A Missing Puzzle Piece

(Sorry this took me so long. I re-wrote it 4 different ways, each way taking the story in a new direction. I hope you like the way I decided to go with! I wrote the final scene, now I just need to finish the fluff in between here and the end. I hope you’re liking it. I like the ending, and I feel like you will too! ~Taylor)



Molli’s POV

I wasn’t going to be in the right mindset to talk to Travis when he got back, so I asked Nicole to drive me home.

“Did you say that you were having dinner with Elizabeth and her family tonight? How old are her kids now? I met Alexandra one time. She was so cute she had these big brown eyes and long brunette curls!”

I nodded. “Yes. Alexandra is going to be 10, born right before Liz and Matthew got married. Elizabeth is 32 and she was 22 when they got married. She has Tyler, who is 7. She’s actually pregnant right now, with her due date only a month or so away. Which almost worries me, because Tyler was a full month early and so was Alex.”

Nicole smiled. “Lucky Elizabeth! I almost wish I could start a family.” She sounded so wistful.

“You don’t have long to wait! Just get married first please.” I said with a smile.

She shook her head. “Not what I meant. I could have had 10 kids already if I had wanted to. Ilya wants kids too, but neither of us want kids here.”

“What do you mean?”

“Ilya is Russian, Molli. Where do you think I’m going to be during the offseason? I can’t stay here while he’s there Molli.”

She dropped me off at my house, and I had left my phone there. I slammed the door in Nick’s face.

I checked my phone. One new voice mail.

“Um, Elizabeth gave me a phone number, but I can’t remember if the last number she said was 4 or 9. So if your name is Molli spelled M-O-L-L-I, listen up. Alexandra is in the hospital with a heart problem, and Elizabeth is giving birth. I need you to come here and hang out with Alexandra and Tyler. I’m want to bring Tyler home, but- Just please come! We’re all at the hospital near you. Just tell the receptionist you’re Molli Regan and she should send you right up. Please Molli we need you here ASAP! Thanks.”

That was Matt screeching into the phone.

“Shit!” I growled, packing a little overnight bag to take with me.

I threw myself into the car and drove 90MPH steadily until I got to the hospital.

“I’M Molli Regan!” I yelled.

“Right upstairs first room on your left.” The receptionist said. She was totally monotone, something I easily notice.

I exploded into the room. Alexandra is like my daughter. Elizabeth wasn’t around for Alex a lot, so I took care of her. We had a special bond, and she’s so sweet. She’s small, and probably a little bit bullied. She’s in the hospital for injuries only explainable by vicious kids probably twice a year. But she never explains what happens to her, but I think we all know. By Matt’s tone, this was something way more serious.

“Alex?”

There was a doctor. “Are you her mother?” Her voice was pleading. “Please tell me you’re Elizabeth Kelley!”

I shook my head. “I’m Molli Reagan. Elizabeth is my sister who happens to be giving birth in this very hospital.”

“Where is Matthew Kelley?”

“With Liz.”

The doctor buried her head in her hands. “I’m afraid she’s not going to pull through. It’s so bad and I’m afraid she’s going to have a heart attack and no one is going to be here except some doctors.”

A heart attack? My throat went dry. “No. It’s not that bad?”

She nodded. “It is though. She’s not strong enough to make it if she has a heart attack. I’m afraid she might have one.”

Tears were already rolling down my cheeks. “Can I have a minute? I’m sorry.”

She nodded.

I stepped outside. I needed someone to console me, and my phone was already ringing.

“Hi.” I said quietly, trying to hide the sadness.

“Molli, its Travis. What’s wrong?”

I shook my head. “Right now, just about everything. Look, I need someone to help me through this. Can you come to the Ever Greene hospital?”

“Oh my God are you alright Molli?”

“It’s not me. It’s my niece. Can you please come? Meet her now, in case…”

My voice broke and I burst into fresh tears. “Please Travis. I need you here.”

“I’ll be there in five minutes. Do you want me to grab a pizza on my way out or something?”

I nodded. “Yes please. Thank you Travis. And I’m sorry to hassle- “

“It’s not a hassle at all. Stop apologizing. I’ll be there soon, okay?”

“Thanks Trav.”

I walked back in. “My friend is coming. Can we eat pizza in here?”

The doctor answered, “It depends on how your friend is.”

“Fairly calm, will help me calm down. He’s really nice.”

The doctor smiled. “HE sure can eat in here with you.”

I just said, “HE is not THE he. If that makes any sense.”

The doctor laughed. “It makes sense. I am Doctor Schroeder”

I nodded. “Okay. So just quickly back to Alex. What is the percent chance she’ll have a heart attack?” I thought to myself, please only like 10%. Please, please, only about 10%.

“About 85% chance.”

85%. A 15% chance she was going to walk out of here at my side. Only 15% chance. I remember the doctor when she was said a 15% chance Alexandra would walk out of here with us then. She said 85 is her unlucky number.

I sat down in a chair and sobbed. Basically my own daughter was going to leave me. What if she didn’t come with us? What would that-“

I heard the door open, and an undistinguishable whisper. I felt someone sit down next to me and kiss me head. I looked up. “Travis?”

He smiled. “I came right from the Rock, so I didn’t have time to grab a pizza I just wanted to come and make you feel better.

I tried to smile. “Thanks Travis. That means a lot.”

His face lit up. “It does? I mean, it” he looked at the ground and his cheeks flushed red.

I put my arm around him as best I could. “You’re so thoughtful for coming here for me and Alexandra.”

“So, what’s up with your niece?”

Tears filled my eyes. Dr. Schroeder answered for me. “There is a good chance that she will have a heart attack and if she does, there won’t be anything we can do about it.”

Travis hugged me close to him and kissed my head, wiping the tears away. “It’s going to be okay.” He pulled the hair out of my face, and Dr. Schroeder left to give us a moment alone. He rubbed my back as I cried, and he squeezed my shoulders on occasion. He didn’t say anything, just sat there, which was very soothing. He played with my hair, and just kept his arms wrapped around me.

I finally pulled my head up. “Thank you Travis. That felt really good.”

He smiled and continued making circles on my back through my gray shirt. It wasn't sexual when he ran a finger slowly down my spine. I smiled and put my head in the crook of his neck. He was taller than Zach, and I slouched so it fit perfectly.

He didn’t move his body, and the circles he made on my back didn’t stop. There were the sweet occasional head kisses, and the shoulder squeeze.

“I don’t have the words to make you feel better. But I can hug you close and brush the tears away and try to make sure you’re hair stays out of your face.” He said with a smile.

I nodded, tears still streaming out of my eyes. “You’re right. Thank you for being here with me.”

He tucked a section of my hair behind my ear and caressed my face. I closed my eyes, and the tears stopped flowing for a few minutes.

I looked up. He was looking down at me. His big eyes were watching me, and I forced myself to smile. I laid my head back down, and fell asleep.