And so we wait.

Patience isn't my strongest attribute. I like the immediate payoff, instant gratification, knowing what is going to happen is the way I want it. Sitting here twiddling my thumbs, with no control on the outcome, isn't the way I do things.

Not that I have any say in this

I can't imagine how Jim feels right now. He's been my Grandpa for most of my life. He's as much family to me as Blake. He's a rock. Seriously. He's been here for all of us. Encouraging us, supporting us, and now it's our turn.

Emma and Chelsea are on either side of him. Laney and Tess are taking care of Viv and Cade and Lance are supporting Alan. My other grandparents. I see them as much as the rest of the family. Even if Viv and Alan aren't as outspoken as Grandma, they are as steady and rock solid as she is. But today that rock feels like it's cracked.

None of us are steady. All of us are on edge, jumpy and nervous, because the woman who holds us together is under the knife and all we can do is wait. Bradford's don't wait well.

Jake and Grace are able to observe the surgery and are checking in with us. I guess that's some consolation, knowing family is at least in there with her. Georgia would know they're there, just like she's known everything else we've ever done. I wonder how much she knows about what Dad's done and if she's tried to do anything about it.

Mom went in to see Grandma before the surgery. She was the last one Grandma talked to. I never saw her come back to the waiting room. It's like she just disappeared. Maybe Grandma said her piece and told Mom to leave. I can't see that, but it's possible.

Blake would know about that, he'd tell me. Looking up, I see the man who I've looked up to my entire life go over to Jim. Take him into a hug and nod. Emma rose as they released each other and hugged Blake next as she ran her hand up and down Jim's arm. Comforting him, consoling him and doing what's expected as the head of the family now.

We'll all be looking to them now. Blake and Emma are going to lead this family for Georgia. She chose well for her replacement. Emma is a mirror image of Grandma, and Blake he's the man. Always.

Blake glances my way, making eye contact with me. Holding my stare, he says something to Em then comes over. Taking the empty seat next to me, he stretches out his arms and legs long, extending all his limbs in every direction.

Squeezing me in a side hug, he speaks quietly. "I guess we better get to work on that party for Ma. She's a dog with a bone over shit like this."

He's not joking, Grandma takes her parties seriously.

"Riley won't accept the scholarship." I know this as well as I know every play coach calls. "She doesn't want anyone to think she's with me because of my money. She doesn't want to be accused of being a social climber. I understand how she feels but it's so frustrating to know that's not who she is."

Blake nods with his eyes locked on Emma. "Em was like that too. So was Chelsea and Tess. Your mom had the worst of it. They didn't want to be accused of taking any of us for a ride. Your mom and Adam were so young when they pushed at Ma and Dad to let them get married. Ma agreed pretty easily. She saw that they loved each other, but Dad... He fought it. She didn't come from the right breeding for him. Ma didn't care, she's a romantic. In the end, she sat Chloe down for a long talk until they agreed, Chloe would leave her marriage as she came into it, if she ever walked out on Adam."

It occurred to me then why Mom has done what she has. "So Grandma pushed a prenup? If Mom leaves or what cheats, lies, steals from him, she gets nothing? Is that why she took Dad's side? What happens to him then cause he's done all that?"

"It didn't apply to him. It's not fair and I don't agree with it but that's how Dad set it up." Blake rubs his hand through his hair in frustration.

Cursing furiously looking around the room trying to make some sense of it all but I can't. I can't believe Dad agreed to this. No, that's not true. I can believe it and that's what sucks about it. I can see him doing exactly this.

"It was before I got involved in the business Aiden. I was still in college and honestly I was paying more attention to football and girls than I was to what my brother was doing. I'm sorry and I'm trying to help Chloe as best I can." Blake tries to assure me he's cleaning up Dad's mess but he shouldn't have to. This is Dad's fault not Blake's.

The idea that Mom gets nothing for putting up with Dad's crap, pisses me off. Mom had no choice but to stand by and watch Dad dick around on her. "She couldn't fight when he cheated on her? When she found out he lied to the family, cheated us all? And Grandma knew this and allowed it?"

"Probably." Blake struggled to answer me. "Dad forced the prenup but Ma knew about it. It was insurance, peace of mind for Dad and Adam, I guess. Ma has told Chloe, she would be taken care of. She wouldn't enforce the prenup. Chloe didn't believe her, or me. She made her choice a long time ago, Aiden. She's scared of losing everything."

"I would have helped her. If she just supported me, and Riley! I would have made sure Mom was okay." I angrily admit. Despite everything she's my mom. I love her. And that's because of the morals that were drilled into me.

"Ma told Chloe to file for divorce. She has to testify against Adam but she'd be free. Cade's going to handle it. She's leaving your dad. We'll make sure she's on her feet. But it'd be better if you were there for her." This hits me like a rock to the head.

My parents are getting divorced. Not that I blame her. I encouraged her to do just this years ago but she refused. I didn't understand why she would stick around with Dad being such a dick. Now I know. Maybe if Grandma had known everything back then she would have supported Mom more.

"Think about it, Aiden. And talk to Riley. Ma will find a way to get Riley that scholarship one way or another." Blake squeezes my shoulders and gets up. Heading back to Jim as Jake comes out.

Jake strolls out of the double doors, his head down and the impact of what's happening hits me. This is worse than we thought. Knowing Grandma she forced the doctors to not tell us everything. She's never liked being seen as weak or helpless.

We all gathered closer, listening to the news on Grandma. Jake looks pale, a little upset making all of us concerned instantly. As I join the circle, Sawyer hangs an arm over one shoulder and Hunter hugs me on the other side. My support system, my family. I couldn't have faced half of what I have without them. Losing my family would kill me. It would kill Mom, no matter how distant we are right now.

"Jake? What happened?" Blake's voice was shaky at best. Very different from what it was a minute ago.

Jake scrubs his face and swallows hard. "First thing, Georgia is as strong and stubborn as they come. She's holding on. There were a couple close moments in there Grace and I got worried she wasn't going to make it."

Blake shuddered out a long breath as did the rest of us. This surgery isn't as easy as she made it sound. "But she's okay, right? Ma's okay?"

He's scared. I've never seen Blake scared of anything, but this has him scared. Emma too. And these two have been through hell and back to be together. I can't think of anything that would rattle them more than losing Grandma. That has all of us rattled.

"She's fighting. There was a tumor, small but enough to cause some of her problems. They've removed what they could, but she'll need chemo for the rest. They're still working on her. It could be a while, they're going slow to not miss anything. It's a complicated surgery. Georgia wouldn't tell us how bad this was." Jake closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose. Of all of us, he knows how hard, how draining chemo can be. Grace was lucky, cancer is a bitch. "I'll be out again when I know more."

Without any other news to give us, Jake goes back into the observation room and we're back to waiting. Support surrounding us, we held onto each other and stayed together. This is going to be a very long day.

As I took my seat again, Emma tapped Hunter on the shoulder and jerked her thumb for her to move. Filling the vacant seat, Emma slung her arm around my shoulders and rested her head against me.

"Georgia is the strongest woman I know. Dying like this would piss her off. She won't die, I know that." As strong as her words are, her voice cracks saying it. We're all choked up right now.

"You're just as strong, Em. I've always seen you as being right up there with her." Emma gives me a squeeze and lifts her head to look at me. There's tears in her eyes waiting to fall.

"I'm touched, because that's a high bar for me to meet." She doesn't see herself the way I do. She never has. Emma's humility is one of the most beautiful things about her.

"It's higher for Riley. You and Grandma were my measuring sticks. No one came close to reaching it until her." I admit that I set a really high bar that few would ever reach.

"Then you better hold on to her tight." She's right about that. I won't lose Riley. "I'm still hoping to be Georgia when I grow up."

With a small laugh, she relieves some of the pressure on my heart. I couldn't do half of what I've done without Georgia or Emma and Blake. Them and the guys and Hunter. They are my family, they are my lifeline.

Staring straight ahead, I tell her something I've never told anyone."When I was younger and everything was just starting to confuse me with Mom and Dad, I used to pretend you were my Mom. I wanted you to be my Mom. You were always there for me."

Admitting this is hard. It's acknowledging that my own parents failed me. They didn't love me, not the way I needed to be loved. There was little support from them, because they were too busy with their own problems to be bothered with mine. It's admitting that I don't matter enough to either of them to make me a priority. It's acknowledging who did.

Emma and Blake always had a place for me in their home. They listened and no matter what was going on, they were there. The guys took my mind off of what was happening at home. Hunter and the boys were my siblings I wanted but didn't have. They were there. So was Grandma. I'll never forget what they did for me. I'll remember how loved they made me feel.

"Chloe loves you, Aiden. I know she wasn't always there when you were growing up, but she never stopped loving you. Her world exploded because of Adam's garbage. Don't judge her too harshly until you hear her side." Emma always sees the better side of all of us.

"Well, maybe if she actually talks to me, I could do that. She won't face me." I think she's embarrassed about it but I don't know.

"She's struggling to accept the loss of her marriage. She went into it believing Adam loved her. She had to hold it all together and do what was best for you. And she did that, Aiden. There hasn't been a day you didn't know how loved you are. There hasn't been a time where you felt alone. You always knew your family was here for you. She made sure of that by stepping back when she knew she couldn't give you what you deserved. Please try to see her side. It may take time for her to talk to you about it, but she's embarrassed by everything Adam has done. I promise, none of it was her fault." Emma stands up for my Mom and explains at least a little bit to lessen the pain.

I wish I could say it helps, but it doesn't. I don't know what will help now. It just feels a little too late for explanations. Now it's just a bunch of excuses for bad behavior. I've been an adult for a while now. I've known what was happening between my parents for a lot longer. She should have told me then. I could have helped her through it.

Emma makes it sound like something in Mom broke. Maybe it is, but I can't fix it for her. I have to focus on Grandma and Riley. There I can help, I can see my future and move forward. Looking back does nothing but make it hurt more.

"It doesn't matter if she won't talk to me, she hasn't accepted my choices. You're the Mom I wanted. I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but Mom wasn't there for me. She chose to pass me off like a used shirt to the needy. She didn't even tell me why."

"I know it seemed like that but there was so much more to it. Adam was good to her for a few years before she saw who he was. You were only three or four. She didn't want him to hurt you either." Emma looks over to Blake and I see that bond between them. That bone deep trust in each other. Something my parents never had.

"I just wish you and Blake could have kept me. You are my family. I don't know them." Not anymore. I'm not sure I ever did.

Emma slides her arms around my waist and hugs me. "I would be honored if you were my son."

Time can't seem to move any slower. It gives me the chance to think about what Emma said. To consider and remember all the instances where I was sent away. There's a theme in each one I remember. Mom is crying hysterically and Dad is yelling.

I don't think I noticed when she sat down next to me. I didn't acknowledge her at any rate. But she sat quietly with me and waited for news. It wasn't until her hand slipped into mine that I looked at her.

Her head was hung, her hair shielding her face. Her voice is so timid and scared it brings me back to my train of thought and the question that keeps nagging me.

"Aiden, I owe you an apology for so many things. I'm not sure where to start." I don't bother to say it's okay, it's not. I'm not going to say it's all good now, it won't ever be. But I'll listen and let her get it off her chest. Then we'll just see.

"If I could take back everything I would. I never wanted to hurt you. You're my baby Aiden. I love you more than anything. I just want you to be happy." She continued when I said nothing. "Please let me make it up to you."

"Why? Why do you want me to forgive you? Why'd you do it? I was a kid! I needed you!" My voice rose a little too loud, getting Blake's head to turn my way.

"I thought I was doing what was best for you. Blake and Emma love you, I knew you would be in good hands with them. You've always had such a tight bond with Blake..." She's right about that. I was in the best possible hands with them.

"Why did you turn on Riley? You know I love her and you tried to run her off?" The question is out before I can stop it. I know this isn't the time or place but I can't control this.

"I was doing what your Dad wanted. I was wrong Aiden. I was so wrong. Georgia she said.... I was scared that I would lose everything. Not the money but my friends and family are all in this family." I guess that's the beginning of opening up the talks. "Where is she, Aiden? Where's Riley?"

Looking around the room as if I would find the answer in the faces of my friends I wonder the same thing. Where is she?

It was a long painful day today. In the end, after watching Aiden confront his mom in a heart shredding talk, I was trying not to intervene. Dad clamped down on the rest of us to let them be. It was so hard.

At least we got some good news today. Grandma made it through surgery and was resting in her room with Jim and Cade spending the night. The rest of us are crashing at Matt's or Grandma's house. Only so we'll be close and head back tomorrow.

As I pull into the dark driveway, the last of many cars that will be here tonight, I look out at the old two story house. It's been a second home since I was a baby.

The big bright windows with white shutters and baby blue trim, sits up on the cliffs of Point Conception, ruling over the crash of the ocean and it's depths below.

How many days have we spent laying on the white sands of our private beach? How many football games have we played? How many family dinners and movie nights have we spent together? Did I tell my family enough how much I love them? That I appreciate everything they've done for me? I don't think I've said either nearly enough.

Getting out of my car, I walk up the little stone walkway to the front door and see a shadow sitting on the porch steps waiting. The fading light of the setting sun behind the house allows just the outline of the man in front of me. But after all the years of admiring his body, I know exactly who it is.

His head lifts but he doesn't stand as I get closer. I'm surprised he isn't inside with the others. It's not like him to sit out here alone.

"Hi! Why aren't you inside? Did they kick you out again?" I ask, remembering how Aiden would kick out the losers when they played on the Xbox.

"No, I was waiting for you." He still doesn't get up, so I sit down next to him figuring he's wanting to talk about something.

"I thought you were with your family today. Weren't you going to try to get Reese and Roan to talk things out?" I don't think that went so well.

"We were. It was ugly. They won't even listen to each other. It's hurting Grandma and Dad. I don't get it. There's no way I could handle not having my folks to be there for me. Family is so important. How can Roan just turn his back on them?" Wyatt's frustration and passion for his family is clear.

I agree with him. I couldn't stand not having my family around me. They're my lifeline, my safety zone, my happy place. But then I look at Aiden and the mess his parents have made of their marriage and how it's screwed him up and I wonder if he was better off without them.

"Sorry. If you want to talk about it..." I offer but Wyatt shakes his head. Typical guy, he doesn't want to talk about his feelings.

"Dad said Georgia got through surgery. Did you get to see her?" He changes the subject and that's my cue to let it go.

"I didn't. Mom and Dad did. Grandma was pretty drugged up. Grace said she'd be out for most of the night. I'm going back after my morning class." I wish I could blow off my classes, but I can't. There's not much I can do but sit around the hospital anyway.

Taking my hand, he laces his fingers through mine. Support and genuine affection for Georgia in his eyes. I know he's one of the few people outside of the family I can trust.

"Georgia will be okay. I'm sure of it." He assures me. His strength, confidence and care overwhelms me.

I didn't realize how much emotion I had bottled up in me lately. I don't cry in front of others, I stopped crying long ago, but the tears are burning my eyes now. Swiping quickly at the strays that escape down my cheek, I try hopelessly to hold them back.

"Hey..." His soft, gentle voice whispers against my ear. "Hunter, she's going to be fine. It's okay, baby. Don't cry."

Finding myself surrounded by a pair of strong arms, I bury my face into his shoulder and let it out. It's been too much lately. Between the troubles with Adam and now Georgia's health, it's just finally hitting home.

"Georgia knows how much you're going through, Hunter. She sent me a text before the surgery. She wanted me to be here for you. So see..." pulling back, he ducks his head to get me to look at him. With a lift to one side of his mouth making a sexy, quirky smile, he tucks my hair out of my face. "She's still looking out for you, even when she's under the knife."