Instead of defending myself, all I could say was, “I’m nineteen now,” in a stupid, hollow voice.
“Eighteen, nineteen. Do I look like I care?” Brenda snarled. “My son is way too young to be getting married, and now because of it—because of you—he’s fighting for his very life as we speak.”
I flinched and pressed my hands to my chest as it shuddered. Pain rippled through me. The truth had never hurt so much. “I…I’m sorry,” I croaked, unable to look her in the eye.
She didn’t forgive me. “He could be safely tucked away in Lake Tahoe right now. But no, he stayed behind for you, and ended up saving you and your family. Now, I may lose my one and only child.”
She pressed a hand to her heart and tears spilled down her cheeks. “I’ve already lost one baby. I can’t lose the other. No. I just…I can’t.” Grabbing her husband’s arm, she glared at me, her chest heaving. “This is your fault. How could you do this to me?”
“Hey,” Noel started in my defense, but Phil held up his hand.
“Leave her be. She’s distraught.” But he seemed to agree with her because as he wrapped his arms around his wife in comfort, he sent me an accusing glare.
I shuddered, tears filling my eyes.
“Come on.” Noel took my hand and led me out of the waiting room and into the hall.
We collapsed onto a nearby bench, where he rocked me in his arms while I sobbed.
“She was right. It’s my fault. If I hadn’t suggested we go to that stupid waterfall. If I’d kept a better eye on Colton. If I hadn’t stopped Oren from going to Lake Tahoe.”
“Shh,” Noel commanded softly. “This was not your fault. You did nothing wrong.”
“I should’ve held on to his hand longer. I should’ve—”
“No. Look at me. You did nothing wrong. And if Ten were here right now he’d say the same thing. He made the decision to stay in Ellamore with you. He made the decision to come today. And he made the decision to let go of your hand to save you.”
When I sobbed harder, he stroked my hair and kissed my temple.
“And I’m sure he would’ve done everything the exact same way again if given a second chance. Because he loved you.”
It was the way he said loved in past tense that broke me.