Page 18 of Help Me Remember
Henry presses his hand to my cheek. “You have to be patient and allow yourself to recover.”
I shake my head. “That’s not what I need. I am going to figure all this out. I’m already starting to remember things.”
“You have always been so stubborn.” He smiles, and his eyes fill with warmth.
“And you have always fought to protect me.”
“Always, Brie.”
“Then know that the only protection I need right now is from being protected.” I reach up, brushing the scruff on his cheek.
“Okay.”
“Thank you.”
Henry rests his forehead to mine. “I was so afraid I’d lost you forever.”
“I’m here.”
“Just don’t ever leave me.”
I smile. “I’ll try.”
“Good.” He presses his lips to mine, stopping the conversation.
I remember that we have someone in the room, but when I turn to look toward Spencer, he’s already gone. For some reason, the thought of him leaving makes my chest hurt.
ChapterFour
BRIELLE
Ican’t do this. I can’t.
I can’t walk into this funeral home and see Isaac like this.
Addison comes to stand beside me, staring at the oak door to the funeral home. “We have to go inside, Brie.”
“How?” I ask my sister-in-law, who is stronger than I ever imagined.
“I don’t know, but we do. Isaac would need us to be strong.”
I reach out, taking her hand in mine. “I don’t feel strong.”
Without having to look, I know my brother’s best friends are standing behind us. Emmett, Spencer, and Holden are here, lending their support as the two of us take this second together.
They’ve been here, pillars of strength for both Addison and I. Emmett drove me home from the hospital to my mother’s hotel, ensuring I was safe as I had a panic attack before I left, worried that the person who did this was still out there.
Holden came by after he left the hospital to check on me and then went to stay with Addison to help her with anything she needed.
This morning, Spencer showed up with a black dress, shoes, and various other things he grabbed from my apartment, since I was not ready to return there, especially after Henry left for Portland on a work emergency. His father demanded he return and so he went.
Addy sighs. “The last time we were here was for your dad.”
It’s not fair that I’m returning now for my brother. “I don’t know how to walk in there,” I admit. “I don’t know how we do this.”
Addison looks to me. “I know we don’t have the details of what happened, but in my head and in my heart, I have to believe that Isaac was doing whatever he could to stop anyone from being hurt. He loved you and this town and everyone. He would’ve sacrificed himself for all of us because that was who he was, but especially for his family. So, I know we don’t have the answers, but if any one of the scenarios I’ve imagined is true, then he was brave, and we have to be too.”
The anguish in Addison’s voice is too much to take. Both of us have silent tears streaming down our faces. “He was brave. He was so strong and always did the right thing. If that’s what happened . . . if I’m alive because Isaac did something to protect me, then you’re right. I owe it to him to be just as brave.”
