Page 115 of Healed
Cristie turned back to Remi, who was now standing right behind her. “I know. That’s why I made the effort to come down here. You’re worth the effort. Always were.”
Remi flashed a quick smile. “Can we…” he stopped and tried to rethink his approach. “Is there a…”
Cristie reached out and rested her hand on his chest. “Remi, let’s not go there. So much has changed. So much has happened that can’t be undone between you and I. Let’s not make it worse. I’m happy you remembered that you care enough about your clan and your family to pull yourself together. I’m happy you’re fighting for yourself. And I’m happy to go home knowing that you’re going to be okay here.”
Remi looked into her eyes, and she unflinchingly looked back.
Finally he nodded slowly, accepting her delicately phrased affirmation that she was going home, alone. “Thank you for caring enough to come wake me up.”
“Thank you for caring enough to listen.” She leaned forward and very chastely kissed his jaw, then smiled at him while she gently caressed that same spot on his jaw. Then she walked away, leaving him standing there.
Chapter 20
Cristie walked into the kitchen twenty minutes later with her backpack over one shoulder and her purse over the other. She was freshly showered, with her still damp hair pulled back into a French braid at the back of her head. “Well, I’m going home,” she said, smiling brightly.
“That fast? Won’t you at least stay for breakfast?”
“No, but thank you. I’ve got a long drive and I’d rather drive earlier than later.”
“Alright, but, let me make you a wrap real quick,” Avaleigh said.
“You sure you don’t want to stay an extra day or two?” Daniel asked.
Cristie shook her head. “I shouldn’t be here. He’s got a lot of healing to do, and I can’t be the reason he does it. It’s got to be about him.”
“You are right about that,” Daniel said. “He’s in the shower in the master bathroom. You don’t want to wait until he’s out to say goodbye?”
“We already did. But I want you to know how much I appreciate you both and your hospitality. How much I appreciate the trust you put in me. And I’m so thankful that I was able to help. I do think he’d have come around eventually, but sooner is better than later, right?”
“I’m not sure you’re right about that. If he’d stayed in that mindset, he might have just kept sinking. I really believe you’re the fulcrum that caused him to pull his head out of his ass,” Daniel said.
“There’s that delicate diplomacy I fell in love with,” Avaleigh said with a laugh.
Cristie laughed too. “I’m going to miss you guys.”
“We’ll miss you, too, sweetie. I hope you’ll come back real soon,” Daniel said
“That’d be real nice,” Cristie said, careful to not say she would or she wouldn’t.
Avaleigh handed her an insulated lunch tote with a frozen reusable ice pack inside. “There are a couple of bottles of water and one of tea. There’s some nuts and granola bars, and some cheese and pepperoni, and I slipped a couple of my homemade pralines in there, too.” Then she handed her a traditional brown paper bag. “There’s a bacon, egg, cheese wrap in there, and here’s your coffee. I used vanilla creamer in it,” Avaleigh said, handing her an insulated travel mug of coffee.
“Aunt Avaleigh! You’re awesome!”
“Of course. And don’t forget who your favorite aunt is,” Avaleigh said, hugging Cristie as best she could around everything she carried.
“Here, let me carry some of that,” Daniel said. “I’m going to take a quick look at your truck before you leave, too.”
“I can do that, Uncle Daniel,” Cristie said.
“Didn’t say you couldn’t. I said I’d take care of it for you,” Daniel said.
“I appreciate it. It’s parked by Kaid’s house.”
Daniel took her backpack off her shoulder, and her lunch tote, and lunch bag with her breakfast in it, leaving her with her purse and her coffee.
“Thank you again, Aunt Avaleigh,” Cristie said, as Daniel headed toward the front door.
Avaleigh cupped Cristie’s face in her hands and looked into her eyes. “No, baby. Thank you. I’ll always be grateful.”
