Page 136 of Johnathan

“Like someone tried to kill my family.” She winced, lifting her wrists to look at the bandages. “How bad is it?”

“Your wrists are going to scar. Same for the cut on your leg. I’m so sorry. Do you want me to get the doctor? He can probably explain better than I can.”

“No. Tell me. About you and Katy first. Then my stuff.”

“Katy is okay. She knows our house was on fire, but she doesn’t remember anything. I…” The rough emotion in his voice had her swallowing a lump in her throat. “I got her out thanks to you.”

Abby nodded.

“She was still asleep in the ambulance. I wanted us to all go together, but they couldn’t… I’m so sorry I left you. I’m so sorry.”

“I told you to. I would never have forgiven you if you chose me over her.”

“I wanted to come back in for you. I tried. I was so weak from those fucking drugs. I want you to know I tried.”

“Of course you did.”

John pressed his forehead to her hip, and her hand moved automatically to stroke his hair. “I was supposed to save you. It’s always supposed to be me.”

She felt the thin hospital blanket soak with his tears. Abby ran her hand through his hair and waited for him to release all the emotions he was feeling.

“I’m glad I got to be the one to save you and Katy this time,” she whispered. “That’s what partners do. I wouldn’t change a single decision I made.”

“You’re hurt because of me. You’ll have more scars because of me.”

“No, Deputy. That’s not the way this works, remember? Laura is the one who hurt me. She’s the one responsible for these new scars. This isn’t like how it was before, because now I know that no matter what, these scars make me more powerful. They tell the story of how I saved my family. They are a physical reminder of how much I love my man and our little girl.”

“You broke my heart, you know that? The way you screamed and begged for me to getour daughterout of the house.”

“I love her, John. In my heart, she’s mine. There won’t ever be a day I feel differently about that.”

He pressed a kiss to her hand, the tears still shimmering in his eyes.

“Your house? What happened with the fire?” she asked.

“It’s gone, baby. We’re not going back there. Ever. Emma and Daisy are at your old apartment getting things ready for us all to go there.”

“That’s your home, though. All your memories with Katy were there.”

“And we’ll make new memories together. Besides, it was just a building. Home is wherever my girls are.”

She nodded, resting her head back on the pillow.

“You’re going to need to be in here for a few more days until they can finish your course of antibiotics and make sure we can take care of the wounds at home. Just rest for now. I’ll be here when you wake up. I’m never going to leave you again.”

Forty-Two

Two long and painful weeks had passed, and as hard as it was to believe because the season had felt less than festive, it was finally Christmas Eve. Abby, John, and Katy were moved into the apartment above Sprinkles. It was a tight squeeze with just the one bedroom, but it was also just what they needed as a family.

John still couldn’t believe how lucky they’d been to all get out of the fire. He woke up every night with a jolt; Abby’s screams, begging him to get Katy out safely haunted his dreams.

His girls were also struggling. The three of them often ended up in the kitchen for late night snacks and snuggled down in bed together after their nightmares forced them awake.

Abby had agreed to finally speak with a therapist, which he was feeling so fucking grateful for. They’d had their first family session the week before, and instantly saw an improvement in Katy. He was so proud of how resilient his daughter was.

They’d been spending a lot of time with their families, and John spoke to Sam and Sylvie daily. Abby didn’t know it, but he had figured out a solution to their living situation. There had been a big surprise he was working on for his girls before the fire happened, and something in his heart told him it was all divinetiming. They were planning on heading to his parents house to celebrate Christmas Eve with his family, but after, he’d take Abby and Katy to see what he’d been working on.

The other big surprise for that day was currently burning a hole in his pocket, waiting for him to get down on one knee. That surprise his sweet daughter already knew about, and he was thankful she’d been able to keep the secret so far.

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