Listening to Olivia’s screams outside of her hospital room is heart breaking.
The moment the door closed behind Hayden, the screams started and they haven’t stopped for the last thirty minutes.
I’m one of the few people who know how deeply Olivia fell for Ryder and there is no doubt in my mind that she loves him.
That’s why this hurts her so badly.
She’s never found that connection with someone before.
To have the first time it happened be with someone who lied to you is unforgivable.
But watching Hayden cry outside her room, seeing the complete and utter devastation on his face is enough to make my hate for him waver.
It’s clear that he loves her too.
It doesn’t excuse what he did, not by a long shot but at least Olivia can take comfort in knowing that his feelings were real.
He has sat in that exact same spot since she was admitted.
He wouldn’t even go down to the station to give his statement, he gave it to one of his fellow officers sitting right there. We all had to move further down the hallway to give them privacy.
He’s barely slept, barely eaten, barely done anything in the last week other than sit here, completely guilt ridden over his actions.
When he explained who he was to Olivia’s family, he made it clear that he wanted me present as well which I was grateful for.
It was the first time we had met but I felt like I knew him already since Olivia talked about him so much.
Everyone was devastated by the news but the person who had the most surprising reaction was Uncle Mason.
He shook his hand and walked into Olivia’s room without a backwards glance.
It was like he was accepting his apology and maybe that’s exactly what he was doing.
After all, Hayden saved her life.
If he hadn’t done what he had then Olivia would be dead right now.
Who knows how long it would have taken to find her body or what Douglas would have done, walking around as a free man.
Because I’m Olivia’s best friend, I can’t forgive Hayden but I can thank him.
He took a life to save my best friend and that is no small thing.
Standing in front of Hayden, I simply say, “Thank you.”
Hayden looks up, startled by the sound of my voice. “What do you mean?” he asks suspiciously.
He has every right to be suspicious. Apart from Uncle Mason, everyone else has barely talked to him. “Thank you for saving her life, I don’t know if anyone has said that to you yet.”
He shakes his head and lowers it once more. “I don’t deserve any praise for what I did.”
“Olivia is alive because of you Hayden. I don’t agree with the events and deception that lead to your relationship but I can at least acknowledge the one good thing you have done.” Thanks to him, I still have my best friend.
She may be bruised and hurting but she’s alive and that’s all that matters right now.
Without looking up, he says, “You’re a good person Maddy.”
Having nothing else to say to him, I take a seat across the hall and remain silent until Tyler walks out of Olivia’s room an hour later.
Uncle Mason and Aunty Eva have gone back to their hotel for a shower and something to eat and I’m glad that they didn’t have to listen to Olivia’s heart wrenching sobs.
They are devastated enough over everything that has happened and I know Uncle Mason blames himself.
I’ve heard him utter the words, this is my fault, countless times this week and it never gets easier to hear.
Growing up, he was always so strong that’s it’s hard to see him so emotional.
I always thought of him as unbreakable.
Tyler’s face is wet with his own tears and it’s like the last few hours have broken him.
We haven’t had a chance to talk since I’ve been back and I mean really talk.
We’ve been surrounded by family the whole time and even if we weren’t, now’s not the time to talk about us.
I’ve barely spoken to him since I asked him to be with me in Italy and he rejected me.
I needed time to get over my heart break and I couldn’t do that with him constantly in my life.
If I was to try and move on, really move on, then I needed to put him behind me.
That was easy to do in Italy when I had Blake and there’s nothing around to remind me of Tyler but being back here.
Seeing Tyler again.
It’s not doing me any favors.
“She’s asleep.” He sits down in the closest chair to the door and hangs his head in his hands.
It can’t be easy for him to see his sister like that.
Hell, it’s not easy for me to see her like that but Tyler has always thought it’s his job to look after his sisters and I.
I know he blames himself for what happened to Olivia as much as Uncle Mason does but he had no idea about his grandfather either.
All of us kids were kept in the dark about him.
Just like my own grandfather.
Standing up, I walk over to him and place my hand on his shoulder, “I’ll stay with her tonight.”
He reaches up and places his hand over mine. “Thanks Matty.”
Slipping my hand out of his, I walk into Olivia’s room and she stirs slightly from the light coming from the hallway.
Walking over to the bed, I take a tentative seat next to her. “I’m sorry to wake you up.”
She shakes her head sadly, “I don’t think I’ll ever sleep again.”
Placing my hand over hers, I don’t say anything.
What is there to say?
Nothing will offer her comfort at a time like this.
She needs to be allowed to grieve.
She needs to be allowed to hate Hayden and when that time has passed, we can truly talk about him.
Bringing him up now will only cause her more heartache.
How can I tell her that he’s sitting outside her door?
That he heard her pour her heart out for the last few hours and the look on his face as he listened was devastating.
That he never leaves.
And I’m pretty sure he is never going to leave.
With barely more than a whisper, Olivia mutters, “I love him Maddy. I love him so much.”
“I know.” Carefully, I lie down next to her on the bed and place my arm around her. Resting my head on her pillow, she leans her head over so it’s touching mine. “I’m sorry Olivia, for everything.”
She takes a deep shaky breath and closes her eyes.
After a while, her breathing evens out and she falls asleep.
I try to do the same.