Page 198 of As They Are
None of those facts helped. They only made me feel worse. I collapsed on the couch and felt like I was somewhere else, somewhere I didn’t belong.
Tears leaked out of my eyes, and I knew I couldn’t go back. I’d started them on the path, and they would continue on until I was nothing in their minds.
A knock on the door brought me out of my misery. I wiped at my face, hoping for once that my red eyes didn’t give me away.
Oh well. The only people who’d ever come to my door were salespeople for security systems. They deserved to feel bad for interrupting my misery.
To my surprise, it was Henry and Tammy.
I blinked. Had I finally lost it? Was I hallucinating now?
Tammy was in her usual work outfit, complete with a name tag that read “Dolly.” Henry, on the other hand, looked like he had just rolled out of bed. Heneverleft the house looking like that.
Guilt hit me. What was he doing? What were theybothdoing here?
“Hi,” Tammy said. “Surprised?”
That was an understatement. I went to say just that when Henry pulled me into a hug.
“Never do that again.”
Why was I getting hugged? Shouldn’t he be taking his break from me? Shouldn’t he have seen what he’d done?
“Why are you two here?”
Tammy scoffed. “To talk some sense into you. Obviously you need it after what that demon spawn of a woman said.”
“She’s wrong,” Henry said near my ear. “She’s so wrong.”
“I—she’s not, though. I’ve completely messed up your schedule. You’ve pushed yourself too far for me, and I’m not worth that.” Henry’s arms tightened at my words.
“Wren—” he began, but I wasn’t done.
“Tammy also has her daughter back! She doesn’t need me anymore. Neither of you need me.” Henry pulled away, his eyes as wide as Tammy’s. Neither of them knew what to say, so I continued. “Over time, you’ll forget me.” My throat felt tight as I said the words, but Ihadto get them out. “Go back home, I’ll be fine.”
“That is the biggest pile of bullshit I’ve ever heard in my life.” The words sounded like they were from Tammy, but they were fromHenry.
Now it was my turn to be shocked. “But?—”
“Wren.” His hands were tight on my shoulders. “I know your mother played on your fears, and I know it brought back thoughts you used to have, but you have to know deep down that this isn’t true.”
It was hard not to believe him when he was in front of me. Here he was, inNashvillewith Tammy. They’d driven three hours after I left. They hadn’t forgotten about me at all.
“Iwantto,” I struggled to say, but emotions were bubbling up. Ones I couldn’t ignore. “But I can’t do this again. I can’t care about someone and have them leave me when they’re done. And I care about youboth.Too much. If I stayed and then you were done with me, I don’t know if I could handle it.”
“We’re not going anywhere,” Henry said.
“But I messed you up. So many times. I’m notforyou. You deserve someone who’s more feminine, who’s willing to?—”
“Be what your mother wants?” he asked. “That’s not whatIwant, Wren.”
“You’re perfect the way you are.” Tammy’s voice was softer than I’d ever heard it. “I’ll tell you that every day if you come home.”
“But you have Kelsey now, you don’t need?—”
“It’s not you or her. Besides, she came back to meet you.”
“Why would she wanna meet me?”
