Chapter 111
Rachel didn’t remember much of the ride home; only that the city lights blurred past the cab window like streaks of gold and gray through her tears.
The driver had asked once if she was okay, and she’d only nodded, clutching her bag tighter on her lap. Her throat hurt from holding everything in.
By the time the cab pulled into driveway, her chest felt hollow. The world outside looked soft and peaceful, the glow of the porch light, the faint hum of crickets but it only made the ache sharper.
She paid the driver with trembling fingers and stepped out slowly, her body heavy from exhaustion and grief.
She’d told herself she’d be strong, that she wouldn’t fall apart until she was alone. But when she saw the soft yellow light spilling from the living room window, something inside her cracked again.
She opened the door quietly and stepped in.
Bella was sitting on the couch with a cup of tea in hand, scrolling through her phone.
When Bella looked up and saw her sister standing there, hair disheveled, eyes red and glistening, she froze, a frown immediately creasing her brows. “Rachel p>
Rachel blinked, her throat tightening as her lips parted, but no sound came.
“Rachel!” Bella stood immediately, setting down her mug. “What’s going on? Why are you p>
Before she could finish, Rachel took two shaky steps forward and wrapped her arms around her. The sob that tore out of her was raw, muffled against Bella’s shoulder.
Bella’s arms instinctively came up around her sister, eyes wide in worry. “Hey, hey, what happened? Rach, talk to me p>
But Rachel couldn’t. Not yet. Her tears came harder, like she’d been holding them back for hours, like every emotion she’d buried since Henry collapsed had finally clawed its way out.
Bella guided her gently to the couch, still holding her close. “Shh, it’s okay, I’m here,” she whispered, rubbing her sister’s back as Rachel cried harder. “You’re safe. Whatever it is, we’ll fix it p>
Rachel only shook her head, curling closer into her sister’s arms. Her sobs quieted only after long minutes; the kind of crying that leaves a person empty and spent, lungs burning from the effort.
When she finally pulled back, her lashes were wet and clumped together. Her voice came out small and hoarse. “I… I didn’t know where else to go p>
“You came home,” Bella said softly, brushing her sister’s damp hair away from her face. “That’s what matters. What happened p>
Rachel sniffled, trying to breathe through the tightness in her chest. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, but fresh tears were already forming.
Bella frowned deeply. “Rach, you’re scaring me. What happened? Is Mr. Camden okay p>
At the mention of his name, Rachel’s gaze fell to her lap. She didn’t answer. She only shook her head slowly as her lips trembled again.
“Oh God Bella whispered, panic flashing in her eyes. “What happened? He’s not… he’s not dead, is he p>
Rachel looked up quickly, shaking her head harder. “No. No, he’s not. He’s… he’s in the hospital p>
Bella let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “Oh, thank God p>
But her relief didn’t reach Rachel, who seemed to crumble again at the words.
“Then why are you crying like this?” Bella asked, still confused. “You said he’s in the hospital. He’ll be fine, right? What exactly happened p>
Rachel swallowed, struggling to speak past the lump in her throat. “He collapsed… after we got back from the lake p>
Bella’s brows furrowed. “The lake? You took him out p>
Rachel nodded weakly. “He’d been… tired, quiet. I thought maybe some air, and the view of something peaceful would help. He laughed really well, today, Bella. He laughed. And then Her voice broke. “And then when we got home, Sandra was trying to make things difficult for me and he wanted to stand up for me. One second he was standing, and protecting me from Sandra, the next he was on the ground p>
Bella’s eyes softened with understanding and worry. “Oh, Rachel p>
“I tried to help him,” Rachel continued, her words tumbling out in tremors. ” I tried to have Sandra and I take him to the hospital but she… she wouldn’t let me. She said it was my fault. She said I pushed him too hard. She told me I wasn’t family and that I’d done enough damage p>
Bella’s expression darkened. “She said that p>
Rachel nodded miserably. “She told me to leave… and she fired me. I’m never going to see him again or care for him p>
For a long moment, the room was silent except for the faint hum of the refrigerator. Bella stared at her sister and at her trembling hands, her red eyes, the exhaustion carved into her face. Then she sighed softly and pulled her close again.
“Hey. Look at me p>
Rachel lifted her gaze slowly.
“You did nothing wrong,” Bella said firmly. “You cared for him. You were just trying to help. Whatever Sandra said doesn’t matter. You didn’t hurt him p>
“But maybe she’s right,” Rachel whispered. “Maybe I should’ve made him rest instead of having him drive me there. Maybe if I hadn’t p>
“Stop,” Bella said gently but firmly. “Don’t do that to yourself. People collapse sometimes because their body reaches its limit. That’s not on you besides, he’s sick and it’s bound to happen whether he went out or not p>
Rachel let out a shaky breath, but tears still pooled at the corners of her eyes. “I just… I can’t stop thinking about him lying there. He looked so pale. I thought I’d lose him, Bella. I really thought p>
Her voice cracked again, and Bella hugged her tightly, her own heart twisting at the sound. “It’s okay, Rachel. He’s alive. That’s what matters. You got him to the hospital in time p>
Rachel pressed her forehead against Bella’s shoulder, voice muffled. “I just wish I could be there. To see him. To make sure he’s okay.” Check latest chapters at ⓝovelFind.net
Bella stroked her hair, confused but tender. “You just care too much, sweetheart. It’s what you do. You’ve always had such a big heart p>
Rachel nodded faintly but didn’t answer. Because deep down, she wasn’t sure what this feeling was anymore.
Yes, she cared, that much she knew. But this ache… this unbearable hollow in her chest every time she thought of him lying there without her… the feeling was something else. Something she couldn’t name.
Bella leaned back to study her face. “You’ve had a rough day. Come on, go take a warm shower. You’ll feel better p>
Rachel shook her head slowly. “I don’t think I can sleep p>
“You should try,” Bella urged softly. “He’d want you to rest too, wouldn’t he p>
At that, Rachel’s chest tightened again. She remembered the way Henry had looked at her at the lake; calm, trusting, and unaware of how deeply he’d rooted himself into her heart.
Her eyes stung anew. “He said I made his days lighter,” she whispered. “That I reminded him of something he’d forgotten. Of how peace felt p>
Bella smiled faintly. “Then you gave him something good, Rachel. That’s what matters, okay p>
Rachel tried to smile back, but it came out wobbly. “I just wish I could stay with him now… just until he’s better p>
Bella cupped her cheek gently. “You can’t think that way, Rach. You’ve done your part. He’s surrounded by doctors and his family. You need to let them take care of him p>
Rachel bit her lip, eyes clouding again. “I know,” she whispered. “But it just sort of hurts p>
Bella blinked, surprised at the raw emotion in her sister’s voice. “It hurts p>
Rachel nodded, tears spilling again before she could stop them. “I don’t know why. It just does p>
Bella exhaled softly, wrapping her arms around her again. “You’re just tired, love. You’ve been with him every day, of course you’d feel attached. You’ll feel better in a few days p>
But Rachel wasn’t so sure.
Because the truth was, even as Bella spoke, her mind was still back in that hospital room, hearing the beeping of the monitor, the sound of Sandra’s sharp voice, the steady rhythm of Henry’s breathing.
She wanted to see him again, to make sure he’d open his eyes and call her name. She wanted to fix his blanket, check his pulse, make him laugh like she had at the lake.
But more than that, she wanted him safe.
She wanted him there.
“Come,” Bella said softly, standing and pulling her up by the hand. “You’re shaking. Let me make you something to eat p>
Rachel followed numbly into the kitchen, sitting at the table while Bella warmed some soup. The clinking of the spoon against the pot filled the silence.
When Bella set the bowl in front of her, Rachel stared down at it, but her appetite was gone. She pushed the spoon around the broth, her reflection trembling in the golden surface.
“You should eat,” Bella urged quietly.
“I’m not hungry,” Rachel murmured.
Bella sighed but didn’t push. “It’s fine. You don’t have to force yourself,” Bella said, giving Rachel a reassuring smile while trying to tell herself it wasn’t what she was thinking.