Chapter 74: Chapter 74
"Nana is dying,"
Those were the first words she heard from Dominic the moment Celeste opened her eyes.
His voice had been steady. Too steady. Like he had to force calm into every syllable so he wouldn’t fall apart in front of her again.
She hadn’t said anything. Just nodded, pushed back the covers, and got up. He didn’t stop her. He didn’t follow her, either. Maybe because he knew what she needed.
They have all been waiting for this day, since she got cancer five years ago, and since Celeste joined the family two years ago, and heard she had no time left, and that everyday was a miracle.
That was two hours ago.
Now, she was here.
The room was quiet. Too quiet for a woman who once filled every space with life even when death dragged her.
Celeste sat at the edge of the bed. Her eyes stung, and her heart twisted as she looked at Nana. She was Dominic’s mother, but she was the woman who had once held her hand during a storm without asking why her fingers trembled.
Now Nana was fading. Her face, once glowing with wisdom and elegance, was pale. This wasn’t the normal kind of pain. This was the kind of pale that reminded you the soul inside was preparing to leave.
Her cheeks had sunken a little, her lips were now dry, and her eyes were dull with fatigue but still carrying that strange calm only people who’d made peace with death seemed to have.
The monitors beeped faintly beside her, but they didn’t matter. Nana had asked for everyone else to leave. She’d chosen to spend what little time she had left with Celeste.
This amount of love and acceptance warmed Celeste’s heart.
"I’ve always loved this room," Nana said weakly, her lips parting into a small smile. "It smells like lavender. Your doing?"
Celeste swallowed. "Yes." She looked around. "When Landon and I were together, I mindlessly asked him for this favour."
Nana nodded slowly, then reached for her hand with surprising steadiness. Her fingers were cold, but her grip still had purpose.
"You always notice the little things. That’s what I liked about you. You don’t speak to impress... You listen to understand."
Celeste couldn’t respond. Her throat was too tight. She wasn’t trying to be so childish, or sound childish but everyone who loved her were leaving.
Nana’s voice dropped to a whisper. "You’ve been crying." she called her out.
Celeste blinked hard. But one tear still escaped again. It trailed slowly down her cheek as she squeezed Nana’s hand.
"I didn’t want this," she whispered, voice cracking. "You were supposed to get better."
Nana gave a soft chuckle. It was so faint, that even Celeste barely caught it. It broke Celeste’s heart that the woman had gotten this weak, and she didn’t even notice.
"No one lives forever, sweetheart."
"You should have." Celeste refused. "You should have done this for me," she said, almost begging.
Silence poured on them, and Nana smiled. She shut her eyes to catch a breath.
"Tell me something," Nana said, her eyes fluttering open again. "Do you love him?"
Celeste didn’t even hesitate.
"Yes." She replied.
There was no trembling in her voice this time. There was no doubt in her eyes. It was the only truth she could hold onto right now.
She might never have said it to him, but she does. She loved him in a way that was impossible to even love another human.
Nana’s expression softened. "Good. Because he loves you in a way I never thought possible for him." Her chest rose and dropped softly, "I’m glad that I know you both would be happy while I’m gone, even if it’s for a while."
Celeste’s fingers curled tighter around hers.
"You saw it before he did, didn’t you?" Nana asked gently. "The cracks in his walls."
Celeste chuckled. "I think I fell in love with the cracks first."
Nana laughed again. This time with more life in it. She had drawn in all her energy, and saved it for a laugh. "Ah. You’re a poet and don’t know it."
Celeste smiled through another tear.
"He’s a complicated man," Nana murmured. "But you already know that."
Celeste nodded.
"I don’t know what tomorrow will be, or if I’ll even be here. But promise me something."
"Anything."
"If ever... if ever the time comes when you’re scared of loving him, I want you to remember how hard it was for him to let anyone in." She paused, swallowed, and went on. "That boy built an empire, but you... you’re the only thing that made him feel like he had a home."
Celeste couldn’t breathe past the knot in her chest.
"I see the way he looks at you," Nana said. "Like you hung the moon just for him."
Celeste lowered her head, her tears falling silently into her lap.
"And I see the way you look at him too." Nana smiled. "You’re scared to hold on too tightly, in case he disappears."
Celeste looked up, her voice barely a whisper. "He broke me once."
"I know." Nana nodded. "And he’ll spend his whole life making up for it."
Nana brushed a trembling hand over Celeste’s cheek. "You don’t have to forgive him all at once. But don’t throw away something sacred just because it came wrapped in flaws."
They were quiet for a moment.
Then Nana’s gaze softened further, and she tilted her head slightly. "Have you two... talked about babies?"
Celeste’s eyes widened. "Nana—"
"Oh, come on," she grinned faintly. "Let me live through you a little."
Celeste blushed. "No. I mean, not really." she chuckled. "Growing up, I never even wanted one,"
She feared passing her trauma down to some innocent kids. Who knows, she might not be a good mother.
"I had Dominic when I was twenty-four, and Roman when I was twenty-two," Nana whispered. "Scared out of my mind, but God, they gave me purpose." She smiled softly, her eyes filled with memories.