Ok, everyone. This is the sequel to my first story "Twist of Fate". If you haven't read that one yet, do it now:)
"Night, Lilabean," Gabriella said, leaning over to kiss her six year old daughter on the forehead.
"Night, mama," she answered.
"Goodnight, babydoll," Troy said as he tucked his daughter into bed. "I love you."
"I love you more," she said with a grin.
"I love you most," he answered before completing their nightly ritual by placing a kiss on the tip of her nose. After lying in bed talking and cuddling for a while they went to bed as well.
Hours later their slumber was interrupted by the ringing of the telephone. Troy sat up and turned on bedside lamp. The clock read three o'clock. That could only mean one thing. He and Gabriella exchanged worried glances before he answered the phone.
"Hello…?"
Gabriella and Troy stood silently on the doorstep waiting for an answer. Troy was holding Lila, who was sound asleep. They had just received the call they had been dreading. A porch light flicked on seconds before the door opened.
"Come on in," Taylor said solemnly. She had bags under her bloodshot eyes and her cheeks were streaked with tears. Once they were inside, she quietly shut the door and ushered them into a small dimly lit room down the hall. The room was filled with all kinds of medical equipment surrounding a bed with crisp white sheets.
"Hey, Chad," Troy said softly as he approached the bed. He fought to hold back tears at the sight of his best friend. He was in terrible shape. It was obvious that he didn't have much time left.
Chad's eyes fluttered open. "Hey," he said in a raspy, barely audible voice.
"Hey, Slick," Gabriella said as she joined Troy at the bedside. Chad gave a weak smile. He gave himself a new nickname when the chemotherapy made him lose all his hair.
Silence overcame the room, as nobody knew what to say. "Thanks," Chad finally said. "For being here."
"No," Troy said. "Thank you for being there and being a friend all these years."
"You really think we would miss this?" Gabriella asked as the tears she was trying to hold back spilled over. "I love you, Chad." She leaned over and gave him a hug and a soft kiss on the corner of his mouth.
Two years earlier, he had been diagnosed with the late stages of cancer. He underwent all the chemo and radiation, but it was too progressed for the treatments to work. When it became clear that his time on earth was coming to an end, he decided that he wanted to pass in the comfort of his own home surrounded by the ones he loved. He and Taylor chose to hire a home nurse to take care of him and make him as comfortable as possible until the time came.
"You, too," Chad whispered as Taylor walked back into the room holding a very sleepy little boy. She set him down on the bed next to him just as Lila started to wake up.
"Hey, daddy," he said rubbing his eyes.
"Hey, Junior."
"What's going on?" he asked. "Why is everyone here?"
"Well, you know how daddy's been really sick?" Taylor asked, not sure how to break the news to their son. He nodded. "Well, he's not going to get any better. He's getting sicker."
"Is he going to heaven now?" he asked innocently.
A lump caught in her throat. "Yes, baby."
The boy, Chadrick Jacob Danforth Jr., otherwise known as Junior, looked to his father. "Daddy?"
"Unca Chad?" Lila asked sadly.
"Come here," he said weakly patting the bed next to him. "You, too," he said to Lila. The children each lay next to him and cuddled into his sides. "I want to tell you two something," he began in a frail raspy voice. "Do you know what's out there? Past the doors and windows?" They shook their heads. "It's the world, and you're going to be a part of it someday… It's going to teach you something every day… You'll make mistakes and you'll make friends… Your mommy will probably tell you every embarrassing or stupid thing I've ever done… Maybe you'll meet a woman as wonderful as your mom… Maybe you've already met her…" He looked from Junior to Lila and back again. "Maybe you'll have friendships like ours and the Bolton's… But when you're not a little boy anymore… When the world has taught you to be a man… You'll still make mistakes… but… your family and the friends you made along the way… will help you… Even though… it seems the world… is going out of its way… to… teach you these hard lessons… you'll realize it's the same world… that gave you your family… and your friends… You're going to learn… that the world… will protect you… too… And even though… it may seem… that I'm not there… to see you… growing up… I'll be watching you… every day… of your life… Just remember… Daddy… loves… you… You… too… Lilabean," he finished with heaving labored breaths.
"Ok, daddy. I love you, too," Junior replied.
"I love you, too, Unca Chad," Lila said sweetly, batting her eyes at him.
Taylor, Troy and Gabriella all had tears streaming down their faces. They couldn't believe it had come to this. They had all been clinging to the little shred of hope that he would turn around and make a full recovery.
Troy laced his fingers through Gabriella's and gave her hand a squeeze while Taylor leaned over Chad and he whispered something in her ear. She nodded and gave a small smile before placing a soft lingering kiss on his lips.
"I… love… you… guys," Chad whispered.
"We love you, too," Troy said taking his best friend's hand in his own.
The room became silent except for Chad's labored wheezing. He gave each person one last loving look before closing his eyes and taking his last breath.
So...? What do you think? Leave me some reviews and let me know!