"Oh, sorry," I muttered, slightly embarrassed and shuffled away.


    She changed Doris drip, checked her temperature and whatever else nurses do when theye to check their patients and left.


    Lucas and Doris continued talking. "Now, I am much more relieved that you have found happiness."


    "I have found happiness," Lucas repeated then simultaneously, Doris and Lucas turned to me, a dashing smile on Lucas'' lips then Mark lifted his head too. I flushed red under all of their gazes, willing them to look away. Thankfully they did but Mark''s unfathomable gaze lingered. I met his gaze and lifted a brow at him and he looked away.


    Doris looked at Lucas, her eyes filled with a mixture of forlornness, rue and...contentment? "Lucas," she was cupping his cheek again. "You''re a good kid. I hope you don''t let go of whatever makes you happy." She held his gaze steely. "Never let her go, Lucas.


    He nodded but Grandma shook his head, "Promise me.


    Lucas didn''t respond immediately, his hold on Reba just tightened and the both of them seemed to be having a staredown then Lucas said, "You will live to see me keep her till the end of time."


    Reba chuckled and it sounded like old times when she was not lying on a hospital bed. "Promise me, boy. Give me your word."


    "I promise you, Doris. I''ll never let her go."


    Doris smiled. Lucas leaned forward and ced a kiss on her forehead then he muttered, "Thank you."


    Doris looked at each of us one after the other and smiled. "Come on," she opened her arms and grinned wickedly, "Group hug, kids." Lucasughed, a tear dropping on my hand as I joined him. I don''t think he knew anyone noticed so I made noment about it. Doris tipped her head up and red at Mark who remained standing alone like a grumpy kid. "Come over here. It''s an order."


    Mark rolled his eyes, but he stepped forward anyway. Setting


    whatever grievances we had, we all


    crowded Grandma and hugged her, her small, trembling arms struggled to stay around us.


    A few secondster, we pulled away and every one of our eyes shimmered with tears. We watched Grandma sigh deeply. Her lips were still curved in a smile as she closed her eyes.


    I think we had all thought, she just closed her eyes like she''s been doing the whole time so we''re were expecting her to open her eyes and pass us another re but Doris eyes remained shut.


    It was like time stopped and we all froze as we stared at rigid form in the bed.


    A second passed...then another.. and then Mark and Lucas were shouting for the doctor.


    1 watched, my sound of my drumming heart resounding in my ears, as Lucas and Mark shook Doris. Lucas yelled something at Mark then Mark turned and ran past me and I heard the door m close. Chapter 0141


    It all happened like a blur. The doctor and several nurses rushed in. Lucas ran his fingers in his hair then he came to my side and hugged me to him.


    I wasn''t sure if I cried or not but I buried my face in Lucas'' chest as the doctors and nurses ran helter skelter and did their thing.


    When Lucas softly called my name and I looked up, the spot on his shirt where my face had been on was wet. His thumbs ran across my cheeks then he looked behind me.Têxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    I followed his gaze. Doris eyes were closed. Lucas exined that she had slipped into aa. "Don''t worry, she''ll make it," he said but it sounded more like he was trying to convince himself.


    But I had clearly heard the doctor after he sighed, "There''s an equal probablity that she would either make it or remain ina until death."