Broken Pieces (Riverdale #2) (12 page)

Nick cleared his throat, finding his voice was just as full of emotion as Joe’s. “Somewhat, its times like this I ask myself why he does the things he does.”

“Say a prayer with me.” Joe said and turned back around and bowed his head. Nick took a deep breath and looked up at the crucifix. He knelt beside Joe, and made the sign of the cross. He bowed his head, just as Joe had.

“Our father, who art in heaven…” They began in unison and prayed to the Lord to take Jake’s soul.

* * * * * *

Cara lay nestled in the crook of Jake’s arm, her head resting on his chest. She counted the beats of his heart, memorizing the rhythm. The pace began to slow, and she knew this by her own ear, and not because her eyes were on the machine. She counted the seconds between heartbeats. She felt the rise and fall of his chest become more of a struggle. Tears shrieked her face, soaking his hospital gown. She could feel him slipping away from her. She closed her eyes and tried to will, him back to her. She begged her heavenly father, for mercy. Take her instead of him. If he had to go she wanted to go with him.

I sit at your bedside

 Holding your hand in mine

You try to be so strong for me

But I feel you slipping away

You have always been my hero

I can’t let you go… because

Heroes don’t die

Deb sat beside Jake’s bed, holding onto her son’s hand. She closed her eyes and remembered the day of his birth. If she tried hard enough, she could still feel the little blue bundle snuggled into her arms. Where had the years gone? Where was the boy who tugged on her leg, begging his mom to read him a bedtime story? She closed her eyes and she remembered the day she realized her little boy had become a man. The day he decided he was going to take a wife. She opened her eyes and stared at her son. No mother should have to bury her child. No mother should hold the hand of her son when he leaves the Earth.

The door opened and Sam and Luke walked into the room, each of them holding one of their father’s hands. Nick and Leah followed them, closing the door softly behind them. The brother and sister walked their father to their mother’s side. Joe placed his palm over his wife’s shoulder, bending down he joined his hand to Deb’s. Together they held their son’s hand, staring at the man they created and raised together.

Like a light in my storm

You’ve guided me

You have been everything to me

Tell me how I live without you

Tell me how to go on

Without your smile

      
Sam and Luke stood at the foot of Jake’s bed, their eyes set on their brother’s face. The three of them had been raised to be as close as any three siblings could ever be. The love they shared for one another, unconditional and everlasting. No matter what obstacles came their way through life, the three of them had always stuck together. The three musketeers… only now
there would only be two. 
No one had prepared them for that. Sam cried out, unable to stop herself and Luke wrapped his arms around her, tucking her head under his chin, they cried together, they only had each other now.

Jake’s eyes flew open, and his body constricted, causing Cara to raise her head in fear. Her eyes stared into his. They were halfway open, and he struggled to speak. Cara blinked away the tears, so her eyes could focus clearly on his beautiful face. Slowly, her hands slipped the oxygen mask down, allowing him to speak the words he desperately wanted to share.

I am selfish, I want more time with you

I know you have to go

You can’t take me with you

But you said you’d never leave me behind

I can’t let you go…. because

Heroes don’t die

“I’m going to be late to the church….” He gasped, filling his lungs with the air he ached for. His vision blurred, and he blinked, trying to clear his sight, to make out the beautiful woman before him. He needed to see his bride, his vision in white. He squinted and slowly the blurred lines cleared, and he saw her. His beautiful Cara, her hazel eyes shining back at him. A smile spread across his lips. “My beautiful,” he whispered before closing his eyes.

I feel your fight draining so…

Close your eyes now, my love

Let me be your hero

Let me take away your pain

I can’t let you go…. because

Heroes don’t die

Cara closed her eyes and pressed her lips softly against his. Her hands shook as they cupped his face. “I’ll love you forever.” She whispered against his lips. Slowly she pulled back, laying her hands on his chest. Her eyes moved to her hands as they rose and fell with his chest
. 
Then she watched his chest fall
for the final time. The beat of his heart played its final cord.  She lifted her head and stared at the love of her life
… He was gone.

“No… Oh God, no…” She sobbed and took his lifeless body in her arms, cradling him against her chest as the heart monitor sounded a slow steady beep.

Chapter Nine

Leah walked over to the machines that alerted Jake’s family that his life was over, and quietly silenced them. She didn’t know what else to do, she hadn’t known this family long, but she did know they all were suffering at that very moment. She watched Cara, nervously. The woman was falling apart, clutching her deceased fiancée in her arms. She rocked him back and forth as if he was a newborn. Someone had to call a time of death and disconnect him from the machines. Hoping not to disturb anyone, Leah walked towards Jake’s bedside, and pressed the alert button, signaling for a doctor. Cara turned around abruptly and shielded Jake in her arms.

“What’re you doing?” She spat at Leah. “You’re not taking him from me!”

Leah’s eyes widened, “I’m not… I want to make him more comfortable.” She faltered as she eyed Jake’s lifeless body that was still hooked up to monitors. His oxygen mask still hung around his neck. It was standard protocol, to remove all of that from the deceased, then give the family a moment to say their goodbyes before ultimately they brought Jake to the morgue.

“He’s dead! You can’t make him any more comfortable.” Cara shouted through her sobs.

“I’m sorry.” Leah whispered and took another retreating step backwards, bumping into the heart monitor that now showed a black screen. She swallowed and turned her head to look at Luke. She wasn’t expecting him to ride to her rescue, she knew he was grieving, but she expected him to shake some sense into Cara. He didn’t even look at her, instead, she watched as he held his sister. Samantha clutched his shirt as she wept on his shoulder. Luke seemed a million miles away as he petted Sam’s head absent-mindedly. His eyes were focused directly on Jake and Cara.

“I can’t live without you…” Cara whispered as she continued to rock Jake in her arms. She leaned down and showered his face with soft fleeting kisses.

Leah watched as a light flickered in Luke’s dull eyes. He looked over his shoulder towards Nick, who was standing against the wall. Nick’s eyes met his and Luke’s eyes fell upon Sam.

Nick instantly pushed himself off the wall and walked beside his friend. Leah marveled at the friendship the two of them shared. It was as if there was some unspoken promise that they were always there for one another. Just one look and Nick knew exactly what Luke needed. Nick wrapped his arms around Sam, as Luke detangled himself from her stepping aside. The transition from one man’s embrace to another was so smooth, that Leah wondered if Sam even felt the difference.

Joe took his wife in his arms and started towards the door. The parents couldn’t handle another moment of seeing their son like that. Joe stopped in front of Luke. “I have to get your mother out of here.” He said as Deb wept uncontrollably in his arms. He looked towards the hospital bed. His lip trembled at the sight of Cara and Jake. He shook his head and looked back at his only living son. “Make sure you look after her.”

Luke nodded at his father. His responses were on auto-pilot, or so it appeared. He couldn’t even cry anymore, when everyone else couldn’t control their tears. The door opened and as the grief stricken parents exited the doctor entered. He offered his condolences to the parents, before he turned to witness Cara and her death grip on Jake.

Dr. Capernick turned his gaze towards Leah, his eyes questioning her, as if to ask her how they should proceed. She shook her head, she had no idea. Nick was the one who broke the silence, talking to no one other than Sam.

“Sam… baby, I’m going to take you home.” Nick said softly as he pulled back slightly. He brushed her damp hair, from the tears she shed, away from her face. She looked up at him and shook her head.

“But…” She sniffled and looked over her shoulder at her brother. There was nothing left for her to do. There was nothing left to say. She wouldn’t be able to hear his laugh again, or ever hear him tease her mercilessly. The color was starting to drain from his face, and all of a sudden she didn’t want to stay. She didn’t want the memories of him dead to overshadow the beautiful ones of him alive and well. She turned around and looked back at Nick, she nodded slightly.

“Okay.” She agreed and when he offered her his hand, she took it without hesitation. He escorted her towards the door and Nick looked over towards Luke.

“Call me if you need me.” Nick said adamantly and Luke simply nodded in return.

Once Nick and Sam left the room, Luke turned around and his eyes met Leah’s for the first time.

“Can you please get Ava from daycare
and take her home for me?” He asked, his voice was barely above a whisper. His eyes so intently stared into hers. She looked at him for a moment, wondering what exactly he was thought he would be able to do.  Did he really think he’d be able to reign in Cara? Leah glanced over at
Cara, who was now laying down with Jake in her arms. Her eyes were open as she studied his face. She turned her eyes back to Luke’s.

“Sure.” She said, simply.

“Thank you.” He murmured, and stood still, waiting for her to make a move to go get his daughter. She realized he didn’t want an audience when he handled Cara. Leah took her cue and Dr. Capernick watched as she disappeared out of the hospital room. The doctor took a step towards Luke, and spoke very quietly, trying not to disturb Cara.

“We have to remove Jake from the machines…” He said sympathetically. Luke exhaled sharply, but nodded understandingly. “I’ll give you a few minutes, and then I’ll come back.” Luke didn’t say a word he only nodded his head again. “I’m so sorry for your loss, son.” Dr. Capernick said before leaving Luke alone with Cara and his brother.

Luke stood at the edge of the bed, unsure of how to proceed. He ran his fingers through his hair roughly and slowly felt his chest deflate as he let out a harsh breath.

“Cara?” he whispered as he moved closer towards her, reaching out and placing his hand on top of her arm.

“Isn’t he beautiful?” She asked as she smiled adoringly at Jake. “He looks so peaceful.” She said sadly.

“He’s at peace now.” Luke offered and rubbed her arm softly assuring her that Jake in fact was at peace. He watched as his words went unnoticed and she simply ran her finger along the line of his jaw, tracing it with her fingertip. Luke wondered if she had even heard him.

“Cara, the doctor has to take him off the machines.” Luke said softly, trying desperately to get through to her.

“I’m not leaving him.” She said determination evident in her otherwise broken voice.

“Jake would want you to go home, Cara.” Luke whispered, and then she turned to him, her stormy hazel eyes changing to a shade of green as she glared at Luke.  

“Jake is my home.” She said staring at Luke as if he was the devil and he had come to take Jake’s soul.

Luke shook his head and reached for her hand, but she flinched, never taking her eyes off of his. “Jake isn’t your home, he’s the man you love. There’s a difference. You need to trust me, Cara. I know it appears as if you’ve lost the only person in your life but you’re not alone. You’ll never be alone, I promise.”

“You have absolutely no idea how I feel.” The tears slide down her angry face. “Don’t make promises to me that you can’t keep just because you think it’s what I want to hear.”

Luke gave her a long look, and shook his head. “I don’t make promises that I don’t keep.” He said in a raspy voice.

Cara held his gaze for a moment, noticing his own grief reflected in his eyes. She looked away, before her eyes fell upon Jake again. She stared at him, knowing he was gone, knowing he’d never open his eyes and look at her again. He’d never utter another word to her. Her whole life had revolved around this man since she was fifteen years old. How would she ever go on without him, when he was all she’d ever known?