The Exception (10 page)

Jillian

The next day, as I was arranging the bouquet of flowers I picked up for Kristen, Dr. Jenkins walked in. I swallowed hard when I saw the look on his face.

“I have the results of your scan, Kristen,” he softly spoke.

Noah and I both grabbed hold of her hands while we waited for the doctor to give her the results.

“How long do I have?” she bravely asked.

“Anywhere from six to nine months. But nine months is stretching it. The cancer has spread to other areas of the brain.”

It felt like the air had been knocked out of me and to breathe was nearly impossible. Tears started to stream down Noah’s face, and as I looked at Kristen, she remained composed and calm, as if she already knew what he was going to say.

“Thank you, Dr. Jenkins,” she spoke. “I know you’ve done everything you could.”

“Again, I’m sorry. You’re far too young to have to go through this. You can go home tomorrow, but you’ll still need to be on antibiotics for the bacterial infection,” he spoke before walking out of the room.

Tears started to pour from my eyes. I knew I needed to be strong for her, but I couldn’t be. This was too much of a shock. Noah buried his head into her arm and sobbed. The only one in the room who wasn’t crying was Kristen and I couldn’t understand why. Maybe it hadn’t hit her yet.

“I’m so sorry.” I bawled like a baby.

“The two of you have about five minutes left of crying time and then it stops. I was prepared for this. I knew deep down that I wasn’t going to get better. I made peace with it already and I need you both to do the same. I’m not afraid to die.”

After drying my eyes, I stepped out of the room to give her and Noah time alone. Walking out of the hospital, I put on my sunglasses and took a seat on a bench underneath a large tree. The tears wouldn’t stop falling and I had never felt so alone. She was my sister, she was dying, and I had no one to talk to, right here, right now. I tried to call Kellan and he didn’t answer, so I pulled up Drew’s number. He said if I ever needed anything to call him. But what did I actually need? To hear his voice? Maybe. No. I wasn’t going to burden him with my problems. I had never even mentioned Kristen to him. Anyway, I was sure he’d already forgotten about me and the fact that he even gave me his number. I needed to grow the hell up and push my feelings about this aside for now and be there for my sister. I couldn’t let her see me crumble into a million pieces.

As I approached her room, I stood in the doorway and stared at her.

“Where have you been?” she softly spoke.

“Outside, sitting on a bench under a large tree.” I gently grinned.

“Okay. I get it. You needed your time to absorb what Dr. Jenkins said.”

“Where’s Noah?” I asked as I sat down on the edge of her bed.

“He’s calling his family.” She grabbed my hand. “Listen, I’m going to make the most of the time I have left and that doesn’t include watching the people I love being upset. Jill, you have to understand that I was prepared for this, so it’s not news to me.”

“How the fuck are you so strong?” I pouted.

“I get it from my mom. She wasn’t afraid to die and neither am I. I know it’s hard on you and Noah. If the situation was reversed, I’d be devastated, but I need you to just go on. Live your life as if I wasn’t dying. I intend to and I’m going to make each day worth it. Would you like to take a painting class with me?” She smiled.

“A painting class?” I cocked my head.

“Yes. I’ve always wanted to take one and, damn it, I’m going to do it before it’s too late.”

“I’d love to take a painting class with you. Would you like me to set it up?”

“Nope. I’ll do it and I’ll let you know when it is.”

I leaned over and hugged her. “You are so brave, my dear sister.”

“It runs in our family.” She smiled. “You’re the brave one for leaving your family behind and starting a new life. Not many people can do that.”

“I didn’t leave my family behind. You’re my family and all the family I need.”

Noah walked back into the room with his parents and, immediately, his mother started to cry.

“Go home now. There’s no reason for you to stay and witness this. I’m fine and I’ll call you later.”

“Are you sure?” I asked.

“Very sure.” She gave a small smile. “You better go fix your eyes. They’re a mess.”

“I know.” I put my sunglasses back on.

I gave her a kiss and hugged Noah goodbye. As I stepped out of the hospital, the once bright blue sunny sky had turned gray and now it was raining. I wasn’t ready to go home yet. Walking back into the hospital, I stopped at the gift shop and picked up an umbrella. I decided to leave my sunglasses on to hide the fact that I’d been crying. If I was going to walk around the streets of New York City, I didn’t need people staring at me.

Walking down Madison Ave, I stared straight ahead as I held the umbrella over my head. My shoes sloshed on the wet pavement as the rain poured down. Kristen told me not to be sad, but how could I not be? She was the only person I had left in this world and now she was being taken away from me. The rain suddenly stopped and the sun appeared from amongst the clouds. As I was closing my umbrella, I pulled my ringing phone from my pocket. When I looked down at it, I saw Kellan was calling.

“Oh, excuse me,” a man’s voice spoke and his hand lightly touched my arm as he walked by.

“I’m sor—” I turned around and gasped. “Drew?” I shouted.

He stopped dead in his tracks and stood there for a second before turning around.

“Jillian?”

“Yes!” My heart started pounding.

He walked towards me and stopped as he stood there and stared at me.

“What—I can’t believe—oh my God.” He wrapped his arms around me.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“I live here. What are you doing here?” He broke our embrace and stared at me through my sunglasses.

“I live here too. This is where I came right from Hawaii.”

His lips curved up into a small smile while he removed my sunglasses from my face. Our eyes locked onto each other and his smile drifted away.

“You’ve been crying,” he spoke as he took his thumbs and tried to wipe away the stains under my eyes. “What happened?”

“Long story.” I looked down.

“I’ve got all the time in the world. Do you want to grab a bite to eat? Or we can go somewhere and talk.”

“I am starving. I haven’t eaten all day.”

“Then let’s go get something to eat.” He smiled as he held his arm out and I hooked mine around his. “There’s Serafina’s right across the street if you like pizza or pasta.”

“That’s fine. I really need a drink.”

Per Drew’s request, we were seated in a round corner booth away from the crowd that occupied the restaurant.

“Hello, my name is Kim and I’ll be taking your order. May I start you off with something to drink?”

“I’ll have a glass of Moscato, please,” I replied.

“Just bring the whole bottle and two glasses,” Drew told her.

He reached across the table and took hold of my hand, gently rubbing his thumb across my skin. Feeling his warm touch soothed me and I still couldn’t believe he was here.”

“I can’t believe I’m sitting across from you right now.” He smiled. “I thought I’d never see you again.”

“I know, right? I can’t believe it either.”

“Tell me what’s wrong, Jillian. Why were you crying?”

I swallowed hard and then took in a deep breath.

“It’s my sister, Kristen.”

“I thought you were an only child?”

“Remember when you asked if I was an only child and I said sort of but that’s another story?”

“Yes. I remember.”

“I have a half-sister and her name is Kristen. She was the product of an affair that my father had years ago. She found me and we connected. About six months ago, she was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. She went through chemo and radiation with the hopes that the tumor had shrunk. But it didn’t and she was told today that the cancer spread and she has about six to nine months left to live.” My eyes started to water.

The waitress set down two glasses and poured some wine into each of them.

“Excuse me, where’s your restrooms?” I asked.

“Right behind you, sweetie.” She gave me a sad and pathetic look.

“Hold your thoughts.” I looked at Drew. “I’m going to clean myself up a bit.”

“Okay. Take as much time as you need.”

Drew

I couldn’t believe she was here in New York. Seeing her again was a dream come true. Man, the news about her sister tore at my heart. Pulling out my phone, I called Lia.

“Mr. Westbrook’s office.”

“Lia, it’s me. I’m not coming back to the office today. Clear my schedule.”

“Is everything okay, Drew?” she asked.

“Everything’s fine. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

Just as I ended the call, Jillian walked back to the table.

“Better?” she asked.

“I didn’t think you looked bad to begin with.” I smiled.

She sat down and I immediately reached for her hand.

“I’m sorry about your sister. I can only imagine what you’re going through right now.”

“Thank you. I just can’t absorb it.”

“How is she doing?”

I let out a light laugh. “She was prepared for this and already accepted it. She’s acting like it’s no big deal and that’s what I can’t understand. And poor Noah.”

“Her husband?” I asked.

“Her boyfriend. He just sobbed like I’d never seen a man sob before. It’s weird, Drew. She’s so strong, she doesn’t seem scared, and she said she’s not afraid to die.”

“Maybe she isn’t and you need to believe her. Whether you think it’s weird or not, you have to respect what she says and how she feels.”

“I know and I do. Anyway, enough about me. I can’t believe you live in New York.”

“I can’t believe you moved to New York.” I smirked.

“I’m afraid to ask,” she spoke as she picked up her glass of wine. “Have you heard from Jess?”

I sighed. “Oh yeah. She came storming into my office the other day begging me to take her back.”

“Did you?”

“Of course not. I told her that she deserved someone who could love her because I didn’t. The thing is everyone is happy I broke up with her. She wasn’t very popular with my friends and family.”

“I can understand why.” She laughed.

“It’s good to see you laugh, Jillian.”

She held up her glass to me. “Thank you again, Mr. Westbrook, for making my shitty day a little less shitty.”

“It’s my pleasure.” I winked. We talked a little more while we ate and then I called Roland to bring the car around.

“Let me drive you home.”

“I can catch a cab. I don’t want you going out of your way.”

“It’s not out of my way and I want to.”

Roland pulled up and I opened the door for her.

“It’s not an option. I’m taking you home.”

“Well, if you insist.” She smiled.

Fuck. I couldn’t even begin to explain the feelings that soared through me. I was happy and I didn’t want to say goodbye. All I wanted to do was tell her that I really liked her and that I wanted to spend as much time with her as possible. But I couldn’t. I didn’t want to cause any waves or rock the boat, so to speak.

“Where to?” I asked.

“The Ellington on West 52
nd
Street, please.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“No reason. That’s a really nice building. They have some great apartments.”

“I know. I just moved in a few days ago and I absolutely love it.”

There was no way. No way at all she was the one who rented my apartment. It was just a coincidence. When Roland pulled up to the building, I opened the door, climbed out, and held out my hand to her.

“Would you like to come up and see my apartment?” she asked.

Perfect. I was hoping she’d ask so I didn’t have to.

“I’d love to.”

As we stepped into the elevator, she pushed the button to the twenty-eighth floor. It was her. The woman of my dreams was the one who rented my apartment.

“Well, here it is.” She smiled as she opened the door.

“Nice furniture. I like the color scheme.”

“Thanks. My mom hates those colors.” She grinned.

I walked around the space that I once called home. Telling her that I was her landlord was going to be fun.

“I like the way you placed your furniture. If it was my place, I would have put my couch this way and the chairs over here. But the way you did it looks great too.”

I walked into the bedroom. “My bed would have been placed here. Not where you have it, but it looks good there.” I winked as she stood there, narrowing her eyes at me. Walking out of the bedroom and over to the balcony door, I opened it. “Make sure that you have the lock on the knob unlocked before stepping onto the balcony. It’s one of those that doesn’t feel like it’s locked from the inside, but if you turn the knob from the outside, it’s locked. See.” I smiled. “You wouldn’t want to get locked out there. It’s not fun.”

“How did you know that?” She shook her head in confusion.

With a grin, I held out my hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Miss Bell. I’m Drew Westbrook, your landlord.”

“Huh?” Her eyes widened.

“No handshake for your landlord?”

She gently placed her hand in mine. “Wait a minute! This is your apartment?!”

I chuckled. “Yes. This is my apartment.”

“And you used to live here?”

“Yes, before I bought my townhouse. I kept it for an investment.”

She placed her hands on her head. “This is literally fucking crazy, Drew.”

“I know.” I laughed.

“So you knew I was here in New York?”

“No. Everything is handled through my realtor. Rick just called and told me that a nice young woman rented it. I had no clue it was you.”

Placing my hands on her hips, I spoke, “Weird, right?”

“I have no words right now. This is totally crazy.” She smiled.

All I wanted to do was feel the softness of her lips again. As I stared into her blue eyes, she stared back at me. Should I risk it? Maybe she didn’t want me to kiss her? But I’d never know until I tried and I wasn’t about to let this opportunity escape me. Brushing a strand of hair from her face, I tucked it behind her ear and leaned in, brushing my lips against hers. She returned my kiss and placed her hands on my chest. Our tongues softly tangled as our lips gently touched. Nothing hot and heavy yet. I needed to respect her boundaries.

“I couldn’t stop thinking about you since I left Hawaii,” I quietly spoke in between kisses.

“I couldn’t either.”

I broke our kiss. “You couldn’t stop thinking about you either?” I smirked.

Her hand lightly smacked my chest.

“No. I thought about you all the time.”

“Then why didn’t you call?”

She sighed and turned her back to me. “I did.”

A smile crossed my lips. “The other night? That was you?”

“Yeah. Sorry about that. I just—” She paused.

“Just what, Jillian?”

“I just wanted to hear a familiar voice.”

Wrapping my arms around her from behind, I kissed the side of her neck.

“I’m happy you did. But I do have a question.”

“What?” She turned around in my arms.

“You could have easily known that I was from New York just by the area code.”

“Oh. To be honest, I didn’t even pay attention.”

“Do you want me to leave?” I asked as I ran my thumb across her lips.

“It’s probably for the best. Right now isn’t a good time.”

“You’re right. I’m happy you’re here.” I smiled as I kissed her forehead. “Give me a call, okay? And don’t have your number on private.”

“I will and I won’t.”