The sight we saw when we walked in made my stomach turn. Jane was sobbing as she threw herself on Aaron’s lifeless body. Bob was trying to pry her off as the girls watched in horror. Nick was frozen in the doorway. Next thing I knew, my hand was free from Nick’s grasp and he was running out of the room. I turned and followed him as he ran out the hospital doors:
“Nick! Nick stop! You’re family needs you to be strong right now.” He turned and looked at me, his eyes no longer blue but a stone gray:
“Strong? How the hell do you expect me to be strong? My baby brother is laying in there dead, Kate! I can’t handle this. I need to get out of here.” I put my arms out and he collapsed into them:
“Baby, I know. I’m so sorry. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to make it easier.” He pulled away and glanced into the hospital where the rest of his family was emerging from Aaron’s room:
“Just take me home. Please?” I nodded and we walked back in to say goodbye to his family. I walked up to Jane:
“I’m so sorry.” She nodded her head:
“I know. Thank you so much, sweetheart. Take care of my baby boy for me, please?” I nodded as I hugged her:
“I will. I’m just going to take him home. Call us in the morning, okay?”
“We will.” I hugged the rest of the family goodbye and then led Nick out to his Durango. I took his keys from him and hopped in the drivers seat:
“Nick, honey, give me your cell phone.” He wordlessly handed it over to me. I dialed Brian’s cell phone. He answered it after one ring:
“Hello?” I answered him as I pulled out of the parking lot:
“Bri, it’s me. I’m taking Nick back to the house. Meet us there, okay?” Nick put his hand on my knee, interrupting me:
“Baby, take me to my parents house. I want to sleep there tonight, okay?” I looked over at him and nodded:
“Bri, meet us at the Carters.”
“Okay, we’ll be there in fifteen.”
“See ya there.” I clicked off the phone and rubbed the top of Nick’s hand that was still on my knee:
“Are you sure you want to stay there?” He glanced out the window:
“Yeah. I want to be near my family. You can go back to the house after you take me there.” I turned my head quickly:
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. Go stay there with Bri and Leighanne.” Tears sprung to my eyes and I nodded, saddened:
“Okay. If that’s what you want.” Nick sighed:
“What I want is for this nightmare to end.” I rubbed his knee:
“I know, baby. I do too. I wish there was something I could do.” He looked over at me and wiped my tears away with his thumb:
“You’re doing it. Just by being here, you’re doing it.” I whispered, quiet enough that he didn’t really hear me:
“But you still don’t want me with you tonight.”
“What’d you say?” I put both hands back on the wheel. I didn’t need to make him feel guilty now:
“Nothing, sweetie. We’re almost there.”
I pulled into his parent’s driveway and saw that Brian and Leighanne were already there with the rest of the Carters. I glanced down at my watch. Four fifteen in the fucking morning.
As soon as we got out of the car, Brian’s arms were around Nick:
“God, Bro, I’m so sorry. This is so unfair. Not Aaron.” Nick was in a daze. Brian put an arm around his shoulders and led him into the house, with Leighanne and I following:
“The rest of the guys will be here tomorrow.” They walked inside to where Jane, Bob, and the girls were sitting in the living room, silently. Jane looked up surprised as the four of us walked in:
“Nick, Kate? What are you guys doing here?” Nick didn’t say anything. I watched him as he collapsed on the couch next to his father:
“He wanted to sleep here tonight. In his old room.” Bob stood up and started to lead Jane upstairs:
“Go on to bed kids. It’s been a long day.” The girls nodded and started to walk up the stairs. Jane turned around just as she was about to go up:
“Brian and Leighanne, you can sleep in the guest room.” Brian smiled appreciatively:
“Thank you, Jane, but Leigh and I are going to go back to Nick’s with Kate.” She nodded:
“Okay. Good night everyone.” Nick stood up to follow his parents:
“Good night guys.” Brian and Leighanne watched as Nick walked right by me. I stood there with tears in my eyes:
“Good night Nick.” He turned around at the bottom of the stairs and held his arms out to me:
“I’m sorry. I just really need to do this. I love you so much. I can’t even begin to thank you for everything you’ve done for me tonight. I’ll call you in the morning.” I nodded and kissed him gently:
“I love you too.” He disappeared up the steps. I turned around and looked at Brian and Leighanne. Brian came over and gave me a hug:
“It’ll be alright.” I started sobbing into his shoulder:
“I can’t do this, Brian. I can’t handle it. That’s not Nick. That’s not the Nick that I know.” He smoothed my hair down and Leigh walked up and hugged me also:
“Come on, Kate. Let’s go get some sleep. Leave Nick’s car here and come with us.” I nodded and followed them out to the car. Right before I got in, I looked up to Nick’s old room. There he was. Standing at the window, staring out at the three of us. I blew him a kiss and he pretended to catch it and hold to his heart. I tore my gaze away from his and got in Brian’s jeep.