Randal paced fervently outside Clare's hospital room. He clutched a red jewelled rosary, a token from his late wife, between his thumb and forefinger and prayed silently. Every so often he heard a moan or whimper escape Clare's lips but before he could even put his head up, Eli was clutching her hand and brushing hair out of her face. Sometimes before he would fall asleep, Randal would replay the sound of Clare's body thumping to the ground looking lifeless. The image still haunted him even in his waking hours.
Randal stopped pacing and leaned against the door frame. It was close to midnight, and Eli hadn't left Clare's side all weekend. The most he did was leave to go to the washroom, but never did that boy leave her side. His eyes were red from crying, and his clothes were disheveled from constant wear, but that didn't stop the boy. It took much convincing to get Eli to go to school the next day. Randal pointed out that if Eli didn't complete his probation he would be expelled and Clare would be mighty disappointed in him. Eli couldn't argue with that.
After letting the young couple have a few more brief moments alone, Randal walked in and clasped Eli on the shoulder. "Son, you better go on home and get some rest."
Eli didn't budge. "I'm not tired."
The reverend nodded. "Give us a minute?"
Eli looked over at Clare who was barely awake. She gave him a soft reassuring smile and attempted to squeeze Eli's hand but he barely felt a pulse. He leaned over and kissed her forehead promising to return before leaving the reverend and his daughter alone.
Randal took Eli's vacated seat and removed his reading glasses. He sighed heavily and closed his eyes feeling the pressures of fatherhood on his shoulders. No parent should outlive their child. It wasn't right. God has a plan. He always has a plan.
"Daddy?" Clare's feeble voice called. Randal looked up and felt tears come to his eyes. It pained him to see his only daughter connected to tubes, lying small in a hospital bed.
"Daddy," Clare slowly tried to reach out her hand which Randal leaned forward to clutch. "Daddy, it's okay."
Randal let out a shaky breath and stood to sit on the side of Clare's bed. "You're so brave, honey."
"Dad," Clare paused to take get her breathing under order. "I had you to help me."
Randal brought his daughter's knuckle up to brush it to his lips. He whispered softly, "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"You know, Clare. After your mama died," the reverend took a breath to stable himself. "I just had you. Just you and me, darling. And when we found out . . ."
"I know, dad."
"I kept you close, Clare, because I didn't want to lose you." Randal brushed his cheek against Clare's knuckles. "I don't want to lose you, Clare."
Tears streamed down Clare's cheeks as she watched her father weep. Randal ducked his head down and heaved as sobs came over him. "You won't, daddy. You won't."
Eli was stressed as he drove to the hospital. Clare had been in there well over a week, and it killed him to admit that it looked like she was getting worse. The doctors weren't happy with your results, and it looked as if she wasn't getting better. When Eli found out, he broke down and cried in front of his mom and Adam. It was as if his world was coming to an end. But still, he visited her every day after school and stayed there well past visiting hours. He had gotten to know the staff quite well. Even so, when he would visit, Clare would be sleeping most of the time, but Eli was content just watching her and making sure she was safe.
He had been reading up on universities in the corner of Clare's room when he felt eyes watching him. He immediately knew who it was and without looking up, he said, "It's rude to stare, Edwards."
Clare giggled weakly as Eli stood up and went to sit in the chair by her bed. "How you feeling?"
Eli shrugged and moved hair out of Clare's face. Just recently, the tubes were taken off of Clare and she was able to breathe and eat on her own. "I've been better."
She leaned her head against his chest after he had settled himself in her bed with his arm wrapped around her. "What were++++++ you doing?"
"University stuff."
She smiled up at him. "I'm proud of you."
Eli smiled. Before meeting Clare, he had no intention of going to university or college. He just wanted to get out of this town, find a job, and live his life. He leaned down and kissed her lips softly. "Me too."
She sat up a little, trying to get something, but fell back when she didn't have the strength to continue. Eli looked worried. "Clare?"
She leaned back on the bed and motioned to the table beside her. "I have something for you."
Eli sat up facing her and leaned over to get a small book. Eli made a face at it, but Clare giggled. "Don't worry, it's not a bible."
He sifted through the book. It was full of handwritten sentences. Clare sighed, closing her eyes feeling sleep coming over her. "It was my mother's. She liked to write down quotes." She weakly motioned to a bookmarked page which Eli flipped to. "That was the passage read at my parent's wedding."
Eli began to read it aloud:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Eli read it and grinned. He had heard the reverend say this passage, especially near Valentine's Day. He smirked. "I thought you said it wasn't a bible."
"It's a passage from the bible, Eli." Clare smiled. "I thought you were smarter."
Eli bowed his head and studied her. She opened an eye when she noticed how quiet it got. "What's wrong?"
"Why?" He continued when she looked confused. "Why are you with me?"
She smiled and mustered enough strength to weave a hand behind his neck. "Because I love you." She turned his head to face her when he tried to avoid her gaze. "I know you don't believe, Eli, but I believe God has greater plans for me. He sent me you for a reason. You're my miracle."
Eli's tears came down faster than ever. He couldn't believe the words coming out of Clare's mouth. He was Clare's miracle. Hell, if anything, she was his miracle. He pressed their foreheads together after kissing her softly but passionately. "I love you too."
Eli banged on his father's door late at night. He stuffed his hands in his pockets sheepishly as he recalled the news Clare had shared with him.
He had been walking into the hospital to go visit Clare when a nurse was wheeling her out of her room with her father close behind. Eli looked confused, but Clare had the biggest smile on her face. "I get to go home! Please thank your father for me."
The nurse continued to push Clare leaving Eli and Randal to hang back. Randal put a hand on Eli's shoulder and his lips curled into a smile. "Your father has offered to pay for private home care."
Eli waited outside his father's door remembering the joy on Clare's face as she sat in her living room and enjoyed the feeling of being home. The door opening jarred him out his thoughts.
Eli looked up from his bangs, his hands still stuffed in his pockets. His father stepped towards him as Eli muttered a shaky, "Thank you. Thanks dad."
Bill cautiously put his arms around Eli and almost instantly, Eli hugged his father back. The two Goldsworthy hugged tightly mumbling words of apology and gratitude.
The bond created in that instant was memorable and long overdue. Everything said and unsaid was shared in that tight embrace. For the first time since Clare had been put under doctor's care, Eli felt as if everything was going to be okay. Whatever happens, it was meant to be.
Randal had called Eli down for some coffee when Clare had fallen asleep. He hated leaving her side, but an energy boost was exactly what Eli needed. The two men sat at the breakfast table in a comfortable silence. Randal had long ago accepted that Eli would be sticking around, and knowing that Eli made his little girl happy was good enough.
Eli sipped his coffee tiredly. He tried to gulp it as quickly as possible in order to get to Clare faster, but his burnt tongue was a lesson to him.
Randal took a seat across from Eli and sighed. "How have you been doing, Elijah? Where have you decided to go to school?"
"I've been working on my writing. I need some entrance pieces to get into a creative writing program."
"You really love her don't you?" Randal studied Eli intently.
He gazed up and looked Clare's father straight in the eye. "Yes."
Randal nodded and smiled genuinely. "Take care of her. For as long as you can."
The unspoken words of how long Clare had left hung between them. Neither of them wanted to think of how long Clare had left. The doctors said it could be any day, but Eli knew that they had time. He had time to give her her miracle.
He finished his coffee and gave the reverend a reassuring grin. "I will take care of her. I promised her that."
Clare leaned back against Eli's chest as they sat out on her balcony. She had finished reading a few pages of Eli's novel he had begun. She set the folder down and turned her head to kiss his jaw. "I love it already."
He smirked. "Well it's hard not to love greatness."
"I was talking about the book." She giggled.
He placed a tender kiss on the base of her neck. "What about the author?"
She sighed, nestling herself into him. She loved the way his arms wrapped protectively around her, and she loved how beautiful he made her feel even when she was frail-looking. "What about the author?" She challenged.
"Do you love me?"
She turned her head to face him and smiled with her eyes. "Yes."
"Will you do something for me?"
"Anything."
Eli looked down nervously then back up again. "Will you marry me?"
Clare's eyes widened in surprise. She searched Eli's face for any sign of joking, but instead, he held up a ring with a small diamond on it. She gasped and then smiled widely. "Yes!" She laughed happily, wrapping her arms around Eli's neck in a tight embrace.
His lips found hers as they both smiled against each other. Eli pulled back and found Clare still beaming. "Really?"
"Yes, Eli." She kissed him briefly before he wiped the single tear from her cheek. "I'll marry you."
A/N: This is the second last chapter. The next one is going to be written differently. You'll see when I put it up. It is already written, it's just a matter of editing it and whatnot. Thanks for sticking with me for so long. The update is coming soon. Don't forget to review! =)