Page 17 of Courageous Yearnings

I’m sorry, I hate crying.

How am I going to do my job if I can’t talk???

“First of all, it’s okay to cry,” he said gently, his eyes holding hers. “Secondly, you are going to heal, and it will stop hurting so much. You’ll be back to work in no time. You got me?”

He saw her nod and smiled softly as she sniffed, wiping her face with her free hand and leaving streaks from her tears. Things had to look pretty bleak to her right now. He understood and wanted to help.

“And you are going to stay at my place to rest for a minute – nope!” he interrupted as she started to open her mouth. “No, just listen. I’m not going to be home and it’s a safe place to sleep until I get off work. Then, we’ll get a few things, get you moved into your place, and you aren’t alone in this. I’ll help you,” he offered softly.

She waved her hand at him for the paper. He handed it over begrudgingly, chuckling as she glared at him, writing one word and underlining it several times before handing it back.

WHY?

Looking up from the paper, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He could still see her lying there, limp in his arms. The way she was wheezing when he’d put her on the gurney, that feeling when he knew she’d nearly died here at the hospital. He was drawing on those feelings to do something completely different, something that probably scared him as much as it scared her to be homeless.

“It’s something any half-decent boyfriend would do for his girlfriend…” he whispered – and she glared at him, shaking her hand for the paper that he was still holding. He knew she wanted it back, was probably going to write something on it that would sting because he’d been so careless in his first impressions with her,and he desperately wanted to see that starstruck yearning in her eyes again.

“We’re going out Friday when I get off of work,” he said, holding the paper still. “We’re going to get you moved in, unpack some things, get you some essentials, and spend the day shopping together.” She waved her hand at him frantically again, signaling for the paper.

“Then we are going to go have a nice dinner, maybe take a walk along Ember Creek in the moonlight and watch the stars together – just like other couples do,” he whispered, not looking away from her. “Does that sound okay? Do you think we could try this again? Start over one more time?”

Her doe eyes stared at him as her lip wobbled precariously.

“Please don’t cry anymore, Blythe,” he breathed. “Look, I know this is weird, and not typically me… but a little part of me dies every time I see you tear up. I promise it’s going to be okay – and if it’s not, then we’ll work through it together somehow.”

A sob escaped her as she stuck out her hand again, waving it – and blindly reached for a tissue with the other one. He sighed and handed her the paper, only to see her scribble something once more, and this time, she folded the paper, handing it to him. Her face gave away nothing. She was too busy wiping her eyes and staring at him. He unfolded it, bracing himself for rejection and smiled.

No barbecue, okay?

And I’m still scared, but I feel better - Thank you.

Blythe gave him a teary smile as she nodded and then shrugged slightly, waving her hands and remaining silent.

“It helps not to talk?”

She nodded, before giving him a thumbs-up.

“I think I’m gonna go track down the T-Rex and see where your pudding and broth is at. If I disappear to grab a sandwich at the cafeteria, are you going to be okay for a few minutes?” he asked, seeing her nod… and she smiled.

Lance was going to find the nurse, get her some food, and insist on a sponge bath or something so she felt like her old self. Once she got cleaned up, had fresh sheets, ate, and got some more sleep, she’d feel much better, and maybe things wouldn’t be so overwhelming. Perhaps I’ll get her a robe at the gift shop or some fuzzy socks, he smiled, waving slightly as he left the room.

… And fist-pumped the air before jumping up in the middle of the hallway, dancing erratically, completely overwhelmed with excitement. This was a turning point for both of them – and it was starting now.

They were going out on a date!

6

BLYTHE

Cracking open an eye, Blythe winced at the sunlight streaming through the blinds nearby and glanced toward the chair in the distance where Lance had slept last night, only to see it was empty. She sat up quickly, looking around for him, noticing the small gift bag beside her bed on the rolling table and his cell phone.

Well, he’s still here, she mused. Maybe he went to the snack bar to get something to eat?

Hesitating, she reached for the bag that was waiting there. The table had been pushed close almost as if silently telling her to ‘go ahead’ and take a peek inside. Gingerly, she picked up the bag.

It felt heavy.

She kept an eye on the doorway almost guiltily as she removed the tissue paper to peer inside and hesitated once more, peering at the doorway again for Lance. Where was he? There was a pair of hot pink fuzzy socks, a small bottle of lotion, a spiral notebook, and a chunky pen that was encrusted with glitter.

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