“I don’t know if we should do this.” He looked up, the fear evident in his eyes. He looked like a teenage boy, lost and afraid.
“You’ve come all this way,” Jamie murmured quietly, yearning to reach out and wrap her arms around him. She hugged herself instead. “You can do this.”
“I don’t know.”
“He’s your father and he’s dying. If you don’t, you’re going to regret it for the rest of your life.”
Alex nodded and stood. “Let’s get this over with then.” He straightened his tie and as he slipped his jacket on, his face grew unreadable again.
It tore Jamie to bits. She knew what he was feeling inside and wished she could take it away. She also knew she shouldn’t be here. This was going to ruin any chance of her ever having a relationship with anyone else ever again.
You didn’t fall for Alex Reid and pick up the pieces to move on. You left them scattered in the wind, your heart shattered and broken for the rest of your life.
Chapter 11
The limo sat waiting outside when they stepped out of the Rittenhouse. Alex directed the driver to take them directly to the hospital. The ride grew long and silent. Alex kept his head down, texting on his phone and going through his messages. Jamie, on the other hand, stared out the window growing more and more nervous as the seconds ticked by. Images of Alex yelling at Mark, or freaking out beside his father’s bed flashed through her mind. What if this was a huge mistake? He would blame her if things went sour. She wouldn’t blame him, she was the one who pressured him to open the door to the past and go see his family. She crossed her fingers and hoped for the best. Deep down she knew this was the right thing to do and Alex needed this as much as his family did. Nerves were letting her worry. She bit her lip and continued to stare out the window as they pulled up to one of the entrances of the concrete, grey-stoned hospital. Ironically, clouds had filled the sky and it looked ready to rain.
Alex went to reception and asked for his father’s room. In the elevator, Alex reached for her hand and slipped his fingers between hers. He said nothing and neither did she. The lift's door opened, and Jamie saw Mark pacing in a waiting room on his father’s floor. He froze when he saw them.
Alex hesitated on the elevator, squeezing Jamie’s hand so hard it hurt. She made no attempt to pull away.
The two brothers stared at each other without speaking or moving. Jamie finally stepped forward, afraid the elevator door would shut and take them back down to the main floor.
“Hey, brother.” Mark spoke first and cleared his throat. He nodded at Jamie. “Hi Jamie. Nice to see you.”
“Mark.” That single word, full of emotion, and yet hard as stone.
“Dad’s waiting for you.” Mark stuffed his hands into the back pockets of his jeans. “He can only have one visitor at a time. It’s 203.”
“I know the room.” Alex’s voice was stiff, hard as steel. He dropped Jamie’s hand like it burned him and headed down the hall, leaving Jamie alone with Mark.
Jamie sat down in one of the waiting room seats. She blew a long breath out of her mouth. The tension in the room could be cut with a knife, it was that thick. She’d heard that term before but never fully understood it until that moment.
“Thank you for getting him here,” Mark said as he sat down beside her.
Jamie nodded. She didn’t know what to say. Part of her was angry at the teenage Mark for not sticking up for his brother.
He watched her intently for a moment. “So, he told you about everything, then?”
“Yes,” she said finally. “It’s quite a story.”
“I’m glad he swallowed his pride and came. It wasn’t right for him to ignore Dad all these years, but at least he’s pulling through in the end.”
Jamie frowned. “That’s what you think? That this is Alex’s fault?”
Mark looked at her in surprise.
Jamie ignored the look. “If your father really wanted him around, then why didn’t he come and apologize? For a father who spent time in the military, why the hell did he play favorites? You’re the good son, right? Can do no wrong?”
Mark’s brows furrowed together. “What the hell are you talking about? There wasn’t any favoritism!”
Jamie glared at him. Of course he wouldn’t see it as favoritism. Her sister would react the same way. They were blind to the mistreatment. “Alex told me everything. I honestly don’t blame him for staying away when your father was so awful to him.” She shook her head, disgusted. “His own father! Testifying against his son at the trial.”
“Because Alex deserved it!” Mark’s voice rose. “He nearly killed a kid!”
“He fought someone his own age to protect an innocent girl! Regardless, your father shouldn’t have sided against him. You think he would’ve done the same if it was you?”
“Yes!” Mark shouted and then lowered his voice. “Because what Alex did was wrong! It wasn’t noble like he wants you to believe!” Mark shook his head, staring at her with angry, dark eyes. “You know what? You should stay out of our family business.”