and I freaked. Parker quickly let me know that all of the kids were at our house, two houses away, with our neighbor, the one from between the houses. It hadn't taken long for us to make friends with the people sandwiched between us, and they were a really nice couple. They had to be to be able to put up with our kids running back and forth between the houses. Like everyone else, they'd really come to love my grandma. It was impossible not to get close to her. She treated everyone like one of hers. That was her way.

James had called our dad, who had left work to hurry to be with our mom. He was the one that told her. It needed to be that way. I wanted to talk to her. I wanted to thank her for calling me. I'd thought it was ridiculous when she'd done it, but I didn't anymore. If it weren't for her call, I wouldn't have been there with my grandma. I wouldn't have been holding her and telling her I loved her. She would have been alone.

Dad sent James a text just as they were leaving their house in Michigan to let us know they were on their way, and I began counting the hours and then minutes until they'd be there with us. I needed my mom, and I knew she needed us too.

“I'm going to go over and get the baby,” James said after a while, heading for the front door. “Sammie needs to feed him.”

“I'm sorry,” I said, just as he reached for the handle.

“For what?” he asked.

“I'm sorry I had them call you,” I answered. “I told them to call Parker, but I knew he was at Sammie's place with the kids. You were the only one I thought of. I shouldn't have done that to you.”

“No,” he said, as he crossed the room quickly and wrapped his arms around me. “I'm glad you did, Cassie. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. I needed to be here for you, me, and grandma. I wouldn't have wanted anyone else with you. You are my sister, and I love you. I will always be here for you. I got to see her. I was able to say goodbye, not the way you were, but still. Don't you ever be sorry for calling me. When you need me, I will always be there.”

The door opened not long after James had left, and I held my breath. Then I saw my mom, and I hurried toward her. She had tears streaming down her face, and my dad was walking next to her with his arms around her.

“Cassie,” she cried out, as she pulled me in and hugged me. “I didn't know. I swear I didn't. I never would have left her. I'm so sorry you had to see her like that. I'm so sorry, baby.”

“Mom,” I said. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I'm glad you called me, so damn glad.”

“You were with her?” she asked, as her tears came faster. “She wasn't alone.”

“She wasn't alone,” I said, as I walked over to the couch with her and sat down right next to her. “I was right there. She was in my arms. I'm so glad I was here.”

“What happened?” she asked.

“She just looked tired, Mom,” I said. “She told me how proud she was and how much she loved us. Then she said she was ready to be with grandpa. I told her she wasn't. I tried to keep her awake until they got here. I swear I did. She was in my arms, and then she was gone. I'm sorry I couldn't help. I didn't know what to do. They pulled me away from her, but they couldn't help her. I yelled for them to help her, but they couldn't.”

By the time I was done, I was crying just as hard as she was.

“Cassie,” both Sammie and Parker said at the same time.

Sammie tried to pull me away from my mom, but I wouldn't let her. There was no way I was leaving her too. I wouldn't let them make me.

“No,” I said. “I'm staying right here. I love you, Mom.”

“What did they do?” my mom asked. “Where is she?”

“James knows,” I said. “They called him, and he came to be with me. He made me sit on the couch. Then he went to see her. I don't know what happened. I cried hard, so damn hard. Then I fell asleep.”

“James,” she said, as she looked around. “Where are the kids?”

“At the neighbors,” Parker said. “James just went to get the baby.”

Lucy came over and sat down next to my mom, while Sammie stayed on the floor in front of us.

“I'm so sorry,” Lucy said. “I can't believe this.”

“I shouldn't have left,” my mom said.

“You didn't know,” I said. “None of us did. I almost think she thought she'd be alone. She was so tired and weak. I begged her not to leave, Mom. I promise I did. She told me it was my job to keep our family together.”

My tears began falling just as hard as they had been earlier, when I watched them move around grandma.

“She made me promise,” I sobbed.

“Cassie,” Parker said.

“I miss her so much,” I cried. “I messed up. I never should have pushed you all away. I lost so much time with her.”

“I know,” Parker said, as he leaned down in front of me and took my hands in his. “But you came back. At least you came back. You were making up for that time. You saw her almost every day.”

“But I miss her,” I said, as I leaned forward and buried my face in his shirt.

“I know you do, princess, but I need you to calm down,” he said.

I turned to my mom and wrapped my arms around her again.

“She's really gone,” she cried.

“I can't believe it,” I whispered through my sobs.

“I'll be back,” Parker said, as he moved to stand.

“No,” I gasped out, as I reached out with one hand to grab him. “Don't leave.”

“I'm going to call your doctor,” he said.

“Her doctor,” my mom said.

“She's pregnant,” Sammie said.

“What?” my mom asked.

“Grandma knew,” I said. “She figured it out months ago.”

“Cassie,” my mom said.

“You know what I told her?” I asked, and she shook her head. “I told her I wasn't ready to deal with Lance.”

“Women,” Lance mumbled from under his breath.

“Cassie,” my mom said, and through her tears, I heard a tiny laugh.

“We found out today that we're having a girl,” I said, and my dad had come over to join us. “I told her. She was happy, Mom. She kept telling me she loved us all. Then she was gone.”

“Congratulations!” my mom said, as she looked between Parker and me. “Another baby.”

“It's grandma's fault,” Parker said, and I laughed, remembering again about the conversation I'd had with her.

“What?” my mom asked, as she gave Parker a strange look.

“She wanted a bigger gap,” he said.

“Oh my,” Lauren said, as she let out a laugh from across the room. “She totally did. I'd forgotten all about that.”

My mom stayed in my arms, as each person in the room rattled off one thing after the next that my grandma had said or done, and before I knew it, we were all laughing, including my mom. Grandma wasn't even there, but she was still keeping us entertained and together.