Gabe caught Allison against him and squeezed her tight. “Shower quick. I’ll make the calls.”
He pushed her toward the bathroom, and she walked willingly but in a daze. Gabe realized this was only the start of the day’s pain.
The hour and a half drive to the hospital was quiet. Allison laid her head on his shoulder and he held her against him. It wasn’t about saving her anymore; it was about being there and being a part of every bit of her life.
He’d been so afraid to tell her how he’d felt. Typical male, but letting her know had been exactly what they needed. The little smiles, the intimate glances they’d shared over the past days. All of it felt different. They were together in a more solid way, which was exactly what she needed right now. Exactly what he’d hoped for, in spite of promising to go slow.
She stopped outside her mom’s room and took a big breath. Gabe squeezed her fingers. “Maisey loves you.”
Allison turned her face toward him. In spite of the dark lines under her eyes, she was even more beautiful than usual. “That makes it all worthwhile, right?”
“Everything. Every ache, every sorrow.”
They walked in together.
Maisey was in bed, the headboard raised so she could lean against the support. Her skin looked paper thin, her body so fragile.
“If you’d wanted to come to Red Deer to go shopping you should have just told me, Mom. I would have let you take a few days off from the restaurant.” Allison stepped to the side of the bed and caught her mom’s hand. She had to reach around an IV tube and another monitor, but she found a way.
Maisey smiled, and the expression transformed her face to something striking and ageless. Joy had that ability. “You know me. Slacking off any time I can.”
Gabe held on to Allison, his arm draped around her waist as the ladies talked. Paul and Elle hurried in about an hour later, and Gabe pretty much just listened. Supported Allison and watched as this family who had so much love and togetherness in them—watched as they prepared to say goodbye.
Sharing with Allison the other night had been like letting go the plug on a barrel. He hadn’t realized exactly how tightly wrapped he’d kept parts of himself.
She was right, though. He’d always been like this. Always wanted to save people. Only his tragedies had taken him over and he’d started doing more to save others. He’d forgotten he was allowed to save himself as well. To accept a little saving from her.
When Maisey’s eyes closed in fatigue, he tugged Allison to him. Whispered in her ear. “Come on. I’m going to feed you and give you coffee.”
“But Mom—”
“Will be okay for a while without you.” The nurse who was checking the room nodded at his soft-spoken words. “You need to eat or you’re going to collapse, and then Maisey will get out of that bed and kick my butt for not taking care of you.”
Even as he said it he knew they both wished Maisey would do exactly that.
The small cafeteria was busy with people grabbing coffees and late breakfast. Gabe moved quickly through the line to return to where Allison sat, her head cradled in her arms. He slipped onto the bench seat beside her and nudged her. “Eat.”
She nodded, sucking back the coffee first. They were quiet, the low buzz of voices around them so similar to the familiar noises of the barns. Even in sadness, home called to him.
Something had been running through his brain all morning. He wasn’t sure how it would go over, but she’d said to talk to her.
Gabe took her fingers into his. “Allison, this may sound like a crazy idea, but hear me out.”
She lifted her head, her tired gaze meeting his. “Crazy idea? What you got planned now, Angel Boy?”
He smiled. “Damn, I left my halo at home.”
His quip tugged a smile to her lips. “Tell me your crazy idea.”
“We should get married. Right now. In front of your mom.”
She bit her bottom lip and her eyes welled with tears.
“Why not? Why not make someone who you love very happy?”
Allison squeezed his fingers. “You still trying to rescue people, Gabe Coleman?”
He shook his head. “Caring isn’t rescuing. We started this entire thing for your mom’s sake. I’m thinking we may as well finish it while we still can.”
Gabe stuttered to a stop at the expression on her face. Damn. He was an idiot for even having brought it up. Besides, the truth was far more layered than he was admitting. He wanted to beg her to not do this just for her mother’s sake, but to do it so they could really be together.
He’d never admit that to her, not here and now. Never add that kind of pressure to her already tormented world. Instead he’d offer what made the most sense.
If she wanted to break his heart down the road, he’d let her.
He cleared his throat. “I told you I loved you, and I’m not taking that back. But this doesn’t mean that I think you’re in love with me. Same rules apply. If you want to call it quits, after—” He didn’t say it, but she had to hear it. After Maisey was gone. “We’ll call it off quietly, no harm, no foul.”
She covered their joined hands, holding on for dear life.
“Gabe, you are the best man I’ve ever known.”
“Does that mean yes?”
She nodded.
Allison stared at the flowers in her hand. Three hours later and she was standing beside her mom’s bed, waiting for Gabe to return so they could get married.
It was crazy.
Maisey reached out and touched her arm, and that delicate balance between joy and sorrow rose again.
It might be crazy, but it was crazily perfect.
“You two sure you want to rush this?” Maisey asked for the dozenth time.
Allison grabbed her mom’s hand and held on. “If you ask that again, I’m going to start thinking you don’t like Gabe.”
“It’s not that, and you know it. He’s perfect for you, and you’re so much in love. I knew from the first minute you told me about him that you’d work out fine. But you’re missing all the fun parts of a wedding.”
Good grief. “What parts? Making invitations, scrambling to book a church or a hall. Setting up a dinner menu? Mom. I don’t care about those things. The guest list is the most important, and I’ve got that figured out.”
Elle burst into the room, breathlessly handing over a small box. “God, I hope I did that right.”
Allison hoped so too. She worried for a moment Gabe would think her surprise was stupid, then certainty rushed in and washed away those doubts. The ring might only be a prop for this make-believe wedding, but he’d get the message. He’d understand what she was trying to say.
They’d gone back that morning to give Maisey a head’s up of their plans. Mom had been speechless for a moment before smiling so hard Allison knew without a doubt the ceremony was the right thing to do. Gabe whipped her out of the hospital to grab the marriage license. Dropped her off at the main doors with a promise he’d be back as soon as possible.
She’d wandered up to her mom’s room in a bit of daze. It was happening so quickly and yet…
He was right. Giving her mom this one last thing to cherish made sense.
That he would go through the trouble to arrange it made something inside her care a little harder for him, and yet she clung to her promise to herself.
Sleep-deprived and emotionally devastated was not the time to make decisions about forever. She cared about Gabe, wanted to be with him. But their entire relationship had been built around a deception.
No matter how drawn to him, she was not going to imagine herself in love. Not until she could claim her mind was clear and it was more than an emotional decision.
The door opened, and Gabe’s mom and brother stepped in. Dana went straight up to the bed and no-nonsense offered Maisey a hug.