Page 85 of A Me and Him Thing
“READY TO GO?” Ren rolls a wheelchair into my room, his attitude cheery.
“So ready for my own bed.” My body hurts. Everywhere. Even in places where there’s no visible injury or broken bones. I just ache. In answer to Josie’s question, yes, it hurts to get hit by a car. Like nothing I’ve ever felt before.
Jack worked his retired doctor magic and hooked me up with the best pain meds available. Just for a few days, that is, until the worst of the pain has passed.
I’m already thinking of him as my father-in-law and Susan as my mother-in-law. Even though Ren has never once mentioned marriage. I want to be a part of their family so much, I can imagine every magical Christmas morning for the rest of my life.
Ren helps me into the wheelchair. I can’t help but groan at my sore body.
Quinn, Sawyer, and the girls enter the room.
“Oh, they’re releasing you?” Quinn leans down and gives me a careful hug.
“Yep. With strict orders to stay in bed for at least one very long week. Something tells me it will be easier than I think. My body currently objects to movement.” Super fun times for me.
Josie and Jordyn hug my legs while I try not to wince. “For you, Beezy.” They’ve each colored me a sweet picture.
I basically look like a monster with crazy red hair in both pictures, but they’re going to be hung on my fridge with pride.
“Thank you, girls. They’re beautiful works of art. I love them.”
Quinn hugs me again. “Thank you, Bree. I’ll never forget what you’ve done for me.”
Does she mean yesterday? Or the two years I spent caring for Josie and Jordyn? I’m not sure. But I’ll take it.
Sawyer’s looming above me, the blond-haired, blue-eyed beautiful man I’d once loved. I allow myself to look up at him. His eyes are brimming with tears.
“Thank you so much, Bree.” His voice is rough with emotion.
It’s enough for me. At least he doesn’t hate me anymore. Both Sawyer and Quinn were willing to forgive me even before I saved their daughter. That means the world to me. I feel redeemed.
I doubt we will cross paths very often in the future. We’re still friends, just not best friends. It’s more than I hoped for. I left too much damage in my wake, which put a huge dent in my friendship with Quinn. But Ren was right about needing closure. I feel at peace over my mistakes for the first time since I packed up and left Sawyer and Quinn. I’m glad this time I’m leaving knowing I didn’t betray anyone, that I did something good.
After Quinn and family leave, Sawyer steps back into my hospital room rather suddenly. “Bree? How about a truce?”
Ren gives me a soft nudge, because I’m suddenly paralyzed. “Say yes.”
“Yes. Truce,” I repeat.
Sawyer nods, then leaves just as quickly as he arrived.
Ren smiles his half smile. “I think you’ve just been granted a ‘Hey, it’s all in the past. Fuhgeddaboudit.’”
Now I know for certain that not only have I been forgiven, but I’ve earned Sawyer’s trust back as well. Relief courses through my body. It’s the best feeling in the world.
Once in the car, I’m actually happy to be leaving Newport. It’s not my life. It never was.
“You okay?” Ren asks.
“Yeah. I feel at peace for the first time in a very long time.”
“Time for a new life, a new beginning. Me and you, Bree. It’s going to be me and you.”
“I can’t wish for someone to die so that I can be happy. I just can’t.”
“No, but I do wish for a release for Allie. She still has her peaceful days, but they seem so rare. I can’t stand watching her suffer. She’s getting worse. Her liver’s failing. She can’t sleep at night. She’s up and down, restless and angry. It’s no way to live.”
“Agreed. But when I visit her, Ren, she’s different. She’s calm, and she looks me in the eyes. I talk to her, and I know there’s some part of her that understands what I’m saying. I can’t explain it. But part of her is still there. I’m sure of it.”
