Page 73 of Love, Always and Forever
“Eat up while it’s hot. Remember, he doesn’t take it kindly if people don’t show his food the proper respect.”
Besides, as long as they were busy eating, their friendship with those all-important benefits remained intact. Unfortunately, the peace didn’t last long. After only a few bites, Amy pushed her plate away and repeated what she’d said when he first walked in. “I should have told you.”
Just that fast his own sandwich tasted like sawdust. He reluctantly gave credit where it was due. “You did tell me they were surgical scars.”
“But I didn’t tell you enough. Not what they really meant.”
“You sure as hell didn’t.”
Although she winced at the flash of anger in his words, Amy held her gaze steadily on his, a definite show of strength on her part. He’d known grown men who had trouble doing that whenever Mikhail unleashed his temper. “I understand why you didn’t, at least at first, but once we started—”
He shut his mouth, not sure how to continue. Saying they’d fucked was too crude, but he couldn’t bring himself to admit they’d made love, with all that might mean. Even though it was true, right now his emotions were too raw to go there.
He tried again. “But once we erased that effing line, before Icaredso much, I should have known all the facts, not to mention the risks. I deserved that much honesty from you.”
“Yeah, you did.” She seemed to shrink in on herself or maybe it was his oversized shirt that had her looking so small. “So without knowing how much my brothers actually told you, let me say this.”
Her dark eyes turned rock hard and her hands curled into white-knuckled fists. “I was born with a severe heart valve defect that left me existing on the edge of disaster everyfuckingday of my life. Illnesses that were routine for other kids often turned into major issues for me.”
He winced when she dropped the F-bomb, not that he was offended. She rarely ever cursed and never said anything that strong, so it was a clear indicator of how deep her anger was running right now.
After a deep breath, she continued. “Which meant my entire family also lived right there on the edge with me. Everyone’s life centered around mine. I can’t tell you how many special occasions, holidays, and ballgames my parents missed because I was in the emergency room.”
He handed her a napkin to wipe away the tears streaming down her face. After scrubbing her cheeks dry, she continued. “I was so happy when the doctors came up with a new fix for the problem. Not just for my sake, but for my family’s as well. I thought finally they could all live normal lives and go about their business without having to worry about me all the time.”
“But that’s not what happened.”
She picked up a fry and drew circles in the puddle of ketchup on her plate. “Not even close. If anything, it’s gotten worse even after I recuperated from the surgery. My folks couldn’t stand the thought of me being out on my own, so I continued to live at home even though I could easily afford to get my own place. I kept hoping they’d adjust to the idea that I was no longer that sickly kid anymore.”
By this point both of them had given up any pretense of eating. He shoved his plate to the side and leaned forward to rest his elbows on the table. “Let me guess. At least one of your parents stayed home with you as much as possible. If they both had to be gone, then one of your brothers would drop by on some lame pretense.”
She dropped the fry on her plate. “Pretty much. I felt trapped and resentful. It got to the point that one time I waited until my folks left and took off for the library to work there. You know, just to have a little time to myself. I found a spot in a back corner, silenced my phone, and listened to music with earbuds. It was so nice to work without any of the usual distractions and with no one hovering nearby.”
He had a fair idea of what happened next but asked anyway. “How upset were they when you got home?”
“Crazy furious.”
“You could’ve left them a note where you’d be.”
He half expected her to snap his head off for pointing out the obvious, but instead, she sighed. “Yes, I could have, which was exactly what my parents hastened to point out as soon as I got home. We had an awful fight. Yeah, I was inconsiderate, but they acted as if I was a teenager who’d snuck out to go to a kegger. I swear it was like they wanted to ground me or something else equally stupid.”
Amy sighed again. “Looking back, it was my own pathetic attempt to prove I was an independent adult and entitled to go where I wanted, whenever I wanted, and without having to ask permission.
“If it had just been the one time, I might have let it go, but it wasn’t.” She took a long sip of her tea. “Realizing the situation wasn’t going to change, I contacted a real estate agent to start looking for a house. A few years ago, my brothers and I each inherited some money from a great aunt, which I’d never touched. It was enough for the down payment and the basics to set up housekeeping with enough left over for a rainy-day fund. Between that and my business, I’m more than capable of supporting myself.”
“I take it you didn’t involve your parents or brothers in your decision.”
“Heck no!” Amy’s chin came up in a show of defiance, which really wasn’t aimed at him. “Knowing how they’d react, I waited until the purchase was a done deal before I told anyone I was not just moving out but also moving away. Needless to say, they didn’t take it well. Chad did help by driving the moving truck I’d rented. My folks wanted to invite themselves along to help, but I wouldn’t let them.”
“Why not?”
“Because I wanted to set my first home up by myself. Even though they would’ve meant well, Mom and Dad would have tried to take over. It hurt their feelings, but I don’t know how else to make them understand that I want—and need—to do things for myself now.”
Her smile was so damn sad. “For example, remember that day I had lunch with my mother? Well, I was telling her everything I was doing to get settled in. When I mentioned I was having the fence built, she immediately wanted me to let Dad call whoever was building my fence for me. You know, to make sure the guy wasn’t taking advantage of me.”
Considering Mikhail had been that man, her father had been right to worry about that. He had to wonder if he’d be hearing from Mr. Short once his sons reported in. He mentally ticked off everything they’d found out about what their sister had been up to lately: the landscaping, the motorcycle, the new boyfriend, and, oh yeah, the sex.
Amy had clearly run out of steam, and his gut was still tied up in one huge knot. Images kept playing out in his head of all the things they’d done together that might have killed her if the surgery on her heart really hadn’t been as successful as she thought it was. Granted, he’d had no way of knowing the risks, but he should’ve asked more about the surgery that had left her with such deep scars, not just on her skin but also deep inside where they never really healed.
