Reckless Abandon (November Blue, #2)(64)

“November?” He sniffs and drags the heel of his hand under his eyes.

I nod, and before I know it, I’m racing toward him with tears streaming down my face. Kneeling next to him, I pull his head to my

shoulder while we both cry for a few minutes.

“Pray with me.” He resumes his position with his forehead pressed into his clenched fists.

“I, uh,” I clear my throat, “have only been to a church once ...” I make a note to ask my parents what the hell that is all

about.

“Just beg for Rae to be OK, Ember. I just need you to beg with me. She hit the ground hard, it’s really bad ...” A growl tries

to hide his sob but fails. His shoulders shake the entire pew full of fear.

Silently, I start begging.

A few minutes of prayer feels like an eternity in the sorrowful silence of a hospital chapel. My mind wanders to all those who have

come through these doors and left with prayers answered...and to those unanswered.

“We should go back down the hall.” Bo stands and grabs my hand, leading me out of the chapel. I look over my shoulder and stare

at the large wooden cross one more time before the door closes.

Please.

Rounding the corner, we find David and Regan have moved to some chairs that have opened up in the hallway. Sweat has formed between

my palm and Bo’s, but he just grips tighter each time my hand slides.

As we’re about to sit, a surgeon comes through two large doors at the end of the hall. He must be on Rae’s case, because Regan

and Bo nearly run down the hall to meet him, while David and I sit back and observe anxiously. I can only see the doctor’s face,

but that’s all I need.

In one blink, everything moves in slow motion like it does in the movies, and my ears shut down. Regan’s hands tear through his

hair as his presses his forehead into the wall. A breath later I see David race from his chair toward Bo, who falls to his knees at

the doctor’s feet. I feel a hand around my arm, leading me to the nearest chair as it all comes crashing down around me.

She’s gone.





Chapter Twenty-Nine


I shake free from the nurse trying to be helpful in my state of shock and run toward Bo and Regan. David is trying to pull Bo off

the floor.

“No! Let me see her!” Hoarse wailing rips through Bo’s throat.

I stop behind Regan and place my hand cautiously on his back. He slaps it away and sinks to the floor with his forehead still

against the wall, tears trailing his descent.

“Oh shit, they’ve got to be out of their mind,” David mumbles, standing to address something behind me.

I turn to see a small cluster of reporters gathered where I was just sitting. David leaves Bo on the floor in a heap and yells

obscenities into the crowd behind me, rubbing the tears from his anguished face. A nurse leads Bo to a private room off the end of

the hallway, and a second nurse helps Regan. I’m left face-to-face with the surgeon. I wonder, briefly, how many times he’s had a

front-row seat to this scene, how many people have been brought to their knees by his words.

“Ma’am, are you family?” His gentle voice seems out of place. I look around and realize he’s addressing me. I shake my head,

unable to speak. “I’m Doctor Mashburn. I won’t be able to speak to Mr. Cavanaugh until the initial shock wears off...I need to

speak to a family member to discuss the next steps.”

“There’s no one left.” With those words, a cascade of reality streams down my face, and I’m knocked off-balance by dizziness.

Dr. Mashburn steadies me; suddenly I’m weeping onto his scrubs.

There’s no one left.

Looking back, I see David talking with security guards. He catches my eye, nods to the security guard, and walks toward us.

“Dr. Mashburn...he, um...needs to talk to family.” That’s all I can manage before sobs take over.



*



An hour later, I’m sitting next to Regan in the tiny grief room off the hallway—that’s my name for it. If it has another title,

it’s wrong. David and Bo went behind the double doors to say goodbye to Rachel before facing the world. And, the world is waiting.

News of Rachel Cavanaugh’s death has spread like wildfire through the streets of Concord. Reporters are snaking around, and the

phones have been ringing off the hook at the nurses’ desk. No one is allowed on the floor we’re on, thanks to David’s stern

words with the security guards. Monica and Josh are on their way. David asked the security guards to meet them at the doctors’

entrance and escort them to the grief room when they arrive.

“Regan,” I whisper. He rubs his face with his hands and looks at the wall.

“There was nothing I could do. The bees came out of nowhere ...” His eyes clench tight, as though he’s trying to wring the

memory from his brain.

“I know,” my voice breaks as fresh tears spill, “I’m so sorry.” My shoulders shake as I bow into my hands.

“Ember!” Monica runs into the room and kneels in front of me. I cry harder, meeting her on the floor. Her arms anchor around my