Page 11 of In All My Dreams

“Mommy, look what I won for Horton!” Auden comes running back over to the table with a stuffed blue bunny. The smile on her face distracts from the goose-egg-sized bump on her forehead.

I clear my throat and shake Ian’s hand off before she sees it. “He’s going to love that, Auden.” I beam at her brightly, pretending that my every breath isn’t trembling with fear as I pull her into my lap.

6

Georgia

Now

Ian parks the car at the back of the house and shuts it off, enveloping the small space in complete silence as we both look up at Crane Manor.

“I forgot how dark this place gets at night,” I say quietly, looking back to see if Auden is still asleep. She fell asleep on the short drive here, and I already dread carrying her up the stairs and to my childhood bedroom.

“I’m sure your dad is still up if you want to go say hello.” Ian’s voice is a low murmur between us.

Well, call me daughter of the year because I completely forgot about him in the hours between arriving here and now.

I unbuckle my seatbelt and turn toward Ian. “When Mrs. Foster called, she didn’t tell me exactly what was wrong with him. She just said he was sick and that I needed to come home as soon as possible. Do you know what’s going on with him?”

Ian lets out a small chuckle, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel softly. Another one of those habits I had forgotten about. Seeing those fingers dancing the way they used to dance across my skin...they remind me of when we wereus.

“My mother still has quite a flair for dramatics, if you can’t tell. Your dad fell ill a few weeks ago. We’re still waiting on test results, but as of now, we aren’t sure what’s caused his decline.”

“Decline? What do you mean?”

He shifts his body so he’s leaning against the car door, looking right at me. “Mom found him unconscious at the bottom of the stairs. He says he got hit with a case of vertigo and lost his balance. Of course, we rushed him to the hospital and ran all the tests. Nothing major has stood out, but his heart rate has been abnormal. Fever, chills, abdominal pain, overall weakness throughout his body. He’s been having trouble keeping food and liquids down, but over the last few days, his strength has slowly started to return. Yesterday he was able to pull himself up in bed and feed himself a bowl of oatmeal. I think part of it might be that he knew you were coming home,” he says with a small smile.

“You seem to know a lot about his overall well-being.”

Ian laughs quietly again. That crooked smile of his still makes me want to flash my own at him. “Well, I’d hope I know all about everything going on with him.”

I cock an eyebrow at him. “And what makes you so important in all this?”

His jaw flexes as he brushes his unruly hair out of his eyes. “I’m the doctor in charge of his care,” he answers.

Tears fill my eyes, threatening to spill out as I bring both of my hands to my face, covering my mouth in surprise.

Ian shifts forward, the leather seat creaking in protest. Concern flashes over his face as he turns the overhead light on above us. “What’s wrong? What did I say, Georgia?” His hands reach toward me, but they stop midair, blocked by that invisible barrier I’ve created between the two of us.

I shake my head, trying to clear all these emotions that have hit so fiercely and suddenly. “Nothing.” I clear my throat and wipe away the stray tear that’s slipped down my cheek. “Nothing. I’m just so proud of you. You did it, Ian. You became a doctor like you always dreamed of. After everything that this world has taken from us, you still found a way to make something of yourself. I—I’m just so proud of you.”

He shifts in the seat again, leaning closer to me. “I couldn’t have done it without the image of mini-you kicking my ass any time I wanted to quit.” He looks back at Auden, studying her sleeping features. I swear I can see him pulling at the threads that tie all my lies together. “You and Irene, I mean. The ghosts of you both kept me going. Auden looks like you, but she reminds me of Irene. Don’t you think? That curious spunk of hers and that fearless heart.”

Before I can respond, Auden stirs and sits up in the back seat. “Can we go inside now? I miss Horton,” she says as she yawns loudly, then promptly lies back down. This child has always been able to fall asleep anywhere.

“Come on, I’ll help you carry her upstairs.” Ian opens his door and steps into the night. I follow suit moments later. “If that’s okay?” he asks hesitantly as I meet him on the other side of the car. “I know where we stand, but I’m here for you. And for her, too, whatever you both need. You’re still my best friend, after all.”

The wink he gives me shouldn't make my heart do somersaults in my chest.

I open the door to the back seat with a nod of approval. I don’t stop him when he reaches in after a moment to pick up Auden.

He carries her effortlessly, navigating the barely lit house, the dark halls casting shadows in every direction. While he carries her, I catch myself looking toward all the windows, my pace slowing, waiting to catch a glimpse ofheragain. The winding staircase swallows them both up like an endless maw as I hurry to catch up to them.

Nothing is waiting for me in the shadows, at least not at this moment, and I breathe a sigh of relief once we reach the bedroom.

Everything about this room feels familiar in a way I wasn’t expecting it to. The bedroom is illuminated by the nearly full moon shining brightly through the balcony doors and the small light next to the bed. Mrs. Foster must have cleaned in here because the room doesn’t smell as though it’s been closed for years. The white, wrought-iron bed frame stands out in the darkness, the pink duvet from my childhood still in pristine condition. It still smells fresh and clean as I turn down the covers for Ian so he can put Auden down.

I carefully remove her shoes and tuck her in tightly, kissing her good night and whispering that I love her. I nearly jump out of my skin when Horton hops onto the bed and cuddles right next to her. “Glad you made yourself at home, pest.” I chuckle as I pet his head softly.

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