Chapter 12
twelve
. . .
Eden
Time flies, but not because I’m having fun. It’s already Thursday and my third day of PT. Then Felix took me shopping for essentials and every moment is excruciating in some way.
Either my body is barking at me, my mind is guilting me, or my heart aches with the loss of my family.
At no point is there a second that I’m just me and I’m okay.
Not once do I look outside and not think of the accident.
I can no longer see a path forward. It’s as if I’m stuck in place like I’m trapped in quicksand and slowly being pulled under.
I look up at the house as Felix pulls into the driveway, and all I want to do is go to bed and stay there, but my Aunt is flying in for the funeral on Saturday and, wants to see me.
“You sure you don’t want me to stay and run interference,” Felix asks as we put the car in park.
“No, I need to deal with my aunt on my own.”
He looks like he wants to argue, but nods instead.
“Okay, let me help you to the house.”
Jumping out, he walks around the car, and I’m super annoyed that he has such rapid healing abilities. He got rid of his Aircast completely and says he barely notices any pain in his foot. I glance at my arm. Don’t I wish.
He helps me out, and together we make the journey up the stairs to my front door. Felix holding me with one arm and my shopping bags with the other.
“Thanks for the lift. I really should figure out a permanent way to get around.”
“Don’t worry about it. I like being your Uber,” Felix says with a warm smile. “Text me before you go to bed and let me know how it goes. I’ll be here Saturday at nine to pick you up for the funeral. We need to be at there earlier than everyone else.”
“You’re coming?”
He cups my cheek. “Of course, I am. I’m not letting you go through such a horrible day alone.”
I open my mouth to tell him that there will be dozens of people there, but his warm lips touching my cheek freeze the words in my throat. There is a warmth in his touch that I find myself craving. It’s as comforting as wearing my favorite sweater.
“Okay,” comes out instead.
He smiles wide. “That’s my girl. Talk to you later.”
He jogs down the steps, gets in his car, and backs out of the driveway before my brain can catch up to the words, my girl.
I’ve barely closed the door when my aunt arrives. The fast pounding gives her away every time. I swear she is part woodpecker. Using the fancy cane with the turtle end that Felix gave me yesterday, I limp back and open the door.
Aunt Doreen storms through the entry, grabbing me in a hug that hurts. A squeak is all I can muster.
“Oh, there is my sweetheart. I’m so sorry you’re having to go through this,” she says.
“Let the girl breathe, Doreen. She looks like she’s in pain,” Uncle Fred says, coming to my rescue.
Doreen pulls back, but hangs onto my shoulders while I wince.
“You must know that your mother wouldn’t want you to be sad.
She’d want you to celebrate their lives and get on with yours.
” I open my mouth, but she cuts me off. “I’m going to make all the arrangements.
You don’t have to worry about a single thing.
I just hope that someone can fit your parents in before next Wednesday.
We have to fly back to Vancouver for a friend’s daughter’s wedding, and we have to drive six hours to get there.
So, we basically get home, shower, sleep for a few hours and then shop and get in the car to travel again. ”
She sighs loudly at the apparent hardship.
I really don’t care, but I stay quiet and take off my boot. Not that she notices me struggling and offers to help. Of course, not. It’s my Uncle Fred that bends down and helps me pull it off while Doreen marches into the living room and looks around like she’s doing a home inspection.
Uncle Fred and I stare at one another. I’ve no idea how he’s stayed married to her for so long. Twenty years. I’d be in prison right now if it was me. He gives me a gentle one-armed hug and a light kiss on the cheek.
“Are you okay,” he asks softly as my aunt goes on about the funeral home.
I nod and then take a deep breath that hurts my ribs.
“Aunt Doreen,” I say, following her.
“It’s okay, dear. I’ve got this,” she says, sorting through the flyers that Felix and I went through Tuesday. Despite my reservations at the time, I’m happy that he already did this for me. Even looking at what he chose was almost too much.
“Aunt Doreen, stop.”
She doesn’t.
“For god’s sake, Doreen, listen to the girl. She’s trying to tell you something,” Fred barks and then stomps toward the kitchen.
Doreen finally pauses in her tornado routine and looks at me.
“All the arrangements are made.”
“What?”
“The funeral is this Saturday. There is no viewing, the service starts at eleven and then everyone is coming back here to the house. The church my parents belonged to offered to do sandwiches, sweets and coffee. It’s all taken care of.”
She blinks. “But…I wanted to say a few words.”
“And you can. The chaplain will ask if anyone wants to speak.”
We stand there, staring at one another for a few minutes, not saying anything.
“I’m surprised you’ve felt up to doing this. Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’ve always struck me as…overly emotional.”
Seriously?
“I wish my parents weren’t dead. But I’m fully capable of honoring them all on my own.”
She doesn’t need to know about Felix. It’s none of her business, and she’ll just use it to point out how weak and useless I am in her sickeningly sweet, yet condescending way.
“I just got home from my physio appointment, and I’m tired. I’m going to get changed and rest. We can talk more when I get up.”
I don’t wait for a response and head straight to my bedroom. It would have been far more dramatic if it hadn’t taken me like ten minutes to make it up the stairs, but it still feels good to shut my aunt down.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, I stare at the black cane with the silver metal turtle and immediately feel the urge to reach out to Felix even though he won’t even be at his studio yet.
Pulling out my phone, I send him a text.
Eden: Hey there, did you make it to your studio okay?
Felix: Not yet, stopped to do a little shopping. You okay?
Eden: Yeah, I’m fine. My aunt is here, and she is as domineering as ever.
Felix: Do you want me to come back?
I chuckle. That would be interesting, but I don’t feel like answering a million questions about Felix right now.
Eden: No, I’m just about to nap, but I wanted to say thanks again for today. I feel like all I do is lean on you.
Felix: I want to be here for you. I want to help any way that I can. This may sound crazy, but despite the sadness and our loss, it feels like we were somehow meant to meet up on that road.
I chew my lip.
Eden: Maybe. I just can’t accept that my parents had to die for us to meet.
Felix: No, of course not. I just mean maybe I was supposed to find you there that day. Wandering among the cars, I heard you yelling. Maybe fate has nothing to do with it, but I do feel we are better together. At least I’m stronger with your support.
I nod even though he can’t see me and wipe away a stray tear.
Felix: Rest, Pretty Thing, you need to heal. Message anytime, I’m always here for you.
Eden: I will before bed. Promise.
Pretty Thing?
A warmth spreads through my body as I read and re-read the last message. Is it stupid to love that he gave me a nickname? I’ve never had one before and never cared, but there’s something special about it coming from him. I’m not sure where he came up with Pretty Thing, but it’s different.
Taking a deep breath, I lean the cane against my nightstand and curl up on the bed, too worn out and sore to be bothered changing. My eyes feel heavy, and as I’m pulled into sleep, I think about Felix. My mind conjures the feel of his arm wrapping around my body, and I smile.