Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78634 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78634 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
“You didn’t even succeed in burning down a cabinet.”
He murmured, “You can be mad at me. I deserve it.”
“It would be bullshit to get mad about an accident. And what did I tell you the first time you came to the house and broke a couple of wine glasses?”
“It was more than a couple.”
“But what did I say?”
“That it’s just stuff.”
“That’s right, it’s all just stuff. None of it matters. Only you do.”
He asked, “Do you think we could both fit in this bed?”
“Let’s find out.” He scooted over, and after I slipped off my shoes, I stretched out on my side facing him. I brushed his curls out of his eyes and asked, “How do you feel?”
“Fine.”
“How do you really feel?”
He hesitated before admitting, “My throat is sore, my lungs are a little achy, and my hand is throbbing.”
“Want me to call a nurse so you can ask for some pain meds?”
“No.”
“Okay. Let me know if you change your mind.”
I felt him relax as he murmured, “I’m so glad you’re here with me.”
“Me, too.” I carefully gathered him into my arms and decided it was time to bare my soul. “I love you, Embry.”
He looked up at me with wide eyes. “You do?”
“With all my heart. I’ve wanted to tell you for a while, but I was worried you’d think it was too soon.”
“It’s not too soon.” He buried his face in my chest and whispered, “I love you too, Bryson. I love you so much. I was afraid to say it, because I thought you might not feel the same way, after…”
His voice trailed off, so I asked, “After what?”
“After the way you tried to get me to take that money.”
“I don’t understand. What does one thing have to do with the other?”
“If you thought we were going to stay together, that money wouldn’t matter, because I’d have you to take care of me.”
That logic had never even occurred to me. “I want to be with you forever, Em.”
“You do?” I nodded, and he burrowed deeper into my arms. “I’m sorry I ran off,” he whispered. “I just felt so guilty.”
“There’s no reason to.”
“I also feel like I don’t deserve you.”
“I feel like that about you, too.”
He asked, “Why would you think that?”
“Because you’re the most wonderful person on earth, and I’m just… me.”
He tried to chuckle and ended up coughing. When he could speak again, he said, “That’s so silly. You’re incredible, Bry. Don’t you know that about yourself?”
“I guess we both need to work on our self-esteem.”
“Sounds like it.” He shut his eyes, and after a pause, he murmured, “I don’t want to annul our marriage.”
“I don’t, either.”
“Good.”
He started to drift off, but he tried to fight it. I kissed his forehead and said, “You should get some more rest, baby. It’s been a long day.”
“Okay, but don’t forget, you said you wouldn’t leave me alone in this hospital.”
“I’ll be right here, all night.”
He snuggled closer. I thought he’d fallen asleep, but after a minute he whispered, “What happened to the cotton candy?”
That made me grin. “I left it in the car. It’ll probably still be okay tomorrow, but if not I’ll get you some more.”
“Promise?”
“Yes.”
He muttered, “Thank you,” and fell asleep a few moments later.
As I rested my cheek against his hair, I was filled with the most amazing sense of calm, and peace, and happiness.
He loved me. This sweet, wonderful, beautiful human being loved me.
Nothing in the world mattered more than that.
20
Embry
After spending the night in the hospital, Bryson brought me home and spent the next few days taking care of me while I rested and recovered. I wanted to tell him I was fine, but since there was a lingering ache in my lungs, I decided maybe it was best if I just went with it.
While I was cozy upstairs in our bedroom, he had a cleaning crew and his contractor come in to fix the kitchen. He must have paid extra to get everything done so fast, because by the time I ventured downstairs after three days of bedrest, there was no sign of any damage.
I still felt guilty, but I was working on learning to forgive myself. If Bryson could do that so effortlessly, why couldn’t I do the same thing? I was definitely a work in progress, but he was right, it had been an accident. If anyone else told me they’d done something like that, I would have treated them with kindness and understanding. I wanted to learn to treat myself the same way.
After a week of looking after me around the clock, Bryson asked, “Will you be okay if I go out for about an hour? My real estate agent has a property she wants to show me. It isn’t on the market yet, and she’s trying to get me in there ASAP because it’s going to sell fast.”