Not A Small-Town Girl

The delay in news had left them fearing the worst.

Xavier wailed dramatically, "Oh, Elliot! You died so tragically! I didn’t even get to see you one last time. I swear I’ll avenge you!"

Howard and Vivian fainted on the spot from the shock.

Joseph and Matthew, their eyes red with tears, quickly called for doctors to attend to their parents.

Xavier, meanwhile, clung to his brothers, sobbing uncontrollably. "Elliot’s gone! He’s gone! He was fine just a few days ago. How could this happen?"

Inside the operating room, everyone was jolted back to reality by the wailing outside.

"Who is that crying like a banshee?" Danielle muttered under her breath, realizing the voice sounded oddly familiar.

Sharing a look with Austin, she stepped outside. Sure enough, Xavier was clutching Joseph and Matthew, howling in despair. As soon as he saw Danielle and Austin, Xavier ran to them, throwing himself into their arms. Before Danielle could speak, he burst out, "Danielle, Austin, Elliot’s gone! I’m going to avenge him!"

"What? Who’s gone? When did Elliot die?" The cries were so loud they nearly made Danielle’s ears bleed, and Austin wasn’t faring much better.

It finally dawned on Danielle that her brothers had misunderstood the situation. But what about their parents?

Danielle, her ears nearly ringing from the noise, finally pushed Xavier away with great effort. "Joseph, Matthew, Xavier, calm down. Elliot is fine. The surgery was a success."

"Really? Elliot’s okay?" Joseph and Matthew asked, their emotions swinging wildly.

"He’ fine. Once the anesthesia wears off, he’ll wake up," Danielle reassured them.