Page 119 of The Betrayal

“I will be,” and it's true. I will be. I just need to get some things sorted first.

My dad and Amora have been gone a little over twenty minutes and Keaton still hasn't come near or by. I don't get it. Maybe the final shove was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I have no idea, but I miss him. My palm rubs the ache out of my chest and my heart sinks into the depths of my stomach.

The door opens and I see Connie and Reese walking through with black and gold balloons, a birthday cake and presents. My eyes light up at their kindness.

“How you doing?” Connie asks, dragging the handful of balloons towards me and arranging them so they look pretty.

“I'm okay,” I mean, I don't think I am, but I am tired of having the same conversations.

“Sorry we're celebrating your birthday here,” Reese's brows furrow and I let out a soft sigh. The sound of the babies heartbeats comforting the quiet room and drowning out the beeping from the machine.

“Could be worse,” I breathe out, turning my face to look at the screen.

“Yeah?” Reese asks as she places some pink peonies in a vase on the unit beside my bed.

“Yeah, I could be dead,” I say deadpan.

“Wow, that's dark,” Connie blows out her cheeks as she places their presents on my lap.

“Not really, just stating a fact,” my eyes move between the both of them. “Was Keaton outside?” I ask and I really do try to not sound bothered, but I failed, miserably.

“No hon,” Reese says as she sits at the foot of the bed, “he walked off with Nate and Kaleb,” she gives a sorry smile and my heart throbs in my chest.

“Oh,” my eyes fall for a moment as I look at my hands.

“I'm sure he has just popped out,” Connie joins in.

“Yeah, maybe.”

Silence blankets us for just a moment before Reese is shoving a present in my face. “Here, this is from me, Killian and Celeste.” I take the impeccably wrapped gift. Shiny gold wrapping paper and a huge black bow. The box is long and slim and excitement courses through me.

Slowly tugging at the ribbon, I watch as it unravels, a bit like my life to be honest, and I see a pretty box. I sink my teeth into my bottom lip as I lift the lid and I see a pretty gold bracelet. I look up at Reese, tears in my eyes.

It's a charm bracelet with delicate charms hanging off the twisted chain. A dummy, a stethoscope, a sun and my birthstone, citrine.

“Reese.”

“It's just a little something,” she says nonchalant.

“It's beautiful, thank you,” my bottom lip trembles.

I run my fingers gently over the bracelet and I feel so overwhelmed.

“My turn,” Connie says as she squeezes herself next to me, legs on the bed. She passes me a small box with the same wrapping paper.

I tug at the bow. and lift the box to reveal a gold ring with my birthstone, encased with diamonds.

“Girls... this is...”

I can't even finish my words as I am a blubbering mess.

“Oh doll,” Connie laughs, wrapping her arm round me and pulling me in for a cuddle. Reese is at my side as well as we stay in this embrace whilst I soak them with my tears,

I loved these girls with everything I had.

Dr Kyra popped in to see me to monitor me and the babies.

“All is looking good, how are you feeling?” she asks, taking my temperature before jotting down notes.