Page 50 of Cuts Like an Angel: Part 2

Chapter Twenty-Six

Rosie jolted up in the bed when her phone buzzed on her chest. It fell to the floor, and she fell with it, chasing it. “H-hello?” she said, forgetting to even look who it was, praying it wasn’t her stupid mother.

The female voice with the English accent sent alarm and confusion through her. She couldn’t think of who it would be that knew her name. Had to be the hospital. “Is … Maria … okay?”

“Who? I’m sorry. I’m trying to get hold of Rosie. This is Carly. I have Josh with me.?”

Josh? Alarm shot through her followed by the memory of him having a therapist by that name. “Is… he okay?” She’d bitten her tongue on William. What if he’d not told her that name?

“He’s fine. I wanted to call you and let you know. I figured you were worried.”

“Oh God,” Rosie, gasped, sagging in relief as tears surged and she covered her mouth. “He’s okay?”

“Yes, love.”

“I’m not leaving,” Rosie hurried. “He-he misread a text and thought I was leaving,” she squeaked out, fighting to breathe. “I’m not leaving.”

“I figured as much,” she said softly. “I’ve broken ten kinds of protocol bringing him here, but I didn’t want them hospitalizing him again.”

“Thank you,” Rosie gushed. “Thank you for that. He doesn’t need that. He just needs …” A sob escaped her. “To be loved.”

“And thank Heavens he has you,” she cooed, the sound making Rosie cry more.

“If he’ll have me. I’ve been here, waiting, I’m … trying to be positive.”

“That’s always a good thing. Are you okay?”

Rosie sat on the bed then stood to pace. “I’m trying to be. I tried to keep busy, but I think I’ve messed up. I thought all we needed was a new start, a chance to start over and I was thinking to maybe … clean up and wipe things down, and as I did, the wallpaper began to bubble up and so I figured I’d strip it off to … get a clean surface, you know? And well, turns out stripping it off was anything but a good idea. Looks hideous.”

“Oh, poor Rosie,” she said. “Josh cares more about you than those things.”

“I don’t know,” Rosie shook her head, not convinced. “He has his order to things.” She bit her tongue on any details, not sure what all Carly knew. Trust was big with him and she wanted him to know he was safe with her. All his dark secrets and beautiful flaws, she’d keep them inside for him, quietly help him.

“I promise you, he cares more for you than anything else.”

Rosie wiped her eyes, nodding. “Do you think he’ll come back?”

“Of course, he will. I was thinking he needs to see you. See that you’re not leaving?”

“Really?” Rosie gasped, joy surging. “I can come now, just … tell me what to do and when to do it.”

“At least let me ask him if he’s okay with that. If he’s not, I’ll take him wherever he would like to go.”

Rosie took in a deep breath and nodded. “Okay.” Her stomach jerked as soft mumbling came a moment later. Please, please let him talk to me.

“What?”

The sudden deep voice of William in her ear jerked through her chest and stomach. His anger and pain sucked the air out of her. “William,” she gasped before swallowing and clearing her throat. “I’m still here,” was all she could think to stupidly say.

“Why?”

The question was genuine. “Because I never planned to leave,” she began carefully. “I was going to tell you that they tried to make me stay back home. I lied to them just to get back here.”

She paced in the silence then paused when his breaths became louder in her ear. “Rosie,” he whispered, the broken, desperate sound tearing through her soul.

“I’m never leaving you,” she strained, covering her mouth, praying he believed her. “Never, do you hear me? I tried to tell you. I lied to them to come back.”

“What do you mean they tried to make you stay?”

---