For the next two weeks, Billy came in every day to visit MacKenzie, which was very loyal of him. Every day he was looking sicker and sicker. By now, the doctors ordered him to stay at home. He had refused to die in the hospital, he wanted to die, safe and warm in his bed.
I promised him I would bring Hayley by to see him this afternoon. I took a much needed vacation from the diner. Brian had been the one that convinced me to take a break.
"Honey, do you want to come?" I asked Brian. He was sitting on the couch, watching television.
"Huh?" he asked looking up at me.
I was wearing my favorite bootleg jeans and a red halter tank top.
"You wanna come?" I asked, smiling.
"I dont want to intru..."
"Come on Brian. You're going," I told him. He smiled and stood up.
"We're not going to stay long. Billy needs his rest, but I know he wants to see Hayley. Besides, Im sure his wife wants to beat my ass and it'll turn into a mess if I stay too long, so," I sighed.
"Come on MacKenzie," he laughed.
"Hayley!" I called.
"Bye bye?" Hayley asked running up to me.
"Yep, come on," I said lifting her into my arms.
"Mommy loves you," I told her.
"Me," she said giggling and pointing to herself.
"You love Mommy?" I asked.
She nodded and kissed my lips and hugged me.
"Come, let's go see Daddy," I said. I set her down on her feet and we all walked out to Brian's car. We got in and I gave Brian directions to Billy's house. When we pulled into the driveway, I was getting really nervous. I knew his wife had to hate me, but Billy needs to see MacKenzie. I took a deep breath and looked at the two people holding my hand. On my left, Hayley and on my right, Brian. We walked up to the front door and Brian rang the doorbell.
"Hi, MacKenzie, right?" asked the same young woman I saw at the zoo.
"Yeah," I nodded, smiling slightly.
"Come on in, Billy's lying down upstairs," she said opening the door wider for us to come in.
"I'll show you the way," she told me. She lead the three of us upstairs. Billy layed in bed, he looked like he was so uncomfortable and in so much pain. I noticed him like this every day for the past two weeks, but for some reason, he didnt want to miss a single moment he could with Hayley. Which was sweet.
"Daddy?" Hayley asked pointing to Billy. I looked down and nodded. She let go of my hand and walked over to the bed. She crawled up and layed down next to him.
"Daddy sick?" she asked, looking at me.
"Yes, sweetie, Daddy is sick," I said. I could barely stand to look at Billy, simply because I couldnt stand seeing someone in pain.
Slowly, his eyes began to open and he looked next to him, into Hayley's eyes.
"Hi baby," he whispered, his voice hoarse and shaky.
"Hi Daddy," she said looking down at him.
"Hi MacKenzie," he said looking at me.
"Hey, how you feeling?" I already knew the answer, but it seemed like the nice and polite thing to ask.
"Like hell, but Im still here, so Im not complaining," he laughed.
I felt my bottom lip tremble as I fought back the tears.
"Brian," Billy nodded.
"Hey Billy," Brian waved.
"Um, MacKenzie, can I talk to Brian alone?" Billy asked.
"Um, ok," I said confused.
"Hay Hay can stay," he told me.
I walked out of the room with Billy's wife following.
"He told me yesterday he wanted Brian to adopt Hayley before he died," she whispered to me.
"He did?" I asked, shocked.
"Yeah, so that means, you and Brian will have to get married real soon," she whispered.
"What have the doctors said?" I asked.
"They give him to the end of this week," she told me, tears forming in her eyes.
"Are you going to be ok?" I asked concerned.
"I dont know what Im going to do without him. I mean, our baby has to grow up without a father. Im scared," she broke down and started crying. I didnt know what to do, I mean, I dont know the lady, so I did what instincts told me to do, I pulled her into a hug and rubbed her back.
"It's ok," I whispered to her.
"No, its now. I dont know how Im going to live without him," she sobbed.
"Look at me," I ordered as I pulled away from her. She looked at me and stopped her tears.
"Billy is a good man. Sometimes, he may not seem like it, but he is. And he loves you. Think of it like God taking him to help him. God needs Billy," I told her.
"Why is God being so selfish then?" she snapped at me.
"Maybe it's not God being selfish," I told her gently.
"That baby in there needs her father," she whispered to me.
"I know, but he will always be there for her. In her heart and right by her side," I told her.
She looked at me and then the baby started crying.
"I have to go get her," she said softly and walked off to get her baby. I felt bad for her, she really did love Billy. I started to think of what I would do if I ever lost Brian or Hayley or someone that special to me.
"MacKenzie, come here," Brian said opening the door.
"He wants to talk to you," Brian told me, stepping out of the room. I walked into the room and walked over to the bed. I looked down at his pale face.
"Sit down," he told me.
I sat down on the edge of the bed and continued to look down at him.
"MacKenzie. I already talked to Brian. I know how much you love him, just the way you look at him and you look so intrigued by him. Like nothing else matters in the world and I want you to know that love feels like that. Now, when I go, I want Brian to become Hayley's father. I know he'll take care of her and she'll be happy and healthy. I want you to know that I never meant to hurt you. I realized what I was doing after everything was done. When you and Brian get married, I was hoping before I died, but please dont rush into it for me, I want him to adopt Hayley, is that ok with you?" he asked. I wasnt able to speak, I just nodded.
"Thank you," he whispered.
"Anything," I said softly.
"Can you send my wife in here?" he asked.
"Sure," I nodded. I got up and as I was walking out of the room, I turned around and saw Billy caressing Hayley's hair as she layed her head down on his stomach, fast asleep.
I walked to the end of the hall, where I was sure she had went.
"Billy wants you," I told her as she sat in a rocking chair with the baby. She jumped to her feet and rushed to his room.
Brian and I followed her in.
"What is it? Are you ok?" she asked frantically.
"Honey, I wanted to tell you that I love you. I will always love you. You make me so happy and I am sorry for any hurt and pain I have ever caused you," he told her sincerely. She leaned down and gently pressed her lips to his.
"I love you Danielle," he whispered to his baby. She held the baby down so he could give his baby a kiss.
"Take care of your Mommy and make something good of yourself, I know you will," he told her.
We all looked down at him as he slowly closed his eyes. His breaths began ragged and he slowly stopped breathing.
I looked over at his wife and she broke down in tears.
"Here, I'll take the baby," I offered. She handed me the baby and she threw herself on top of his body and sobbed and shook.
Hayley woke up and saw her crying.
"Dont cry," she said sincerely. She patted her back. She looked up and looked at Hayley.
"I think we should go," I whispered.
"Thank you," his wife whispered, looking up at me. I handed her back her baby and picked up Hayley.
As we walked out of the house, I started to cry, but I didnt want anyone to see me, so I silently wiped the tears away.
"Dont cry Mommy," Hayley comforted.
"Come here," Brian said pulling me into a hug.
"He's better off now," Brian said warmly.
"I know, but it's hard," I whispered.
"Come on, let's get home. You just need some rest, ok?" he asked.
I nodded and smiled at him.
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Thirteen
As Long As You Love Me Index
Brian Fanfiction Index
BSB Fanfiction Index
Backstreet Island