When Her Death Couldn't Break Him (Cecilia and Nathaniel) novel Chapter 2091

Brycen straightened, vitality radiating from him. “Your mother and I feel better by the hour. After we go home for the holidays, I doubt we'll need to set foot in this ward again.”

Denise watched the way Brycen and Calliope tried to smile, their skin stretched thin and colorless beneath the fluorescent glow. She could see through the brave fronts, knew every upbeat word was a lie they told for her sake.

Even so, in this fragile pocket of warmth, she refused to call them out. Some illusions, she decided, were worth protecting.

“Mm,” Denise murmured, letting the single note linger like a promise. “That's wonderful.”

Brycen opened his mouth, meaning to ask the young man who exactly he was and how he had appeared in his daughter's life, but the question remained suspended in the antiseptic air.

“Let's head back to the place I rented first. The ward is far too small, and there isn't a proper corner to rest. Once we're settled, I'll make dinner, and you can take your time talking with Magnus.”

“All right, all right. Of course,” Brycen said, relief loosening his shoulders.

Both parents nodded again and again, like children granted unexpected freedom.

In truth, they were desperate to escape these corridors. Every beeping monitor reminded them of frailty.

Yet, their conditions were grave. Staying away from medical supervision for too long could cost them their lives, a fact Denise carried inside her like a stone.

Whenever time allowed, she would wheel them through nearby streets, letting sunlight and shopfront chatter soothe them for a precious hour before returning to the machines.

Outside, Magnus had already anticipated their needs and flagged down a roomy van, its doors sliding open with a hush.

“Magnus, what's with the upgrade?” Denise whispered as her parents climbed inside. “I called for a simple taxi.”

“The cab would've been a squeeze,” Magnus answered. “Four of us shoulder-to-shoulder isn't comfortable, so I swapped it for something larger.”

“Thank you, really,” Denise said, the words hushed yet sincere.

“I told you, we're friends. No need for ceremony,” Magnus replied, a quick grin softening the reprimand.

Denise gave a firm nod, gratitude swelling until it pricked her chest.

Denise lamented inwardly. If only I had the ability to earn more money, Mom and Dad wouldn't have ended up in this state just for the sake of saving money.

Sensing the heaviness settle over the room, Magnus clapped his hands softly, shattering the stillness before it hardened.

“Mr. and Mrs. Laney, Denise and I enjoy a bit of bustle. When you've recovered, if you crave the countryside, we'll happily join you there. If you'd rather return to this spot, we'll unpack our bags and make it home for a season. Whatever you choose, we'll be at your side.”

Calliope's eyes widened, astonishment mingling with a hopeful glimmer she had not worn in months.

In a world that worshiped independence and solitude, sharing an address with one's parents, let alone the in-laws, had become a rarity, almost an antique custom people whispered about but seldom practiced.

“Magnus, you're such a considerate boy,” Calliope said, eyes bright with approval. “When Denise marries you, remember she's meant to follow you, and that means living with you and your parents, too.”

Calliope still carried the old-world conviction that a daughter, once wed, belonged to her husband's household and rhythms.

He hurried to reassure her. “Mrs. Laney, my parents passed away some years ago. If you and Mr. Laney are willing to accept me, then from today on you'll be my true mother and father.”

Magnus had an uncanny gift for speaking to elders. Every word seemed calibrated to ease their hearts.