“Jesus, Eden, he swallowed nearly an entire bottle of whisky, then downed pills, of course he meant it.”

Eden hunched in her chair in grief, and her shoulders shook with sobs. Riley felt like the worst man in the world and immediately regretted his thoughtless words. Crouching in front of his sister, he simply held her as she cried and whispered sorry into her ear over and over again. The arrival of a doctor had them separating, and Riley helped Eden to stand before pulling her close so she could lean on him.

“We managed to stabilize him.”

“When can he go home?”

“We’ll have a psychiatric consultation to assess him early this evening. We’ll know more after that.” Almost as soon as the doctor went back through the door, the other door in from the main ER reception flew open. Jack stalked in, followed quickly by Sandra and Jim. Jim immediately hugged Eden, and she clung to him in tears. He may not have been her biological father, but they loved each other as fiercely as daughter/father could. Sandra joined the hug, and Riley watched from a distance.

“What happened?” Jack asked carefully.

“Where’s Hayley?”

“Robbie and Eli have her.”

“Is she okay?” Riley asked. He wanted to know exactly where each member of his family was and that they were safe.

“She’s fine. Tell me what happened.”

Riley shook his head and closed his eyes briefly. “I went to Eden’s, we were talking, and Sean was upstairs. We didn’t even think about… He drank and took pills.”

“Fuck, Riley, did he try to commit suicide?”

“No!” Eden said with an anguished shout. “He wouldn’t do that to me.”

“He’s been drinking heavily,” Riley said in a near whisper. “Eden said he’s on oxycodone and Valium.”

Eden crossed to her brother and pushed at his chest. Riley, caught off guard, stumbled back into the chair.

“Don’t talk about him like that!”

Riley snapped. “He treats you like you’re not there, Eden, why don’t you wake up and smell the roses.”

“I hate you,” Eden said with another shove. Jack moved between them.

“He’s sorry. He never meant to say that.”

“I did—”

Jack rounded on Riley. “Shut the hell up, Riley,” he ordered.

“You can’t—”

“I can. Come with me.” To the rest of the small group he said, “We’re getting coffee.” They went back into reception, and Riley had no choice but to allow himself to be yanked out into the early evening sun. Jack was at him before they’d even stopped walking.

“You don’t say that,” he said firmly. “Not to your sister. Not when the guy she loves is hurt, and surely, whatever you think about him, good enough for Eden or not, she loves him.”

“I know,” Riley said sharply. He was ashamed and sad and somehow in amongst all of that he was grieving for his sister and for the crap he had just come out with.

Jack began again, “Riley—”

“I know. Okay, Jack? He’s a good guy who made the wrong decisions. I get that, but it’s been a while now and he refuses to get help.”

“He’s been steadier recently, you know that. Also he’s seeing a counselor every week.”

Riley carded a hand through his hair. “Then it isn’t working, and once a week isn’t enough. He’s on drugs that could fell a horse, he’s lost all perspective, and he sits there doing fuck-all while Eden looks after him.”

“Because she loves him. What he must have seen to push him this far…”

“Then he shouldn’t have gone to war,” Riley snapped quickly. “He’s a journalist, not a soldier.”

“Riley, you’re being irrational,” Jack said firmly. “Listen to yourself. This is about tomorrow and where we are going from now on. This isn’t about berating past choices. Now, are we getting coffee and going back in?”

Riley looked into his husband’s blue eyes and saw fire and determination in them. All Riley wanted to do was drag Eden away and tell her that Sean was bad for her. That was the protective big brother shit that stole into him and grabbed away his common sense. To be the kind of person who supported Eden and looked to the future he had to push that to one side. He had to stop being the father or trying to replace Jeff, who always had answers or money for everything. Slumping he bowed his head and shut his eyes.

“Fuck,” he muttered. “Shit,” he added with heat.

“So no more of the ‘I told you so’s and just some brotherly support and love? Can you do that?”

Riley nodded but for a brief moment he felt like he was lying. He may not think Sean was good enough for Eden, but he could pretend until Eden saw what was happening. All he had to do was bide his time and hope to hell Sean didn’t drag Eden any farther down with him.

“Let’s go back in,” he finally said. “I’m cool.”

They bought coffee and delivered it to the huddled group. Riley crouched in front of Eden again.

“I’m sorry, Eeds,” he said softly. “I’m just worried.”

Eden raised tear-filled eyes to his. “Tell me he’s going to be okay. Promise me.”

She was asking so much in that soft plea. For Riley to fix things, for him to be the big brother, and Riley felt about two inches tall.

“I can’t promise,” he said honestly. “But I can tell you I will do everything in my power to get Sean through this.”

“And you won’t shout at him again?”

“I won’t,” he lied. I won’t as long as Sean doesn’t use Eden as an emotional punching bag, otherwise all bets are off.

Jack went home a little before eight, and he took Sandra and Jim back. Sean was out of danger and sleeping comfortably. Riley stayed in the crappy chairs and supported Eden, and at just before one am Eden was allowed to see Sean briefly.

Riley took her home long enough for her to gather together a bag of things for herself and Sean, and without discussion he took her back to Mercy. The round trip only took half an hour, and while they’d been out the nurses set up a cot bed in the room. Sean was mostly free of tubes but was hooked up to a single drip. Riley stayed long enough to get Eden settled, and then she told him to go on.

He climbed into bed just as dawn painted the sky with soft oranges and mauves. Jack turned over as soon as Riley lay down.

“Okay?” Jack asked sleepily.

Riley didn’t answer. He lay on his back and grounded himself by laying a hand on Jack’s arm. He didn’t want to sleep; he wanted to think of a way to help Sean and Eden. Perhaps he could use his money somehow…respite…rehab…what did Sean need? In his sleep Jack rolled on his side and settled right up close to Riley. All Riley had to do was move his arm, and he knew Jack would cuddle into him.

Riley needed that uncomplicated sleepy hug like he needed his next breath.

Firmly holding Jack close, Riley shut his eyes. His last thought was a flash of what he should be doing for Eden. He hoped to hell he recalled the details when he woke up.

Chapter 8

Monday of the meeting was kinda pretty at five am. Showered, dressed, and too hyped to sleep, Riley leaned on the fence overlooking D land with coffee in his hand and thoughts rushing through his head with no rhyme or rhythm.

He’d organized a retreat place for Sean and Eden, and he’d not given them a choice. Billed as a place to heal and learn, the ranch outside San Antonio promised a lot. Riley just wanted the place to deliver. Eden was hopeful it would, and Sean didn’t argue. If anything, he was subdued and regretful and couldn’t look Riley in the eyes.

“You beat me out of bed,” Jack said from his side. He had some of the thick dark coffee in a mug and sipped on it after a wide yawn. Riley was damn pleased he’d made it out here this early—stopped him from spiraling with black thoughts.

“Couldn’t sleep,” Riley said.

“If I had a dollar for every time I heard that sentence…” Jack stared out at the same horizon Riley was fixated on. “Thinking about Eden?”