Declan's POV
As we sat there in that meadow, I wanted time to stand still so we could stay like that forever. She sat between my legs with her back to me and her head resting on my chest as we drank our wine, watching the sunset. I kissed the top of her head, smelling her delicious scent of vanilla and Carmel. I smiled to myself when I realized I had finally gotten the chance to see her with her walls completely down. She held back for so long that it felt absolutely amazing to be this close to her. I felt like I had won a huge battle by going on this date with her. The war wasn't won yet, I knew that. I was still far from getting to where I wanted to be with her, but I also knew this was a huge step for her and I would take what I could get. I wanted to protect her and keep her safe from all harm, especially now that she was allowing me to see the real her. My heart felt so at peace at this revelation.
All of a sudden, her phone started ringing. She grabbed it out of the pocket of her dress and held it up to her ear, still leaning against me.
"Hello?" She answered. There was a pause but then her whole body tensed against mine and she dropped her wine glass, making it spill across the blanket. It felt like my heart stopped in that moment.
Something was wrong.
"I understand." Her voice had become quieter and was shaking slightly. I set my empty glass in the basket sitting next to us and then wrapped my arms around her small waist to give her some of my strength. One of her hands touched my forearm softly and even in this tense situation, her skin tingled against mine.
"I'm on my way." She said lowly and then put her phone back into her pocket. She didn't move after that so I pulled on her to turn her towards me. Her eyes were vacant, as if she was in a different place.
"Goldi?" I asked softly. She started slightly at my voice before looking into my eyes. She seemed like she didn't know what to do with herself.
"My mom." She whispered.
"What happened?" She closed her eyes tightly at my question and her hands balled into fists.
"She's dead..." My eyes widened in shock. I pulled her into an embrace and held her tightly as she buried her face into my chest. She wasn't crying though, she just quietly held onto me. After a few minutes passed, she pulled away and stood up.
"Take me to the hospital please..." Her voice was strained. I stood up and we walked quickly but silently to the motor cycle. I put her helmet on and then my own as she stood there motionless. I got on and then looked over at her but she didn't move. She seemed like she was going numb as her shoulders slumped and her eyes glazed over with a blank look. I pulled her hand and helped her get on the back. I then grabbed her hands and wrapped them around me so she wouldn't fall off. I was becoming more and more worried about her with every passing second.
I drove as fast as I safely could to the hospital. Once we got there, I had to help her off and take off her helmet. I grabbed her hand and walked into the building. I found the front desk and went straight to it but then I realized I had no clue what her mom's name was.
"Goldi, your mom's name." I said softly, pulling her closer to me. When she didn't answer, I put my hands on her cheeks and made her look at me.
"Goldi." I said it stronger this time as I searched her face for a reaction. Her eyes immediately looked into mine with full alertness. I gave her a small comforting smile, relieved that she finally responded. She stared at me for a moment before I let my hands fall and she turned to the ladies at the front desk.
"Elizabeth Hatfield." She said, the strength in her voice slowly coming back.
"Are you one of her daughters?" The lady asked and Goldilocks nodded. The woman started typing into the computer and then looked up at us.
"Her body has already been brought to the morgue. I will have the doctor come talk to you in just a moment." She said, her face and voice full of pity. Goldi nodded and then turned around and looked at me.
"You can go, I'll have Bridget drive me home when I'm done." She said quietly, her voice shaking again. I fiercely looked at her, conveying my feelings.
"No, I'm staying." I said with confidence. Her eyes widened in surprise but then narrowed at me with anger.
"I can deal with this on my own." She replied harshly, her words cutting my heart like a sharp knife.
No, I wouldn't let her do this, not after everything I went through to get to this point with her.
"Don't put your wall back up, Goldi. I worked so hard to take it down." I pleaded. Her eyes wavered for a moment before turning hard again.
"I realize now that I made a mistake. I never should have let you in." Her voice was low and determined. I tried to keep my confidence but I knew I was slowly becoming more frustrated and hurt. After everything I had gone through to take down that wall, it was going back up again right before my eyes in just a matter of minutes.
"Don't say that." I whispered.
"I was never meant to love or be loved. My mom dying made me remember that. So just leave. I don't want you here." She bit out and turned around. I started to reach my hand out to touch her but I knew if I did, she would completely come undone. So I pulled my hand back and balled it into a fist as my body started shaking. She was putting all of her sadness into anger and channeling it towards me. But even thought I knew that, it didn't change how much her words cut me.
"Goldi, you're just hurting right now...I'm not leaving." I replied, feeling my heart start beating irregularly. She walked over to a chair across the room and sat down, putting her face into her hands. I slowly walked over and sat next to her. We didn't talk until the doctor came out and stood in front of Goldi, making her look up at the balding man.
"Ms. Hatfield, I'm so sorry for your loss. When you're ready, I will take you to see her body." His voice was soft and comforting as he talked. She nodded slowly before turning to me.
"Go home, Declan." She said angrily and then stood up and followed the doctor out of the room. I sighed and grabbed my phone out of my pocket. I texted Grant and asked for Bridget's number. I knew they had been talking as he was becoming a little enthralled in her, which was surprising for him. He was always such a player and usually had a different girl in bed every weekend. But ever since he met Bridget, he hadn't been with a girl since. He texted me back quickly and I dialed the number and pressed call.
"Hello?" She sounded confused, probably because she didn't recognize the number.
"Hey, Bridget. It's Declan." I explained.
"Oh, hey! I thought you and Crystal were out on your date?"
"We were...she got a call. Her mom passed away." I heard her take a big inhale of breath.
"Oh my god." She whispered.
"We're at the hospital right now. She went down to the morgue. She doesn't want me here right now. I think she needs someone though. Can you get over here and take care of her for me?" I asked.
"Why doesn't she want you there?" I sighed at her question.
"I don't know. She said she should have never let me in. I'm not really sure what she's thinking, to be honest. But one thing is for sure, she doesn't want me here. So can you come?" I asked again.
"Of course. I'll be there in five...I'm so sorry Declan." Her words caught me off guard.
"For what?" I asked, confused.
"For her. She doesn't know what she's doing. She has no clue how to handle her emotions, even when something tragic isn't happening. This...it's going to be really hard on her. I think she just doesn't want to deal with any more emotions than she has to." She explained. I closed my eyes tightly and rubbed a hand over my face.
"Yeah..." I didn't even know what else to say. I wanted to protect Goldi and if that meant that right now, I had to stay away from her then I would. I would do anything to protect her, even from her own feelings.
"Don't leave until I get there, ok?"
"Ok." I said and then hung up my phone and slid it into my pocket.
Damn it, Goldi. I don't know if I can handle staying away from you.
"My mother, Elizabeth Hatfield." I was brought out of my thoughts from hearing a voice that sounded extremely similar to Goldi's. I looked up to see a girl with dark brown hair standing at the counter. She looked pretty young, maybe 20 years old but those eyes that were watering were definitely Goldilock's. I knew as soon as I saw those crystal blue eyes that this was her sister. I stood up and walked over to her as the woman behind the desk explained that her mother's body was in the morgue and that someone would be out so she could see her body.
"Your sister is here." I told her. She turned to me and her eyes widened.
"What?" She choked out.
"I'm a friend of hers. Do you need anything?" I asked reaching my hand out and touching her forearm to give her comfort. Tears started streaming out of her eyes but her face turned angry. She looked identical to her sister when she was upset.
"I told Crystal to call her! She was supposed to fix her! But she didn't! And now our mother is dead! She killed herself because my sister was too selfish to just talk to her!" She yelled at me, pulling her arm away. I stared in shock as she ran passed me and into another room.
Goldi's mom killed herself?
"Declan, I got this, you can go now." Bridget's voice came from beside me, snapping me out of my trance. I looked over at her with a grim look.
"Her mom...she killed herself..." I whispered. Bridget closed her eyes and shook her head slowly, not seeming surprised.
"Crystal mentioned a few times that her mom struggled with depression but I never thought she would actually commit suicide." She said, looking into my eyes now.
"Her sister said it was Goldi's fault." I said slowly, trying to process everything. Bridget's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"Why would it be Crystal's fault?" She asked. I shook my head in disbelief.
"She said Goldi was supposed to call? To fix it?" I felt my head start to throb and I knew immediately that it was going to turn into a migraine. My mind was spinning from everything that was happening.
"It's ok, Declan. I will take care of her. Go home and get some rest, you don't look so good." She said, putting her hand on my shoulder. I nodded slowly before walking past her and out the doors. When the fresh air hit me, I welcomed it, taking a deep breath.
"Goldi..." I whispered to myself, closing my eyes and imagining her face when she smiled at me for the first time. What if I never got to see that smile again? This thought made my head start to throb worse, making me wince in pain.
Damnit, I needed to get home soon and take some aspirin.