Stella

Moving to the music I flipped through the dress delivery, checking the rack and inventory list to ensure we got the correct items. The season for weddings is almost here and I want to be prepared.

Feeling a dull pain, my hand went to my stomach onto my bump while I closed my eyes letting in a sharp breath. As the pain disappeared I opened my eyes blowing the air in my lungs out slowly. Walking over to my desk I put the inventory list down and took a sip of water.

I went to the doctor last week for a quick check up, though I didn't see the baby photo since Max wasn't here but they said I was doing well.

So, this is stress.

I haven't hired a manager for the store and since Max has been gone sleeping has been impossible. All I feel is a sunken gut that tells me something is going to happen. But I don't know if I trust it or if it's because Max is gone and I heard of a tarot card reading Anastasia did weeks ago.

"You need to take a break." Tate said walking up to me with a disapproving look.

Forcing a smile, I sat down. "I'm fine, but thank you for the concern."

He hummed shaking his head, muttering something in Italian.

My phone rang drawing my attention away, my hand resting on my bump answering it. "Hello."

"Hi, Stella Reynalds?"

Sitting up straight, I felt an unease spread over me. "Yes, this is her. Who is this?"

"This is Lindsey from San-Francisco General, I'm a nurse at the cancer care unit. The reason I am calling you is because your grandmother has taken a turn and it is best if you came to say goodbye."

Quickly I stood up grabbing my purse. "I don't understand when was she admitted?"

"For the past couple of weeks, she didn't want you to worry but I'd suggest coming."

Hanging up the phone I reach for my coat looking to Desi, tossing her the store keys. "Close up."

Tate appeared in front of me, his eyes narrowed trying to find out was has me panicking all of a sudden. "Uh, SFGH now."

I didn't say anything else as I pushed passed him, ignoring his questions and comments about me needing to stay calm.

But I couldn't. My Nanna is traveling, she is doing a cruise through glacier national park right now, she isn't in the Hospital!

Why wouldn't she tell me she was seeing the doctor or that she has been going to the cancer floor.

She had told me about the cancer, but she didn't tell me she was so downhill at the moment. Though it makes sense why she was wearing baggy clothes at the family dinner, she was hiding her weight loss.

When I finally got to the hospital, I rushed into her unit, everything blurred around me. "Hi uh I am here for Alerica Reynalds, I'm her granddaughter."

The nurse gave me a sympathetic look making my heart drop. "Right this way dear."

Following her I couldn't hear anything around me, only the blood rushing in my body.

She can't die yet, it can't be time.

"Right in here sweetie." The Nurse said as I walked into a room, finding Nanna looking up from the hospital bed. "Oh, I'm sorry only one visitor at a time."

Glancing behind me I see Tate and Sebastian. "It's okay."

They gave me a nod then turned and stood at the entrance to the room. Blowing a breath, I turned back to my Nanna, rushing over to the chair beside her bed.

She smiled at me. "Hi there my darling girl."

Taking her hand, I felt my lips tremble. "Hi Nanna, are you okay? What's going on?"

She gave me a halfhearted smile and patted my hand. "It's my time, I have known it was coming for a while now I just tried to hold on to make sure that man of yours will do you right. And I know for certain you got a whole lot of love coming from him."

Blowing a breath, I felt tears swell up in my eyes and shook my head. "No, it's can't be. You still have years to travel and to see your grandchildren."

"It's time, I haven't been away this past week I have been here." She said as her own eyes swelled up. "There was no reason for you to see me like this. Remember me happy not trying to yell at nurses."

Laughing I pictured her doing that. "But I am not ready to lose you. I still have so much to learn from you, I can't do the store or raise a baby without you."

She patted my hand again. "Yes, you are my darling, it is time I saw your grandfather again."

Shaking my head, I tried to bat the tears away but a few escaped slipping down my cheek. "Can't I be selfish?"

Nanna laughed squeezing my hand. "I don't think you even know how to be selfish. Now I am going to say a few things and you will listen, got it?"

"Always." I had been preparing for this moment since she told me, but even with preparing my heart was breaking. My head knew it was time, and that her going this way saves her pain. But sadly, it doesn't ease mine.

Her hand squeezed mine again. "Now I want to tell you how proud I am, you have been my greatest achievement. You have such a tender heart Stella, the way you look for the good in everyone, the way you feel for everyone makes you special. An empath, I want you to promise me something, even though you are in such a dark world you will never lose that tenderness, that warmth. Because that heart you have is a strength and no one should tell you otherwise."

A sob rip through my chest. "Nanna."

"Not yet." She said as I felt more tears slip down my cheek. "There has been a difference in you. A strength coming out, one that has given you a stronger backbone, confidence but do not let the life of his Sorrentino world threaten that heart of yours. I know all about his family, and you must not let it corrupt you."

I shook my head not wanting her to go on. "I don't want a cliché goodbye."

Her hand went on my cheek, her thumb brushing my tears. "Oh, my good girl."

Nanna swallowed and closed her eyes, my focus on her rising and falling chest.

Time in hospitals don't go by like regular time, it almost feels as if you are in another world. Your everyday plans, everyday schedule doesn't make sense while you sit in the chair. You can hear the ticks go by from the clock that hangs in the hospital room, you know that the day is going by but at the same time it feels like the time has stopped.

The nurse came in to check her vitals, a sad smile on her face. "She is on pain meds and won't feel anything. I am going to turn off the alarms so you won't be disturbed."

I swallowed. "Thank you, Nurse."

She nodded and glanced outside then back to me. "Do you want anyone in with you?"

I slowly shook my head. "No, I would like to be alone."

The alarm machines were turned off by the nurse, the action like a cold hand gripping my heart.

Before the nurse left, she looked to me once more. "If you need anything, please don't hesitate to press the nurse button."

I nodded but didn't say anything. My only attention was looking at Nanna's face and feeling the warmth in her hand on mine.

My Nanna opened her eyes and looked to me. "My good girl. Be sure to live a life your proud of. I love you."

Forcing a smile, I squeeze her hand. "I will. I love you Nanna."

When she let a long breath out I knew. Her chest stopped rising and falling, her hand fell limp and it was like the warmth in the room disappeared.

A moment later the nurse came in and I knew why. She had been watching the vitals at the nurse's desk, she didn't need to hear alarms to know that my Nanna had... That she...

I swallowed thickly, my heart beginning to crack and shatter.

The nurse looked to me after checking my Nanna's pulse, or lack there off. Her smile and departure telling me she was no longer with me.

I wasn't sure how long I sat there beside my Nanna until I heard a voice.

A voice I sure as hell didn't want anywhere near my Nanna and myself.

Before I could stop myself and tell myself to not engage, I was standing up from my seat and storming into the hallway.

"What gives you the right to be here." The edge to my voice cut through the hall stopping all chatter and turned heads towards me.

My mother stood up from the Nurse's desk looking over to me. Her hand on her chest with tears that I had no doubt are fake sliding down her cheeks.

She walked a couple feet towards me. "Oh hunny, this is the worst news. Let's go see her together."

I snorted. "Oh, don't try. I know you. I know how you manipulate people, I have seen it my entire life so don't come to me right now and try to bullshit your way into my life after Nanna just passed. You forget, I have seen your real tears, when you get cut off from a husband's bank account."

"That's not true." She tried to cry and add in a few hiccups, ones I have seen before when she crashed her third husband's fancy car.

I gave a scoff. "Please, the only reason why you are here is to get her death certificate that you will then take to the lawyers to try and get something out of her will." Taking a few steps forward I take the paper that was in her hands and flipped it over. A dry laugh escaping me. "Wow, couldn't even wait till she was dead for an hour huh."

She went a bit paler, her hand reaching out lightly resting on my arm, my eyes goes down to look at it. "Oh Hun, it's not like that. I don't want you to stress in your state so I thought I would take care of the paperwork. You were with mother, you deserved to say goodbye in peace. I must say, I am sorry I didn't know you were pregnant with a Sorrentino brother?"

My eyes slowly going back to her face. The smile she has plastered on to look nice, warm and maybe in the past I would see it also being genuine. But now?

Now I see it as her being a gold digger, trying to use me for now then will disappear later. Placing my hand on hers, I look her straight in her eyes. "I am not a young foolish girl waiting for her mother to grow up."

Pushing her hand off she takes a step back. "Hun-"

I put my hand up, cutting her off. "My nanna has just died but I will have this conversation so that I never see you again. Your cut off, officially. You will not see Nanna's body, you will not be invited to her memorial and you sure as hell will not have any relationship with my child. Now fuck off."

A pain hit my side for the second time today, my body taking a big intake of breath to try to calm it.

She scrunched her face which dropped her faked emotions. "My lawyers will be contacting you about her will."

I gave her a slow smile. "Go ahead, Anthony will be awaiting your call."

Monica turned and walked out the room, my body releasing a harsh breath hoping this is the last time I see her.

Another sharp pain made my hand fly to my belly, a gasp escaping my lips.

"Yeah, you're not okay, nurse!" Tate called.