Chapter 28

The normally twenty-minute drive to the hospital in Somers Gully only took nine minutes, but each one was excruciatingly long as Eloise wondered what would be waiting for them when they arrived.

Nate’s big palm settled on top of her thigh once he’d parked his car. “Ready?”

She shook her head, unshed tears catching on the ends of her lashes. What if …

“Joanie will be fine.”

Hearing him use her grandmother’s nickname when he usually didn’t brought on more tears. How could Nate promise that? Fragments of what Mary had said over the phone had been bouncing around Eloise’s mind the whole time they’d chased the rising sun to the hospital.

Suspected heart attack.

Found her in the kitchen.

Hit her head when she fell.

All that added up to bad, bad, bad. Eloise wiped her eyes with the sleeve of the oversized jumper Nate had tugged over her head when her arms wouldn’t work as she tried to get dressed, and different smells surrounded her. Nate’s cologne, the hint of a bonfire lingering on the cotton. Tangible reminders of how much her life had changed in only a few weeks.

And it might be about to change forever in the very worst way.

“Come on, Tiger.” Nate unclipped Eloise’s seat belt and gave her hand one more squeeze. “I’ll be with you the whole time.”

* * *

It was worsethan Eloise had imagined.

Joanie’s small frame was dwarfed by the hospital bed and monitors. Her eyes were closed, an oxygen tube under her nose. Eloise’s steps faltered. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Her grandmother was barely knocking on the door of her seventies. Anyone who spent more than five minutes in her company knew Joanie was an enigma.

But right now? She looked like a frail old lady. Her faded pink hair was flat, her skin sallow except for the large purple bruise peeking out from underneath the bandage on her temple.

Nate’s hand settled on Eloise’s back, and he guided her forward into the otherwise empty room. Where were her parents? Charlie and Sera?

“Why don’t you sit down and I’ll find everyone.” Nate nudged her towards the chair next to the window.

Sitting was the last thing Eloise wanted to do. She wanted to see Joanie’s doctors, hug her parents, blink her eyes, wake up from this nightmare. Last night had been the best night of her life. How cruel was the universe to immediately follow it with this? Eloise wiped her eyes, not trusting herself to speak.

“C’mere.” Nate wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. She went willingly, her body moulding against his with a new intimacy after everything they’d shared in the last few weeks, especially overnight. Nate’s voice was quiet and soothing. Like a warm blanket on a cold night. Designed to ward off a chill and protect her. Eloise wanted to hide inside it and pretend everything was fine. That they could be like this forever.

A noise outside the door distracted her, and she lifted her head. Mary and Michael entered the room, each holding a cup of takeaway coffee, followed by Charlie and a woman in a white lab coat. Her blonde hair was pulled into a ponytail, and funky orange glasses were perched on her nose.

“Darling, thank goodness you’re here.” Mary rushed forward, and Eloise untangled herself from Nate.

“What happened?” she asked.

The doctor looked around the cramped room, lips pinched, brows pulling low when she recognised Nate. “It’s family only in here, folks.”

“I’ll wait outside,” Nate whispered, squeezing her hand.

Eloise’s grip on Nate tightened. The warmth of his palm against hers was all that was stopping her from totally losing the plot. If he left, she’d crumble. “No. He’s family.”

Charlie’s gaze lingered on Nate and Eloise’s clasped hands.

“Okay, then. ECG and bloods have confirmed it was a small heart attack,” the blonde doctor said.

All the air in the room evaporated, and Eloise swayed a little on the spot.

“I’ve got you,” Nate whispered, pulling her into his arms again.

“What happens next?” Michael asked.

“We’re going to keep her in for monitoring and organise an appointment with a cardiologist.”

This time, Eloise found her voice. “And then?”

“She’ll need to make some changes to her lifestyle. Follow a heart healthy diet, steer clear of alcohol and make sure she stays active. The specialist will explain more.”

“What about the wedding?” Charlie asked.

Eloise whipped a glare at him. Was he serious? Who gave a damn about his wedding right now?

Charlie held his hands up. “Calm down. I didn’t mean it like that.” He shifted his attention back towards the doctor. “I’m getting married on the weekend. Will Joanie be able to come?”

“Let’s see how the next few days go.”

An awkward silence descended on the room after the doctor answered a few more questions from Mary and then left.

“Which one of you suckers is going to draw the short straw and tell me I’ve got to give up booze?” Joanie rasped.

This time the tears sliding down Eloise’s cheeks were happy ones.

* * *

It was alwaysobvious when Nate was being watched. First, the back of his neck would get all prickly. Then his chest would tighten as he tried—and failed—to covertly decipher who had spotted him. Thankfully, it didn’t happen as frequently as it did in America, but as anyone who had spent any time in the public eye could attest, there were always times when you just weren’t in the mood. Or it wasn’t appropriate, like right now as he waited for his order at the coffee shop on the bottom level of the Somers Gully Base Hospital. His gaze swept the room again, eyes locking on the tall man wearing jeans and a UCLA jumper near the door. This was the part Nate had always struggled with. What if he was wrong? Because what was he meant to do? Acknowledge the person? Smack a smile on his face and switch on the part of his personality he liked the least? That would encourage more contact, which he had no patience for right now. Eloise needed him.

Because he was part of her family.

Nate paused. Dipped his chin to his chest and broke eye contact with the stranger across the room. He could pretend he’d always thought of Eloise as family because Wattle Junction was kind of like a huge family. And she was his best friend’s sister.

But this was different.

Even though he’d gone into their arrangement with his eyes wide open, he’d underestimated how much it was going to hurt to watch her leave and chase after her dream. She’d become a part of his life in all the big and small ways. Every moment with her was automatically the best part of his day.

Someone cleared their throat and Nate sighed. Damn it. He blinked when he realised who was in front of him.

Charlie.

“So …” His best friend folded himself into the seat next to Nate. That was a loaded opener if ever Nate had heard one.

“You and Eloise, huh?”

Nate slid his gaze towards Charlie. What was the right response here? It wasn’t like Charlie hadn’t known they were spending time together. For God’s sake, everyone within a fifty-kilometre radius of Wattle Junction knew she’d been staying at his place. Just because they’d chosen to avoid disclosing what was really going on didn’t mean there hadn’t been a lot of questions. But lying to his best mate wasn’t an option either. “Yeah,” was all Nate said.

“Looks pretty serious.”

Nate’s feelings were so far past ‘serious’ that it was nothing more than a tiny, microscopic dot in the rear-view mirror. He dragged his hand through his hair and swallowed a yawn. Last night hadn’t involved much sleeping, and when he added the stress and worry from this morning to it all, he was exhausted. It was a miracle Eloise was still standing, really. But he didn’t want to talk about that now, so he redirected the conversation and hoped Charlie would take the bait. “Says the man about to get married.”

Charlie offered him a rueful smile. “Yeah, that shit’s pretty serious. It’s come around quick.”

A sudden thought occurred to Nate. He’d been a rubbish best man and friend lately, distracted by Eloise and everything that was going on with his books and Jemima Jenkins. “How are you feeling about it all?”

Charlie stretched his legs out in front of him, crossing his ankles. “Honestly? I can’t fucking wait for it to be over. All I want is for Sera to be my wife, but this thing has morphed into such a production. The amount of time I’ve spent talking about the different shades of white this week is astronomical.”

Nate hid his smile behind a hand. “Sounds like a lot, man.”

“And now Joanie …” Charlie’s voice wavered.

Nate jumped in. “She’s going to be fine. That woman is indestructible.”

“But what if she can’t come to the wedding? Postponing’s not an option. There are so many people here for it.”

“Listen”—Nate waited until Charlie looked up—“let’s worry about what we can control right now. What else can I help with?”

“Maybe squat a little in the pictures. And look less manly, too. I knew asking you to be my best man would bite me on the ass.”

A server called Nate’s name and both men twisted to look at the counter. Two trays of coffees were waiting.

“I meant what I said before, you know,” Charlie said as they walked over to collect the drinks.

“I’ll trim my beard, but I’m not crouching.” Nate’s attempt at a joke fell flat, confirming his suspicions about where this conversation was headed from the earnest look on Charlie’s face.

His friend shook his head. “About you and Eloise. It’s good. I know I’ve been an asshole lately, but that’s only because I got so caught up in keeping Sera happy and trying to convince her parents that her marrying me—this average guy from the other side of the world who can’t offer her even one one hundredth of what they have—isn’t a huge fucking mistake that I forgot to check in on the other people I love. I’ve seen the way you look at her. You always smile more when she’s around. And when you defended her to Ryan …” Charlie paused, his gaze drifting to the ceiling above them. “It was exactly how I’d want her partner to act. I also know you’ll never get in the way of her dreams. Maybe you two will be next. Our kids will be even closer than best friends. They could be cousins.”

Nate stared down at his coffee. “Mate …” He trailed off, unsure of what to say to Charlie, who raised his eyebrows.

“Oh, so it’s not like that? Are you just casually boning my sister?”

It was a miracle Nate didn’t drop the coffees. Hearing what he and Eloise had shared be described so casually sent his heart thundering. “It’s not like that. It’s complicated. With her exchange and everything.”

“Long distance sucks but when it’s with the right person?” Charlie rested his hand on Nate’s shoulder. “Nothing’s too hard with the right person, mate. Come on, we should get back.”

* * *

Three coffeesand several hours later, Nate was on his way back from the bathroom and about to push through the partially open door of Joan’s room when raised voices made him pause, his hand hovering over the metal handle.

“I’m fine!” Joan said.

“Joanie, the doctor said you had to stay overnight.” Eloise’s calming social worker tone was working overtime.

“Mum—” and there was Mary. His presence wouldn’t help, so Nate pulled out his phone to reply to Garrett’s emails about their upcoming meeting with Jemima Jenkins.

“You’re not fine. You just had a heart attack. That’s the opposite of fine, Joanie,” Charlie chipped in.

“Only a little one. Can someone hand me my bag?”

“Joanie. Stop. Please. Just stay tonight and we’ll see what the doctor says tomorrow,” Eloise said.

“Why aren’t you busy practising making me great-grandchildren?”

“Joanie!” Eloise groaned.

Nate stopped typing, his ears pricking up.

“What? If I’m on my way out, I’d like to at least meet them.”

“Oh my God.” Eloise’s loud sigh was so pronounced Nate would’ve heard it even if the door was closed.

He breathed out slowly.

“What?” Joan harrumphed. “That man could get a woman pregnant just by looking at her. No need to get married either. Those days are over. You wouldn’t need to have some ridiculous, big shindig. Don’t look at me like that, Charlie. There’s been more fanfare for your wedding than an Olympic games.”

“You’re getting ahead of yourself, Joanie. And you’re meant to be resting,” Eloise said.

“Does Nate not want children?”

“I don’t know, Joanie. We haven’t talked about any of that.”

“As I lie here on my deathbed?—”

“Mum!” Mary exclaimed.

“What happened to being fine? A little heart attack?” Eloise said at the same time.

“—you’d deny me the peace of knowing my beloved granddaughter”—someone snorted, Nate guessed it was Charlie—“was finally happy? With her true love? The guy she’d always imagined would be her husband? The father of her children?”

Nate closed his eyes. Told himself to walk away. No good would come from hearing Eloise’s reply. So much of his adult life had been about pretending.

That he enjoyed the attention that came with being famous.

That the comments everyone made about his life choices didn’t matter.

That there was a chance Eloise would want him if she knew the truth.

Charlie’s voice pulled Nate from his thoughts. “Jesus. He’s such an overachiever that he’ll probably knock you up with triplets the first time, too.”

“Oh my God. Would you all stop?” Eloise said, but it was impossible to miss the giggle at the end.

“I think he’ll be a great dad,” Mary said.

“Yeah,” Eloise said wistfully. “He will be …”

This was all wrong.

“One day. Hopefully.”

The joy in her voice hit him like a sledgehammer. Nate closed his eyes and tried to block out the squeals from inside Joan’s room.

Shame crept over his skin, and he shook his head. In a different world, hearing those words would’ve lit him up, sent joy fizzing through his veins. Their future would’ve been wide open, full of unlimited possibilities and adventures.

But he couldn’t give Eloise what she wanted. What she’d literally just said she wanted.

It was only fair to let her go now rather than lead her on until she had to leave.

Slowly Nate came back into himself, dimly registering the excited chatter inside the room.

He was going to disappoint them all.

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Nate took the coward’s way out, sneaking down the hallway and sending Eloise a text explaining that he’d had to leave. Asking if she could find her own way home when she was ready.

Home.

He’d known this moment was coming. When it would be impossible to keep living in fantasy land. The pain he expected blossomed in his chest before becoming deeper, sharper with every step he took away from Eloise.

He didn’t know how he was going to face his house. Echoes of Eloise and their time together would be all throughout what he’d already started to think about as their home.

I’ve got to get out of here.