Page 60 of Any Kind of Life
“I get it.” Paige nodded. “And I do understand where your fears come from. I guess all we can do, Hannah and I, is show you and Juliet that we don’t see futures with anyone else, you know?”
“We know you don’t. I just think it’s important that Juliet is given a little leeway when it comes to speaking about her insecurities. You have the opportunity to travel the world and really make something of yourself, Paige. I can totally understand why she is confused that you don’t want to. But then, on the other hand, I see why you don’t want to.”
“I don’t think anything at all really matters right now other than Juliet waking up. Once I see her and speak to her, I think I’ll start to settle.” Paige brought her knee up to her chest, resting her foot on the edge of her chair. “I know it’s going to be a long road to recovery, but I’m here for her. The bar is…not important at the minute.”
“Juliet is going to be just fine,” Hannah said, holding onto Caz’s hand tight. “And so will you. Because you have us…and Edie.”
“How is Edie?” Paige wished she could spend some time with Hannah’s daughter, but right now, it wasn’t possible.
“She’s okay. I think she’s been a bit anxious with everything that’s happened, you know she’s really fond of Juliet, but we’ve tried to be honest with her. Although, once she sees that fucking article, we’ll have no choice but to confirm what happened.”
“You’re a really great mum.” Paige loved watching Hannah and Edie’s relationship. Then there was Caz. Considering they’d only been together for a couple of years, you’d never know it from the outside looking in. Caz was brilliant with Edie. “You’re both great parents.”
“You never wanted kids?” Hannah asked as she got to her feet and started to clear the plates away.
“It’s not something I’ve really thought about. Before Juliet, I was dealing with James. I certainly didn’t want to raise a family with him, but with Juliet? I think I’d do it in a heartbeat.”
“Has she ever hinted at kids?” Caz passed the plates along to Hannah.
“She did when we first met. Before we were even together. We’d met up for lunch when I’d just started working at the bar.” Paige recalled that day vividly. “She spoke about what she’d hoped for when she was younger. You know, the wife and kids, the big house, while being a successful lawyer.”
“Interesting.”
Paige frowned. “Is it?”
“That she would bring that up with you when you were nothing other than a very new employee at the bar? I think so.” Hannah winked as she turned for the dishwasher. “I think you and Juliet would make great parents.”
Paige lifted a shoulder. “Well, whatever happens, it ain’t happening any time soon. Juliet almost died last week. I don’t think the kids conversation is something to have right now.” Paige chewed her lip as she watched Hannah and Caz. “I…did ask her something when I got to the bar that afternoon, though. T-the day I found her.”
Hannah and Caz watched Paige expectantly.
“I asked her to marry me. When she was dying. She said yes.”
Caz beamed a smile. “Of course she said yes. She would always say yes. She loves you.”
“I didn’t only do it because of what was happening. Granted, I probably wouldn’t have asked her for a while yet, but the thought of her dying and never knowing that’s how much I loved her…I had to.”
A tear slid down Caz’s cheek, quickly mopped up by the pad of Hannah’s thumb.
As Paige opened her mouth to speak, to comfort Caz, her phone started to ring on the table beside her.
“H-hello?”
“Paige, hi. Dr Nunez here.”
Paige’s heart sank. “H-hi.”
“If you’d like to make your way to the hospital, we’re in the process of waking Juliet up. It could take a while, she’s been receiving heavy sedation, but I’m sure she would love it if you were here when she does wake up.”
Paige shot to her feet as her heart pounded. “I’m on my way.” She quickly ended the call and shoved her phone into her pocket, frantically checking what she needed. Right now, anything here wasn’t important. Just her phone was enough. And her keys. “That was Juliet’s doctor. They’re going to wake her up.”
Hannah approached and placed her hands on Paige’s shoulders. “Hey, take a breath. Just relax.”
“I can’t. If she wakes up and I’m not there, I’ll never forgive myself.”
Caz joined Hannah, offering Paige a supportive squeeze of the hand. “Calmly get what you need, and we’ll drop you off at the hospital. Okay?”
Paige looked between Hannah and Caz, her bottom lip trembling as a tear slid down her cheek. “What if there are complications?”