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It’s my turn to give her silence, but the truth wins eventually.
“Yes.” More cries greet me. “I’ve only ever helped people, Shelby. Only those who needed it. Hell, some even asked.”
Shelby’s breath hitches. “My dad?”
“No,” I rush sharply. “He never wanted to leave you, no matter how bad it got. He fought to stay with you until the very end.”
Pained sobs twist my heart.
“Come home,” I plead. “Let me hold you, let me explain.”
“I can’t.”
“Please.” I’m not above begging.
But I’ve lost the fight, at least for tonight. I wait, whispering my love for her, until her cries slow.
“I’m sleeping here tonight.”
“Are you in bed?”
“Yeah,” she answers softly.
“Do you have a blanket?” I hate the thought of her being cold and lonely.
“Yeah.”
I hear rustling and picture her nodding against her pillow.
Twisting, I bring my feet up onto the sofa and shuffle until I’m lying down.
“I’ll come to the camp in the morning.”
“No.”
“I’m seeing you tomorrow, Shelby.” I mean it.
“I don’t . . . I need time.” She struggles to explain.
“I can’t give you that,” I admit.
Shelby sighs. “I don’t want to come to the house.”
Fuck!
“I would never hurt you,” I promise. “The park?”
“No,” she denies me again, her voice shaky.
Memories of our last trip tease me. Okay, probably not the best idea.
“The diner,” I counteroffer. “We can distract Riley with pancakes, but Shelby, we won’t be talking about my patients in public.”
“Okay,” she agrees.
“Don’t end the call. Stay on the line with me,” I whisper.
I hear rustling again.
