Free Letting Go of You (Anchored Hearts #2) by J.M. Witt

asked.
    “He did.  He’s very fragile and the next twenty four hours will be touch and go.  He’s on a ventilator, but we’re hoping to take him off of it soon.”
    I burst into tears as my father and Lisa wrapped me in their arms.  Calvin was alive.  He made it through surgery.  As I wiped my tears away and looked to Jane, I realized she wasn’t in the room with us.  My father shook hands with the doctors and they told us a nurse would be with us soon to take us up to see Cal.  My father and Lisa followed the doctors out of the room and back into the waiting room. 
    “He made it.”  My father’s voice echoed through the room as my eyes searched for James.
    I found him standing in the corner and realized that it was the same corner he left me in the night of Holly’s shooting.  I threw my arms around his neck as I buried my face in his shoulder.  Unable to contain my tears, he held me tight as I mourned for Holly once more and rejoiced that my brother was alive. 
    “Where’s Jane?” 
    “I thought she was with you.”
    We let go of each other and scanned the room looking for Jane.  “Oh no, James.  She wasn’t in there with us.  She doesn’t know he’s alive.  We have to find her.”
    “I’ll find her.”  He kissed my forehead before leaving the room in search of Jane.
    It wasn’t very long before a nurse took my father, Lisa and I up to ICU.  We stood outside his room and watched as the nurses and doctors got Cal set up in his room.  Except for the breathing tube invading his mouth, the IVs sticking out of his arms, and the bandages covering his chest he looked like he was asleep , not a care in the world.  Once we were allowed in his room, I laid my hand on his forehead as a tear fell on to his cheek.  Gently, I wiped it away before I kissed his cheek.
    Leaning into his ear I whispered, “Don’t you dare leave me Cal.  You’re strong and you can survive this, you already have.”  I took a seat as my father hovered over him and professed his love to his only son.
    I needed to stretch my legs and decided to go for a walk to call James.  I was worried that he hadn’t found Jane yet and was becoming concerned for both of them.  When I made it to the nurse’s station I spotted both James and Jane arguing with the nurse on duty.  The nurse was bitching about the number of guests allowed as I pulled them to an adjoining lobby.
    I explained everything to them as best I could.  The relief that washed over Jane was visible.  I was relieved that she was okay, but angry too.  I wanted answers on how this all happened, but knew that it wasn’t the time or place.
    “Can I see him?”  She asked hesitantly.
    “Yes, I’ll put you on the list.  They’re constantly checking his vitals, but it shouldn’t be a problem.”  I walked back over to the desk and spoke with the nurse.  “They’re both family.  Please add them to the list.”  The nurse looked to me and conceded to my request.
    Jane went to his room and I went and sat next to James in the lobby.  His head was resting in his hands and I looked to the window to see the sun was up and had been for a while.  It had been one of the longest nights of my life.  I wrapped an arm around his back and placed my head on his shoulder.  He jumped at my touch, but when he made eye contact with me he pulled me into his lap.  We didn’t speak only held on to one another.  The exhaustion flooded me and soon we were both asleep in the waiting room.
     
    ~<>~<>~<>~
     
    The next couple of days were extremely stressful.  Dad and I spent most of the days with Calvin and Jane took the nights.  Cecily gave me a few days off work; Lena was covering for me, and tomorrow was Christmas.  Calvin was still in a coma, but they’d removed the ventilator that morning.  The doctors couldn’t say when or if Calvin would wake up, but I knew he would.  I just prayed it was soon.  I hadn’t seen much of James given the circumstances and