Chapter 58: Chapter 52: Together

Isla Prescott and Sienna Prescott brought Susan Dudley back to the hospital room. Rather than hysterical, the rescued Susan Dudley was overcome with a deep listlessness—the despair of being unable to truly live, yet unable to die.

“Mom,” Isla Prescott said, burying her face in Susan Dudley’s lap. “Sienna and I both need you. We can’t live without our mom. If you leave us like this, we’ll spend the rest of our lives filled with so much regret. We’ll never be truly happy again.”

“That’s right, Mom. I’m begging you, please don’t do anything foolish again,” Sienna Prescott choked out, sobbing beside them. “If you go, our family will be torn apart.”

Looking at her two daughters, Susan Dudley felt her heart ache with wave after wave of pain.

“You really don’t have to worry about the surgery costs. If we have to, I can take out a loan. I’m still young. I can pay it back a little each month, and one day it’ll all be paid off. You just have to get well. That’s what’s most important.”

“I can’t give you anything to help you get ahead, and now I have to be a burden to you like this…”

“Mom, you always say you can’t give us anything, but you’ve already given us so much. You gave us the most precious gift of all—life. You led us away from the mountains and gave us the chance to be the masters of our own fates. You’ve always been so brave. Please, be brave one more time and get through this, okay? My sister and I have so many wonderful moments ahead of us, and we need our mom there to witness and share them.”

The death of a loved one leaves a permanent dampness in one’s soul.

Isla Prescott couldn’t even bear to imagine a day when her mother would leave them.

Sienna Prescott knelt down as well, resting her head on her mother’s lap. “Mom, don’t you want to see my sister dancing on an even bigger stage one day? Aren’t you looking forward to seeing me in a white coat, saving lives after I graduate? We’re going to make lots and lots of money and buy you a big house. You’ve worked so hard for half your life; you’re so close to being able to relax and enjoy it. Maybe this is just God’s final challenge for you. Can you please just hold on a little longer?”

Tears streamed down Susan Dudley’s face. Of course, more than anyone, she wanted to see her two daughters build their own careers, start families, and live brilliant lives.

“But even if I have the surgery, there’s no guarantee I’ll survive.”

“Don’t worry about the operation. Director King is performing it himself. I’m sure it will go smoothly.”

After a long silence, Susan Dudley finally nodded. “Alright. Don’t worry, I won’t do anything foolish again.”

After reassuring her mother, Isla Prescott went downstairs to find Shane Sterling.

Shane Sterling was in the surgical department having his wound treated. By the time Isla Prescott saw him, his hand was already bandaged.

“Sean, how’s your hand?”

“It’s nothing,” Shane Sterling said, brushing it off.

Ivan Fulton, who was standing nearby, grew exasperated. When Isla Prescott wasn’t looking, he leaned in and whispered in Shane Sterling’s ear, “Are you an idiot? Why would you say ’it’s nothing’? You’re supposed to play it up, make her feel sorry for you, make her feel guilty, make her feel like she owes you one! Then you can use that as an opportunity to pursue her!”

Shane Sterling replied, “She’s already my girlfriend. Thanks, though.”

Ivan Fulton’s eyes went wide. It took him a moment to recover before he said, “My mistake. I’ll see myself out.”

—

Isla Prescott had wanted to thank Ivan Fulton for saving her mother, but he had already rushed off.

“Why did Ethan leave?”

“He had something to do.”

“Thank you both for today.”

’If it weren’t for Ivan Fulton and Shane Sterling, her mother might have really drawn that knife across her neck.’

“How’s your mother doing?”

“She’s given up the idea of taking her own life and has agreed to have the surgery.”

Shane Sterling nodded. “Don’t worry about the surgery costs. I’ve already paid them.”

“You paid? When?”

“This morning.”

Every favor Isla Prescott accepted from Shane Sterling felt like another shackle locking around her heart.

“I’ll write you an IOU. I swear, I will pay this money back to you.” They had just reached the nurses’ station, and Isla Prescott asked a nurse for a piece of paper and a pen. She quickly wrote down her name, ID number, and the date of the loan. “I’ll fill in the amount after the final bill is settled upon discharge.”

Shane Sterling glanced down at the paper. She had even included a monthly interest rate.

’She was determined not to take a single penny’s advantage of him.’

“Isla Prescott, do we really need to draw such a clear line between us?” Shane Sterling asked, pressing down on the tip of her pen. “Have you forgotten what you promised me?”

“Even close brothers keep clear accounts.”

“That’s for brothers. You agreed to date me, not become my sworn brother. We don’t need to keep clear accounts.”

“Dating is one thing, and borrowing money is another,” she insisted.

Shane Sterling sighed in resignation. “Fine. Write it.”

“I can’t write until you let go of the pen.”

Shane Sterling released the pen, and Isla Prescott signed her name.

“There’s no ink pad here, so I can’t leave a thumbprint right now. I have a tube of lipstick in my bag upstairs, I can use that to substitute later…”

Shane had lost his patience. He simply leaned over and pressed a kiss to her lips.

“There. Now it’s sealed.” He snatched the IOU from under her hand and said with a perfectly straight face, “The IOU is now in effect. Remember to pay it back on time. Your creditor is not a sentimental man.”

Though it was just a fleeting touch, a hot flush surged through Isla Prescott.

When she came to her senses, she glanced around nervously.

Perhaps because her last relationship had been so furtive, Shane Sterling’s open, public kiss left Isla Prescott feeling flustered and almost guilty.

“What are you gawking at?” Shane Sterling took her hand with his uninjured one. “Come on, let’s go up and see your mom.”

Isla Prescott instinctively tried to pull her hand away. “Maybe we shouldn’t hold hands going up.”

“Why? Am I too embarrassing to be seen with?”

“No, that’s not it. It’s just… my mom has surgery tomorrow. I don’t think now is the right time to tell her about us.”

Shane Sterling firmly took her hand again. “On the contrary, I think the fact that your mother’s surgery is tomorrow makes it the perfect time to tell her about us.”

With that slight hint, Isla Prescott understood.

’The outcome of the surgery was unknown, and her mother’s biggest worry was for her and her sister. If her mother knew she was with Shane Sterling before the operation, then regardless of the outcome, it would be a tremendous comfort to her. Knowing her daughter had someone she could depend on emotionally would be the best possible reassurance.’

In the end, Isla Prescott went upstairs holding hands with Shane Sterling.

As they reached the door to the room, she took an inadvertent deep breath. For some reason, she was a little nervous. This was her first time bringing a boyfriend to meet her mother.

’The crucial part was, this boyfriend had only been ’on the job’ since yesterday.’

Shane Sterling glanced at her. “What are you nervous about? I’m the one who should be nervous.”

’The last time he had dinner at her house was just a casual get-together. This was a formal meeting with her parent.’

They walked into the hospital room, hand in hand.

Susan Dudley was resting with her eyes closed. Sienna Prescott was the first to see their joined hands. Her mouth fell slightly open, and she immediately reached out to shake Susan Dudley’s arm.

“Mom, brother-in-law is here.”

“Brother-in-law?”

Susan Dudley opened her eyes. When she saw Isla Prescott and Shane Sterling holding hands, her whole world seemed to slow to half-speed; even her blinks were a fraction slower.

“Sean, you… you and Isla…”

“Isla and I are together now.”

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