Page 119 of The Homemaker
For an even bigger gut punch, Blair does the same thing. Only she’s too choked up to speak. When she releases me, she quickly blots her eyes.
My gaze remains glued to her until her smile fades a bit, and I realize I’m staring at her too long. Would they thank me if they knew what I did six hours ago in the basement withMurphy?
Would I still be a hero? Or a villain?
If I do what Murphy wants me to do—feel worthy and dream—then I have to accept my role in life again as more than just a series of fleeting moments that don’t mean anything. I have to be accountable.
I’m not ready for that.
“I feel a raise is in my future.” I tease, sliding into character with a smiley face, delivering each word like a well-rehearsed skit. It’s the art of living in an alternate universe.
They laugh, but Hunter cringes.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you laugh. I bet it hurts.” I stand next to his bed and squeeze his hand. Then I pull a book out of my handbag. “I thought you might like a story read to you.”
“Oh my gosh,” Blair says. “Mom, I think that’s our sign to grab dinner. I’ll call Murphy and tell him to meet us somewhere that’s not hospital cafeteria food.”
Vera sidles up to the other side of his bed and kisses his forehead before whispering, “I love you.”
He has hearts in his eyes for her, even after all these years. It melts my insides.
“Can you stay with him until we get back?” Vera asks.
“Of course.”
When they exit the room, I pull up a chair and sit next to his bed.
“We’re bound for life, now. It’s like you donated a kidney to me.”
I grin, shaking my head.
“If I tell you something, can you keep my secret?” he asks.
“I can.” I cross my legs and fold my hands in my lap.
“I saw you.”
“Saw me?”
He glances past my shoulder, gaze unfocused. “I saw you giving me CPR. From above. Like I wasn’t in my body.”
My lips part to speak, but there are no words.
“You called me Chris.”
I immediately feel cold and lightheaded.
“Who is Chris?”
I blink a few times before shaking my head.
“I just told you something I’ve told no one else. And I never will because they already think I’m crazy. Give me something back. Tell me something you’ve never told anyone else.”
Wringing my hands together, I take a deep breath. “Chris was my fiancé. He died in a car accident. It was raining, and we started to hydroplane. The car flipped over the side of the bridge into the river. I got out. He died.”
He narrows his eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“Thank you,” I murmur.
