The Last Hour (Thompson Sisters) by Sheehan-Miles, Charles (reading well .txt) 📕

“Is she awake?”

“No. It’s highly unlikely she’ll wake up before tomorrow morning, and we don’t even know then.”

By this time Jessica was standing next to me. She took my hand and squeezed it. And then Jessica said, “If she needs anything ... at all … I’m her twin.”

The doctor gave a tired smile, and reached out and gently squeezed her shoulder. “Fraternal? Well … at this time there’s really no need. But I can assure you, young lady ... your twin is in good hands. Some of the best surgeons in the country operated on her.”

My stomach twisted as I spoke the next words. “And ... Ray? Any news?”

Doctor Peterson sighed. “We’ve had some complications. He’s still going to be in surgery for some time. At this point … we’re doing the best we can. Now, have the two of you had any rest or gotten anything to eat? Right now the best thing you can do is make sure you take care of yourselves.”

“I’m fine,” I said. “Not ready to go anywhere yet, but thanks.”

“Well then,” Peterson said uncomfortably. “Try to get some rest. I don’t anticipate him coming out of surgery for some hours yet.”

I nodded. It was too much. I felt ... numb. Empty. And angry. Angry that any of this was happening. Angry that Ray and my sister were in danger, angry that he’d been called back in the Army in the first place, angry that our lives had been derailed so far off what I’d wanted or expected.

And that was when I heard a voice out in the hall, a familiar voice. Angry, his tone deep and full of rage. “What the hell are you doing here? You better not be harassing Carrie, Major.”

Oh, my God. That was Dylan. I barely heard her quiet response, then he said in a near shout, “Don’t you think you’ve done enough?”

I walked toward the door, just as I heard my sister say, “Dylan, calm down. Let’s just ignore her, all right?”

“No,” he said, “not until she goes somewhere else. I won’t have her stalking outside the door!”

By that time, I got to the door and saw them. Alexandra immediately saw me and quickly left Dylan’s side and threw her arms around me.

I was horrified by what happened next. I’m not a weepy person. I don’t fall apart. I don’t go into hysterics. But right then, feeling my sister throwing her arms around me ... I just cut loose, my knees suddenly sagging. I felt her stagger under me, then lift me up and we were headed back into the waiting room. A moment later, Dylan and Alexandra were both supporting me and walking me back into the waiting room.

That set off another bout of crying. Jesus, I couldn’t get a grip on myself. Alexandra held my hands and let me fall apart, while Dylan went over to Jessica and without a word lifted her out of her seat and wrapped her in a huge bear hug. After a few minutes I got my crying under control again, and Alexandra sat down next to me, still holding my hand.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

“Don’t be,” she replied. “It’s okay.”

I sniffed, and Alexandra passed me a tissue. I took a deep, shuddering breath, trying to get myself under control again.

“Do you want to talk about what happened?” Alexandra asked.

I nodded, told them about the accident, and what we knew so far. Dylan, now sitting down next to Jessica, winced when I told them Ray’s prognosis. They had been friends for a long time, and had gone through basic training together well before their deployment to Afghanistan. He reached out and took my hand, and squeezed it gently.

“How are you hanging in there?” he asked.

“I ... I don’t know. None of this seems real.”

I rubbed my face, then said, “I guess Mom and Dad are probably flying out too?”

Alexandra said, “They’ll be here soon. And Julia and Andrea, too.”

I looked up, meeting her green eyes. “Andrea? She hasn’t been in the States in almost two years.”

Alexandra nodded. “Yeah, I know. Julia and Crank chartered a flight apparently, and stopped in Spain to pick her up.”

“Don’t they have shows scheduled?”

“Cancelled for the next week.”

Dylan leaned forward and said, “I still haven’t met Andrea. Why hasn’t she been home?”

My eyes flew to Alexandra’s. I think both of us had the same question in our mind. Andrea had spent the last three school years in Spain with our grandmother, and neither of us knew why. I did know one thing. As much as I’d tried to protect my sisters, as much as I’d tried to take care of them, I’d failed with her. And it killed me that I didn’t know why.

Alexandra shook her head. “I don’t really know why, Dylan. It’s ... complicated.”

I folded my arms across my chest. “I’m ... honestly shocked she’s coming now. And that Julia and Crank cancelled their show. They didn’t have to do that.”

Alexandra gave me a puzzled look. “Of course they did. We’re family.”

I took a deep breath, and said, “I think I need to get something to eat. I’m starting to get shaky. I’m just ... I’m afraid to leave.”

Jessica leaned forward and said, “You go, I’ll call Alexandra if there’s any news.” She looked at Dylan and Alexandra. “Both of you go with her. I’ll be fine here.”

“You’re sure?” I asked.

Jessica gave me an impatient look. “Honestly, I could use some alone time.”

“All right,” Dylan said. “Call us if there’s any news at all.” His face was strained as he spoke, and I could feel the tension radiating off of him. The last time I’d seen him this pent up was the day after Ray got called up again.

I stood and immediately felt lightheaded. Dylan walked over to the nurses’ station, presumably to tell them we were going to get something to eat, and the three of us walked out of the waiting room. Only to run into Major