Chapter 90 A Decade of Distance
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The memory must have hit her again, because Hannah’s tears welled up, spilling freely as she leaned into Lucas’s chest.
And for some reason, in that moment, Lucas thought of Stella–specifically, of the accident years ago. Her car had gone off the overpass and plunged into the river. She must have been terrified then too.
The sudden arrival and equally sudden disappearance of Hannah wasn’t something Stella. had expected, but she didn’t waste time trying to figure it out.
From the way the nurse had handled things just now, this hospital clearly had its principles. They weren’t going to indulge Hannah’s tantrums.
And in the end, she and Jenn were only here for a few days so Jenn could recover. It wasn’t anything serious.
Ethan arrived at the hospital as soon as his plane landed.
But the closer he got to the VIP ward, the slower his steps became. His heartbeat pounded in his ears, his left hand fidgeting with the rosary bracelet on his right wrist.
What if Louis hated him? What if Louis refused to even speak to him?
Tina walked beside him carrying a bag, smiling faintly. “Don’t be nervous.”
Ethan’s dark eyes cut to her. “I’m not nervous. Not at all.”
Tina nodded lightly. “Good to hear.”
Was she humoring him like a child?
When they reached the door, he was about to knock–only to see it was already ajar.
The man in the black suit, who usually radiated a cool, commanding presence, suddenly felt awkward and out of place. His throat was dry.
“Ethan, you’re here! Come in!”
Stella spotted him right away, hurrying to the doorway to catch him by the arm. “Come on, I’ll introduce you. This is Jenn–and I probably don’t need to introduce this one.”
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Chapter 90 A Decade of Distance
Ethan looked toward the frail woman on the bed and offered a polite, “Hello, Jenn.”
But when it came to the boy standing beside her, his
gaze
faltered.
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He was afraid of what he might see in Louis’s eyes–resentment, hatred.
And then, unexpectedly, a pair of thin but strong arms wrapped around him. “I missed you
so much!”
The faint scent of disinfectant clung to the boy’s clothes. Ethan froze.
Louis had said he missed him. Louis didn’t hate him.
Slowly, his stiff arms rose, holding the boy tightly in return. The words that had weighed on him for ten years finally came out. “I’m sorry.”
The boy shook his head. “No, I’m sorry. If I’d gone back to find you sooner, you wouldn’t have had to be sad for so long!”
Two grown men, both with tears brimming in their eyes, made the air in the room heavy with emotion.
Until Stella broke it with, “Hold on–Ethan, you call Jimmy ‘bro. So what do you call Xavier?”
Both men laughed through their tears.
It had been ten years. Too much time for familiarity to fade.
Back then, Ethan usually called him by his full name–Jimmy and the surname together. But in this moment, that felt far too formal.
The mood in the room lightened.
Ethan reached out, the rosary beads on his wrist catching the light as he ruffled Jimmy’s hair. “You’ve gotten so tall.”
Jimmy’s eyes flicked to the beads, curiosity sparking. “Do you meditate or chant with those?”
Tina stepped forward then, handing gifts to Jimmy and Stella.
She had something for Jenn as well–a silk scarf.
The presents for Jimmy and Jenn were last–minute, bought after landing. Only Stella’s had been carried all the way back from Southville.
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Chapter 90 A Decade of Distance
Stella helped Jenn drape the scarf around her neck.
Jenn’s eyes lit up, lowering her gaze to stare at the fabric.
“It looks beautiful on you,” Stella said gently.
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Jenn glanced up at her, then reached to untie the scarf and hold it out to Jimmy. “Here, you wear it.”
It was instinct–giving the nice thing to Jimmy. The sight made Stella’s heart ache and swell all at once.
Maybe that was why Jimmy couldn’t leave Jenn behind. In all that darkness, they’d survived by leaning on each other. To Jenn, Jimmy might truly be like her own child.
Jimmy shook his head. “Jenn, that’s for girls to wear. You keep it.”
Jenn perked up at the word “girl,” then held it out to Stella. “Then you take it—you’re a girl.”
Stella smiled and tied it back around Jenn’s neck. “Jenn is a girl too–a pretty girl.”
Jenn froze, as if she didn’t quite know what to do with that.
Tina had ordered an elaborate takeout feast for the ward.
Over the meal, Stella turned to Jimmy. “You’ll stay at Trinity High for a few more days. Ethan and I will get you transferred to Ashford High School as soon as we can.”
Jimmy looked up. “Huh? I—”
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