Chapter 32
[Taxi]
Trudy and I wait for her final discharge, which includes instructions about a strict diet, exercise restrictions, and a demand for rest. Stone said he had something he had to do and couldn’t get away, so I drove Trudy’s car to pick her up.
I don’t want to turn Trudy’s return home into a house party anyway.
She’ll want to fuss, treating people like guests instead of letting people treat her like the guest of honor.
She’d never sit still, thus wear herself out, so her welcome home is only going to include Judd, Simon, and me.
However, when Trudy and I pull up to her house, I’m the one treated with a surprise.
“What the . . .” Trudy whispers when I park next to Gloria in Trudy’s sedan.
Stone straightens beside my girl, while I set Trudy’s car in Park. Then he rounds the car to open Trudy’s door and offer her his hand.
“Why, Stone Sylver, you’re a sight for sore eyes, but my fragile heart isn’t sure I can handle a gift so handsome as you.”
My mouth falls open, and Stone’s cheeks turn pink.
“Oh my.” She turns and looks at the giant WELCOME sign hanging from the eaves. Her voice catches when she says, “My precious cottage.”
If Trudy starts crying, I’m going to be a mess. Not that she isn’t too strong for tears and always preaching a good cry clears the soul, but I’m feeling especially raw right now.
Aunt Trudy is finally home. Gloria is here. Stone is present. And Simon.
“Happy you’re home, Trudy,” Stone states, looping his arm around Trudy’s shoulders as an embrace.
This man will be getting more than a hug from me once I can get away from playing nursemaid, which I can’t and won’t do for several weeks. Trudy needs me. Simon, too. And I won’t let either of them down.
Stone helps Trudy toward the front door while I linger behind, turning to glance back at my van again.
She’s a sight for sore eyes, but she’ll also be staying put for a while.
Simon rushes out the front door to greet Trudy, and she folds herself around him like the protective guardian she’s always been. Trudy is a superhero. Her hug is a giant cape of love.
With Simon’s arm around Trudy’s back, like his thin frame is supporting her larger one, he leads her toward the front door where Judd awaits.
Stone steps back to me.
“What are you doing here?” I whisper, more relieved by his presence than I ought to be.
“This is why I couldn’t go with you to pick up Trudy.” He waves toward Gloria.
“How did you get her here?”
“Remember when I asked you for your license plate number and the make and model of her the other day?”
The other day, when he asked, I joked that he was going to call her in to be impounded. He laughed in that hearty way he sometimes does. A drumbeat sound strangely matching the rhythm of my heart.
“I was hoping she’d arrive yesterday, but there was some kind of hold-up. Not ideal for your surprise to arrive at the same time as your aunt’s return home.”
I remain quiet, speechless really.
“You okay?” Stone asks, watching me.
I swipe under my eye, uncertain where the sudden threat of tears is coming from. Maybe relief Trudy is home. Definitely joy that Simon will be back. Perhaps, a small pinch of concern that I’m grounded.
But the longer I stare at my van, I don’t feel the itch to hop in her and drive off. Don’t feel the need to disappear before I’m forgotten.
Glancing at Stone, I’m equally overwhelmed by his kindness. He’s done so much for me.
“I’m good,” I whisper, realizing the words are true. I’m scared about the recovery path ahead for Trudy and how I’ll be able to best help her, but I’m also better than I’ve felt in a long time.
Like I just might belong . . . for a little while longer.
Stone pulls me into his strong arms and rests his head on mine a second. “Gloria. Good surprise or bad?”
“Amazing surprise, but how did you do it? And how much did it cost?” I’m living on a starving artist’s budget. Towing a van across several state lines must have cost a fortune.
“Don’t worry about it,” he murmurs before kissing my forehead. With his arm looped around me, he turns me toward Trudy’s front door, and I stiffen.
“What?” he asks, running his hand down my spine.
“I just . . .” I glance toward the front door and back at him. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to get away anytime soon. I can’t really leave Trudy yet. And Simon. Which means I can’t spend the night with—”
Stone holds up a hand to stop me. “I’m not going anywhere. And neither are you.”
It’s not a statement as much as a question without the modifier.
For now.
I’m not going anywhere for now. And I’m realizing as much as I’ve been worried about people leaving me behind, I’m equally as guilty of leaving them.
“I also don’t want to confuse things,” I add.
Stone tilts his head, confused.
“I mean, we said we were dating, but I don’t know how public I want to be about that right now. How public I can be about it.”
Stone licks his lips and chews the lower one. His hands land on his hips, and he glances toward the street.
“Think a few people might already know something’s going on. I’ve been at the hospital every night to pick you up and there every morning to drop you off.”
“I know, but . . .” I dig my teeth into my lip.
“You saying goodbye to me already?” His face hardens, his eyes narrowing. His tone isn’t demanding but hesitant. Cautious.
“No!” My response is a tad loud, and I don’t recognize the panic in it. Holding out my hands, I reach for his chest. “No. Just putting us on pause, I guess. I can’t be at your house every night, and I don’t know when I’ll see you again.”
“Like I said, I’m not going anywhere.” He glances past me toward Trudy’s front door. “Just don’t shut me out. Please.”
Don’t leave without saying goodbye.
Something inside me breaks a little. Sensing this man has some of the same fears I do. He doesn’t want to be left behind any more than me. He doesn’t want to be abandoned.
The fear in his eyes and the honesty in his voice has me wrapping my arms around his middle and leaning my head against his chest. Beneath my cheek, his heart races.
“I won’t.” My mama didn’t give me a proper goodbye. His mother surely couldn’t say goodbye with her sudden passing. I’d never do that to him. I’d never close the door on him.
And I don’t even want to think about goodbyes.
Stone presses a kiss to the top of my head and rubs his hand up my back one more time, but he doesn’t hold onto me. Doesn’t cling to me like he does while we sleep.
And I feel him slipping away a little bit when I’m not ready to let go.