Page 25 of Fragile Love (Fragile 3)
“To your apartment?”
“Yeah. I couldn’t go back there. When I left there to go to the hospital, I never went back.”
“How did you get your stuff out?”
“I worked it out with a moving company and the landlord. I made a list of what I needed to be brought to me. Everything else I gave them permission to donate.”
Andrew stared at her. “I didn’t know you never went back, Lillian.”
The room suddenly started to feel very cold. She couldn’t muster up the nerve to look in Andrew’s face. He looked too much like Amelia in this light. “It worked out okay. I had that tiny service apartment for a couple of months until I moved over here.”
“I actually didn’t know that was how you ended up here.”
Guilt began to seep into her veins. “Andrew, I’m so sorry I never called after the funeral.”
“It’s okay. We’re back together now.”
She nodded. “She wouldn’t have wanted me to go that long without calling. I was selfish.”
“No, you weren’t. Look how much time has healed all of us. I never thought I would see Mom and Dad enjoy anything again, and here they are, off exploring Europe.”
“That’s the thing. I don’t know how much it’s healed me at all. When I heard that you were in an accident, and when your mom told me you were at the same hospital...” Her breath formed a hard lump in her throat that wouldn’t go away. “I fell onto the floor. I couldn’t move, Andrew. It was like Amelia’s wreck happening all over again.”
“Hey, Lillian,” he said gently, as if he were calling to her pain, “I’m okay. I made it.”
She clenched her teeth and dug her fingernails into her palms, trying with every o
unce of strength to fight off a good, long cry. “Yeah. You did.”
“Exactly. And I don’t intend to go anywhere again. So, stop worrying.” It was a soft command, and she knew he meant it in love.
“I’ll try.” She slowly sucked in a breath, imagining her lungs filling with the fresh air drifting through the house. “As long as I’m here, you won’t be going anywhere. I’ll find an indestructible car for you or something. Cover you in bubble wrap. Whatever it takes.”
Andrew smiled, taking his crutches and shakily standing up. “Well, in other news, I’m hungry. You look hungry, too.”
“Do I?”
“You do. You know thinking burns a lot of energy, right? Got to keep up your strength.”
“I need to be better about that.”
“Is Cayden here?”
“No, he went home to find a bag to take back to Los Angeles. He’ll probably show up sometime.”
Nodding, Andrew motioned Lillian through the door first. She held back, looking at his crutches.
“I don’t need help,” he said. “It’s okay.”
“Are you getting used to them?”
“Yeah. They aren’t so bad.” He winced, but didn’t stop. “Except that leg pain isn’t so pleasant.”
Lillian put a hand on his back. “Do you need more pain meds?”
“Nah. Just some water and food and sleep.” He tried to laugh a little, but she could tell it hurt. “This is the most time off I’ve had in a long time.”
“Enjoy it, if recovering from multiple injuries is something enjoyable.”
