Page 136 of Heartfelt Pain
When I get her on the phone, I ask her about her father. The man who liked cars as much as me. Maybe it’s the adult in me, but I’m starting to see Mom as a human with a life and her own stories, and not just my mother who nagged me to do my homework.
I’m grateful to have two parents. Two annoyingly, aggravating parents who I don’t always agree with. Not everyone is so lucky.
I tug Ren to my side, desperate for body heat.
We’ve remained tucked in bed for most of the trip. It’s perfect in my opinion so I’m not sure why we had to leave the room.
“That could be nice,” Ren says of London. “Lennie says she and Elijah are thinking about going. She wants to know more about his British side.”
Personally all I think anyone needs to know about Elijah is he’s a wanker. But I guess no one asked my opinion.
My head sinks onto her shoulder. I don’t need to vacation with my brother.
But Ren is enthralled. “Oh, and we could take Isolde!”
“She’s not even from London.” Plus, is she conveniently forgetting the fact that someone is actively trying to kill her?
“But it’s her country of origin. She could show us around.”
“Because that’s exactly what London needs—you, Len, and Isolde running around.”
“Isn’t it perfect?” She’s all in on the idea now. We may as well invite Max and Russ.
“Won’t Isolde feel like a fourth wheel?”
There’s a sneaky look on her face, her cheeks still bright red.
“What?” I ask.
“We could bring Trevino along.”
“Really?”
She swats my hand away, tugging out of my grasp. I’m cold and lonely and she’s only two inches away.
“And how would Trevino feel if we invited him?” I question.
“He’ll love it,” Ren says with confidence only she agrees with.
I tuck her back to my side. The water looks even icier from this vantage point.
“I can’t feel my nose, can we go back inside?”
“I shoulda invited Isolde and Trevino here and left you behind,” she mutters.
“You’d miss me too much.” I gently turn her back to the doors. “Come on, let’s get you a Coke.”
I’m relieved when this does the trick.
She’s brought a bunch of books and she’ll happily sip on soda and relax until other activities come back into the mix. And all the meanwhile I’ll be warm instead of suffering in this ice water terrain.
We read together for several hours, her head propped on my stomach. As far as I’m concerned the moment—all the moments with her—are perfect.
Epilogue Two
REN
Seven Years Later
