Page 23 of Hold Me Forever

“You okay?”

She slants her face to look into my eyes. I withdraw my grip, saying, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

But then she searches for my hands as if she’s lost them.

She sighs, still looking confused. “No, no, it’s not your fault. I just… I just had a nightmare.”

“About creepy dolls?” I say to alleviate her tension.

She chuckles, but I know she’s still rattled by whatever she saw in her nightmare. “Maybe, yeah.”

“We’re almost there.”

She combs her hair with her fingers.

“Water?” I offer.

“Thanks.” She gulps almost the whole bottle.

“So, what do you call yourself? Your occupation, I mean.” I attempt to make small talk to ease her nerves.

She clears her throat. “Bear artist, doll artist. I also call myself a heart mender.”

A heart mender…

She clarifies, “Sometimes a broken teddy means a broken heart.”

I’m no teddy bear owner, but if my heart had arms, it would wave at her and say ‘Me! Me!’

After what’s happened in the past few days, I let myself get away with that silly thought. If Clay knew, he would definitely tease the shit out of me.

Amber-Rose adjusts the collar of her shirt. She’s just seemed to realize that my sweater is spread over her.

“You looked cold,” I explain. “You forget your jacket?”

“Ah, yeah. May I?” She holds the hem of my sweater, flashing me a gesture that she’s about to put it on.

“Of course. It’ll keep you warm.”

She looks at me like she expects me to say more. After what she’s given me this morning, I wish I could be her warmth. But lost for words, I let my sweater do the talking.

* * *

Wyatt helps Amber-Rose disembark.I hug my pilot. “Thanks, man. What would I do without you?”

“Don’t mention it, Mr. Hartley,” he says. “Will Miss Cannizzaro need to fly back to Santa Maria this morning?”

“Yes. We shouldn’t be long.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll wait.”

We arrive at Matty’s room, where Clay is asleep sitting up, his head on Matty’s bed.

“Look at my husband.” I toss her a playful wink.

“Don’t!” she says. Then she frowns slightly. “I think you should give Bjork to Matthew. He doesn’t know me.”

True, he doesn’t. But the thing is, I don’t want to claim the glory. If I gave Bjork to Matty, it’d look like I was the hero. I’m not. She is. Besides, I want Matty to see someone soft and beautiful, a change from his two tired big brothers.

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