Saving Grace

It had been hours since arriving and I had only seen Bree once, allowing the O'Callaghan's to be with her in privacy.

I sat in a chair down the hall from her room where I was sure her last hours fighting against her liver cancer were winding down.

I studied my phone and debated things in my head. Before I had a chance to brush it off like I had so many, many times before I punched the familiar numbers in and heard the dial tone as I held the technology to my ear.

I didn't know why, but I felt nervous. I wiped my clammy palms on the thighs of my jeans as I waited for an answer.

"Hello?"

I stopped breathing for a second at the bitter-sweet sound of her aged voice.

"Hello?" she repeated.

"Hi, Grandma," I said after collecting my straying thoughts.

"Amelia!? Oh my- How are you?" I smiled at her awed voice.

I reached back and shook out the loose waves in my hair. "I'm g-good. Really good. How- how are you?"

"Excellent! It's been so long since I've spoken to you."

I smiled, looking to my shoes as I hunched over. "I know. I've missed you."

"I've missed you too, dear. You should stop by sometime."

"I fully plan to once I get back."

"Get back?"

I sighed, forgetting that she had no idea what had been going on in my life. "Yeah, I'm in Arizona for a couple of weeks; it's a long story..." I said, not wanting to explain it to her.

I sat there for a few hours speaking to the grandmother I had forgotten about and left back in Massachusetts.

-----

I rubbed my eyes tiredly as I re-read the text that I was about to send Nick.

I'm sorry you haven't been able to get a hold of me. It's been crazy here. Can't talk now though - Lia.

Satisfied, I sent the message and tucked my phone in my pocket. Looking up, John was walking down the hospital corridor looking exhausted and defeated. I knew just by his body language that Bree was gone.

I rose, pulling the strap of my handbag onto my shoulder blade. "I'm so sorry, John," I whispered over the sounds of shoes clacking on the hard flooring and telephones ringing.

He shot me a weak smile. "Dad's taking Shane and Ross back home. We can leave now,"

I nodded but instead of walking, I held out my hand. He gave me a curious look. "I'll drive."

He looked reluctant but after a moment, he handed the jingling key loop over and we walked out in silence. I blinked back my tears as we went.

Upon returning back to the house, I picked up my bags that I had left in the foyer and dragged them back upstairs with John's assistance. I grabbed my pillow from the bed and a small blanket. "You can sleep here tonight," I said softly before padding across the carpeting that spread across his bedroom floor.

I plopped down on the sofa and fluffed my pillow before laying back to stare at the ceiling. I felt my phone go off in my pocket as I stared into the shadows of the night.

As long as you're okay, everything will work out, Beautiful. Call me when you get the chance. I love you- Nick.

I felt tears spring into my eyes as everything came rushing back to me:

Nick spilling coffee on me outside the coffee shop that we would later go to on every anniversary, the feeling I got when he called me for the first time, the sensation of our first kiss, and the first fight we had. I could remember our first make-up, and the late night phone calls that lasted until the sun rose. The look on Nick's face when I had gotten him the Fender guitar that he so desperately wanted for his birthday and the first night we had moved in together. I could still remember how excited the both of us had been when we signed the papers for our house, the parties we had attended together when it was just us and our friends getting together, and the sinking feeling that I felt when we began drifting apart.

Moisture was slowly leaking down my face as I heard the door open and shuffles of multiple people walking in. I knew that it was Jay, Ross and Shane. I wiped my tears away frantically before pretending to sleep in case they would happen to see me.

When nothing was heard for a few minutes afterward, I opened my eyes to find myself alone. Tears that I had been fighting spilled once again and I looked to my phone.

Okay, Nick.

I quickly sent it and shut my phone off, tossing it on the coffee table. I snuggled into my pillow and blanket before staring at the blank television.

Sleep was not going to come easily for me.