Skylar’s heart thudded in her chest as she absorbed Edgar’s words. Her mind raced with worry, but she forced herself to remain calm. Gloria had been doing better, hadn’t she? The idea that something had suddenly worsened was unsettling, especially since Joe had seemed so composed when they’d first received the news.
Joe’s face, however, had hardened into a mask of concern, his jaw clenched tightly. “We’ll wait here,” he said, his voice low, as if trying to control his emotions. He turned to Skylar. “You should rest, too. You’ve been through a lot.”
Skylar nodded silently, unable to shake off the unease gnawing at her. She sat in the sterile hospital room, feeling the weight of the situation pressing on her. Her mind drifted to the promise she’d made to herself: that she would help Gloria in any way she could. If something had happened to the woman who had been a constant presence in her life, she wouldn’t forgive herself.
Joe stood by the window, his expression unreadable as he stared out at the dimming sky. After a few moments of quiet, he spoke, almost as if to himself. “I never wanted this… everything feels so complicated now.” He turned to Skylar, his gaze intense. “I just want what’s best for Grandma.”
Skylar’s gaze softened as she watched him, seeing the vulnerability that he rarely allowed others to witness. The hard edges of his personality seemed to melt away when it came to Gloria. She understood that feeling too well—wanting to protect someone so dearly.
“I know you do,” Skylar replied, her voice steady despite the emotions roiling inside. “We both want the same thing. We want to see her happy, safe.”
Joe nodded, though it was clear he was lost in his own thoughts. A long silence followed, each of them processing the situation in their own way.
Finally, the door to the ward opened, and Edgar stepped in, his expression serious. “She’s resting now. She’s stable, but you should both take a break and eat something. It’s been a long day.”
Joe didn’t need to be told twice. His eyes briefly met Skylar’s, and without a word, he motioned for her to follow him out of the room.
As they walked down the corridor, Skylar’s mind remained fixed on Gloria’s condition. The hospital was filled with the sounds of beeping machines and quiet footsteps, but all she could hear was the sound of her own heartbeat pounding in her ears.
Joe led them to a small café within the hospital, where the fluorescent lights cast a pale glow over the tables. They sat down in silence, neither of them feeling the need to break the quiet just yet. Skylar absentmindedly stirred her drink, her thoughts still heavy with worry.
“Skylar,” Joe’s voice cut through the silence, surprising her. “Tomorrow, after the courthouse… I think it’s better if we focus on taking care of Grandma first. We’ll deal with the divorce later.”
Skylar looked at him, catching the determination in his eyes. “Of course,” she said quietly. “We’ll do whatever it takes for her.”
Joe’s hand clenched around his cup, his knuckles turning white. “I’m not sure where everything’s going with us, but I’m not ready to lose her.”
Skylar met his gaze, her own thoughts mirroring his sentiment. The complexity of their relationship, the secret marriage, everything they had built… it all seemed like it might crumble under the weight of everything that was happening. But for now, the most important thing was Gloria.
“We’ll make sure she’s okay,” Skylar promised.
Joe gave a small nod, his eyes softening ever so slightly. “Yeah. We will.”
The two of them sat there in the dim light, united by their care for Gloria, unsure of what the future held but determined to face it together—at least for her sake.
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