Path to Deciduous (Sequel to Road to Evergreen) | #Wattys2018

t w e n t y - n i n e

Song for this chapter:

Say you love- Jessie Ware
***

"I know. I was there. I saw the great void in your soul, and you saw mine." - Sebastian Faulks
***

Adam's P.O.V

My phone rang that morning. And I wish it didn't. I'm sitting here, his hand in mine as I watch the tube pinched in his skin transmit fluids to his body.

"Hello, this is Tara from North Hill Hospital. I'm calling from Alain Reindl's phone. Is this Adam Reindl?"

"Is he all right?"

"I'm calling to let you know that your father had a heart attack early this morning. He's in a stable condition."

After that, I just grabbed my keys and went straight to the hospital, blinded. He's the only family I have left. Losing him means I'm alone. I know Lesley is there and she is family now. But it's not the same. It will never be the same. I need him.

A knock on the door jolts me and I watch as Lesley peeks from her head from the door.

"Hey," she says. "I got some snacks." My eyes fall to the tray of wrapped up sandwiches and water.

"I'm not hungry." I shrug her off and she sighs in return. She sits beside me, as she rubs her tiny hand on my tensed shoulders.

"He's going to be okay," she whispers.

"How do you know that?"

She smiles. "Because Adam Reindl, life took a lot of good things from us and it's time for life to return them. This will be its first exchange."

That girl just knows what to say. Without even trying. I open my arms. "Come here," I order. She crawls on my lap and I swallow her whole. I let my eyes shut and I regret it as I feel the burning sensation. But before drifting away to a nap, the door jolts wide open. My eyes dart right up locking with Lucian's. I let go of Lis as she stands up, both fazed.

Without acknowledging us, he runs straight in and takes his hand in Dad's. His jaw tightens. "How is he?" He says without breaking his stare from Dad.

I don't say anything. How can I? Why am I feeling rage toward him?

"Stable," Lesley replies.

"Is he in a coma?" I can hear his concern behind his voice. But he isn't concerned. He let a girl commit suicide just like his mother did. And after all this time, I thought it rubbed off at him. My mother used to tell me that all you have is each other. I was ten back then and I believed her. A fucking waste of time.

"He's under medication. The doctors are afraid if they disconnect the tube, he won't be able to wake up or even breath on his own."

"So?" He arches an eyebrow. "What does that mean?"

She sighs. "We wait."

"I don't think waiting is such a good tool for you." He scowls.

She crosses her arms. "How would you know? Patience isn't a key to your techniques." She spits out the last part and I smirk. My fiancé can fight.

My fiancé.

"Last time I checked Lesley, you weren't too hesitant to judge. In fact, you were so blinded that Adam has you all wrapped up in his fingers and you don't even know."

"Oh, fuck off, Lucian." I shrug him off. I planned on telling her about her father. And the more I push the subject away the faster it will come back to bite me in the ass.

Lesley makes a face. "Just spit it out already."

He paces between Dad and I and then settles on Lesley. "I don't want to do it in front of my father. I respect him. And I don't hide things."

"Oh, really?" She challenges. "You didn't hide the fact that you lead one of your victims to suicide," she sarcastically says.

He plants a kiss on Dad's forehead and steps aside. "Find a better argument from this. I'm sick of it." His face reads rage. "My lawyer will contact yours soon. We want to offer a settlement."

"And what does your side offer? No jail time?" I push.

Lucian makes a face.

"You really want me to go to jail. Don't you?"

I smirk and lean back on my chair. Lesley is standing beside me. She had to wear yoga shorts today. I groan.

"Honestly, if you had nothing to do with it, let me know. You'd save a lot of time and money." I lean forward. "And next time, have an ounce of respect for my fiancé. Now go. Leave. Get out."

He nods and steps back, walking away. Lesley glances at me as she offers a smile of pity. I sigh and rubs my eyes, exhausted.

***

As I drive back home, I notice she's quite. Way too quite. I lick my finger and place it on her bare thigh as I make a sizzling sound. I remove my finger instantly. "Shit, you're too hot."

She stares at me, taking off guard but when she realize what I just did she bursts into laughter. We need to loosen up the tension that's been building between us. I know she might not have noticed it, but I sure as hell did. Our morning routine is silent. We head to work, both of us in our separate ways and return home to sleep. She seems as if she can't wait to get away from me. Maybe to even see Kyan. I don't know what happened after my outrage but there better not be more. I invited him to my proposal, not because I give two shits about him. But for Lesley. She cares, so I care. As simple as that.

As I stare at her, seeming lost in her thoughts, my inside winces. It's becoming a routine and I'm not going to keep tagging along. So I make a left turn instead of a right.

She sighs and leans back. "Stop for pizza."

"Pizza?" I arch an eyebrow.

"And maybe some beer." When I don't reply she arches an eyebrow back at me. "You're going to the tree house and I'm starving. Pretty sure the only grocery story is a mile away."

I look straight ahead and smile. Not because she's adorable. But because she said exactly what I planned to do.