Moving On

Chapter 25 - Part 2

Tyler's face was buried in his hands when he heard someone calling his name. He ignored it and remained in his position.

"Ty."

He drew a deep breath when he heard the voice he thought he'd long forgotten.

"Ty, Kate is safe."

His head snapped up at the news, but when he saw the familiar face in front of him, he froze.

"Kate's safe. Come with me."

He closed his eyes, thinking he was losing his mind.

"I'm sorry I was such a lousy grandfather to you."

He forced his eyes open, but his grandfather was gone. He was losing it.

"Ty!"

He turned as Ryan came running back toward him with Kate in his arms.

He ran his hand through his hair and got up. The strength returned to his legs, and he followed them to the ambulance. "How is she? Is she hurt?" Tyler took her hand. "Kate?"

Ryan laid her down on the stretcher, and the paramedics immediately put an oxygen mask on her.

Tyler stood aside, but refused to let go of Kate's hand even as the paramedics attended to her.

"Heart rate and blood pressure normal. She'll be fine." The paramedics pushed the stretcher into the ambulance. "Who's coming along?"

Tyler hopped up into the ambulance.

"See you at the hospital," Ryan said, then went back to put out the flames.

Tyler continued holding Kate's hand as the ambulance drove off. He brushed her hair aside and skimmed his finger down her cheek.

Kate's eyes fluttered open for a mere second.

"Kate?"

Slowly, her eyes opened. "Ty?" she mumbled, her voice deep and hoarse. She tried clearing her throat, but ended up coughing.

"Shh ... It's okay, just rest."

Gently, he kneaded along her neck and noticed she was wearing another necklace with her usual locket. He recognized the necklace immediately, but he lifted the pendant for a closer look anyway.

He grunted with disbelief as he held the angel pendant in his hand.

Kate was wearing the necklace he'd given his mother. The necklace that had cost him a year's savings. The necklace that his mother never took off.

He set the pendant down and gave Kate a peck on the forehead. Maybe Kate wasn't dreaming when she saw the couple dancing. Maybe she really did hear someone playing the piano.

Maybe she was right about everything; there really were angels watching over her every move.

Once they got to the hospital, Kate was whisked off for a thorough checkup before being pushed into a hospital ward.

By the time she got to the ward, Marianne and the rest of the gang arrived.

Tyler sat beside her on the hospital bed, keeping Kate in his arms and the rest of them away from her. He knew they were all happy to see her, but he didn't want them crowding around her; she needed her rest.

"Where's Eve?"

"Here," Dan said as he wheeled Evelyn in.

Kate stared at the cast around Evelyn's right arm and shoulder and the cuts on her other hand.

"Don't worry, the cast will come off in time for your wedding," Evelyn said.

Kate rolled her eyes. "I wasn't worried about you ruining the aesthetics of the wedding. I was just wondering if it was my push that caused your injuries."

It was Evelyn's turn to roll her eyes. "You saved my life, Kate. If you hadn't pushed me out, both of us could be dead."

"I'm sorry I was late. My car broke down and my phone was dead. I couldn't get to your house in time. Otherwise—"

"Dan, it isn't your fault. You weren't the one who set the fire. Besides, we're both fine," Kate said.

"Speaking of which, how did you get out?" Evelyn asked.

Kate chewed on her lower lip and turned to Tyler. "I'm not sure. Everything is such a blur. I thought ..." She paused for a moment, then smiled wryly at Tyler. "I thought I saw your parents. They helped me get back to the bathroom and shot the window. I can't remember anything else."

Everyone stared at Kate with blank faces.

Joseph was the first to speak. "You were probably hallucinating. Your brain was lacking in oxygen and—"

"Marianne, look at her necklace," Tyler interjected.

Marianne frowned, but moved closer for a look. Even Kate looked down at the long chain holding her locket.

Tyler reached behind Kate's neck and unclasped the necklace he'd once given his mother. Holding one end of the chain, he lifted the necklace and let the rest of the chain hang freely.

Marianne gasped and took the necklace from him. "Where did you get this? Your grandfather searched everywhere for it."

"What's that?" Kate asked.

"I gave this necklace to my mother when I was young."

"And she never took it off," Marianne added.

Everyone leaned in closer to look at the necklace.

"Where did you get that?" Evelyn asked.

"I don't know."

Marianne placed the necklace into Kate's hand. "I know you're safe. That's all that matters."

Kate nodded. "And Lydia?"

"I left her a message, and she called back a while ago. She says she's fine. She wanted to come over now, but I told her you were fine and to come tomorrow instead," Evelyn said.

"Thanks." Kate yawned softly.

"We should go. She needs her rest," Joseph said.

Everyone gave Kate a hug before leaving the room.

When Ryan came over, he leaned in, and instead of the usual brotherly hug that squashed her, his hand draped lightly across her shoulders. "I believe you saw what you saw." He grinned and added, "Goodnight."

Only Tyler stayed behind. He lay in bed beside Kate while she curled up against him. He ran his hand down her face while his cheek leaned against her hair.

For twenty years, he'd thought his parents were ripped from him and he was all alone.

But he wasn't.

They were always watching over him; he just hadn't realized it until now.

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