Chapter 28
On the plane, Wyatt was quiet. He gave me his hand to squeeze, and packed extra ginger chews, but his mind… He was somewhere else entirely. Usually, I could reel him in and get him to open up to me; this time, though, was different. There was an invisible wall that had never been between us before.
I couldn’t penetrate it. Not when he was on autopilot. He was physically there, but mentally, I had no idea where he was.
We stood by the baggage claim, waiting for our bags.
I had no idea what he was thinking, and part of me was scared to ask.
My bag came down the conveyor belt, and he scooped it up.
A woman struggled with her oversized suitcase, and Wyatt stepped in, snatching it up with ease and placing it in front of the lady with a joke and a smile.
“Ready,” he asked, smiling, but I could tell it was forced.
“Sure,” I said, not even trying to put any enthusiasm behind the word.
“How are you feeling? Do you need to stop at the bathroom?”
I pressed a hand to my stomach; it was becoming more and more natural.
“I’m good. The fluids they gave me at the hospital and the anti-nausea meds seem to be working.
Apparently, staying hydrated and having electrolytes make a world of difference.
Who would have guessed?” I gave a shrug as a slight laugh slipped out.
“It’s not funny,” he said, and my head practically flew back. Wyatt made jokes about everything, and usually at the most inappropriate times.
“Sorry, I just—”
“No, I’m sorry.” He dragged his hand over his face. “It’s just been…”
“A lot to process. I know.”
“Yeah.” He wheeled my suitcase around. “Let’s get you home.”
With a nod, I followed beside him, looking forward to being at our place. There we could talk.
My hope deflated when we stepped through the sliding doors, and my eyes landed on Chardonnay and Sherry.
Sherry hurried to me, taking me in her arms and pulling me close. “I’m so glad you’re okay.” Relief flooded through me, and calm came over me in only a way that happens when you’re with your sisters. I was home.
Sherry pulled back and swatted the air as if she was afraid to hurt me. “Don’t scare us like that again.”
“You’re telling me.”
My attention caught onto Wyatt. He slowed, his grip tightening on the handle of my suitcase.
“Hey,” Char said before carefully wrapping her arms around me.
“I’m not going to break, Char.”
She squeezed a little tighter before stepping back. “How are you feeling?”
“Better. Tired, but better.”
“Then let’s get you home. You can put your feet up; I’ll make you some pizza. Unless that’ll upset your stomach.”
“Pizza sounds great.”
Wyatt hovered nearby, and when Char started rapid-firing questions at me, Wyatt answered them before I could. He filled them in on all the details, reassured them, and slipped in a few jokes that eased their worries just enough.
We made it to the exit, and Char grabbed my bag from Wyatt, and he stepped back.
Just one step, but I felt it.
“Are you coming?” I asked, my voice barely carrying over the noise of the terminal.
He hesitated, and though it was only for a second, that second destroyed any hope I had.
“I have to take care of something.”
“What could you possibly have to take care of? We’re in an airport.”
“I know. My flight leaves in an hour. I have to go.”
“Flight?”
“I have to go home.”
Wyatt had always told me our house was home.
Now he left me to return to a place he had been avoiding most of his adult life.
He walked over to me and kissed my forehead. “I’ll call you when I land. Promise.”
“Oh. O-okay.”
His hand lingered at my waist like he was afraid to let go, which only scared me more. He squeezed my side, kissed my temple, and let go.
He walked into the airport, his shoulders squared, his pace steady, like he didn’t just leave me behind.
Sherry slid her arm around me. “You ready?”
I nodded even though I felt hollow inside.
The doors closed, and I stared until Wyatt was no longer visible.
And I had no idea if that meant he’d find his way back to me or not.