Page 43 of Ultimate Freedom

Suddenly, all her old insecurities rose up. “Don’t ever leave me. I couldn’t bear it.”

“That’ll never happen. Darling, I know you’ve had some bad times in the past, and I would be honored to listen when you feel it’s time to share.”

She felt the old shame start to slide over her. “I don’t talk about it because it’s pitiful.”

“No. It isn’t. You lived it. It’s part of you… the woman I love.”

Hearing the insistence in his voice, she let go of the old constraints. “Okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” She fell back into the past, dredging up memories she hated revisiting. “I lived with my dad after my mom died. I was only a couple of years old and barely remember her. And my earliest memories of Dad were him yelling at Mom and being falling-down drunk.”

“He didn’t deserve you.” Whit’s tone was harsh.

Demi kept going as if once the tap was opened, it couldn’t be shut off. “There were good times too, I suppose. Times when Dad behaved. But for every one memory I have like that, there are twice as many nightmares where Mom hid me and took his punishment.”

“He physically beat her.”

“Oh, yeah.”

“When she died, it was just the two of us, and he brought me here to Hyder to stay with Grampa. I’d never been so happy... so loved. Johnny Fedora was every little girl’s hero. He even sang songs especially for me. I loved living here with him. I remember, whenever we’d go for walks, he’d hold my hand and tell me all kinds of facts about the forest and wildlife… even the plants.”

“The man knew a lot about this country. He taught me many things too. Why didn’t you stay with him?”

“I couldn’t. One day, my dad arrived to take me away. I vaguely remember moving in with a woman who had other kids, but I know we got tossed out because of Dad pulling his old tricks. Her kids hated me, blamed me for his behavior I guess. I think their mom tried to be nice, but she scared me.

“Did they fight?”

“A lot. And he’d get physical. The next part is fuzzy. All I remember is not long after, the authorities found me in some hotel room where he’d left me. After that, it was institutions, until I was finally sent to a foster home where I met Tanner. Mylife changed after that. Sure, the home wasn’t great, but we had each other. He was my hero… still is. That young boy became my older brother, and no one messed with me after that… well, except for once.” She told him the story about almost getting raped and felt him shudder with anger on her behalf. “I got away. And it was at that moment I decided to help others like me when I grew up.”

Whit hugged her hard but kept quiet. She continued, wanting to get to the end of her pathetic earlier life.

“Not long before Tanner got phased out at eighteen, Isabella arrived and took over from Tanner. I’ve often thought it’s because they’re both so much taller than I am that they felt like I needed protection.” Now she allowed Whit to look into her eyes. “I love them to pieces. They were my family. Even after we all left foster care, they stayed a part of my world… the best part.”

He snuggled down against the pillows, settling in with her still nestled in his arms. “Tell me.”

And so she did. They talked long into the night. At one point, they snuck into the kitchen to get glasses of wine and snacks, went back to bed, and still shared more.

By the time they both had trouble keeping their eyes open, Demi’s last thought comforted her.I’ve never felt so normal… so loved as I do right now.

The early morning brought the passion they’d ignored the night before. Soft lovingness that gave them both such joy. As did being wrapped in each other’s arms and able to drop off yet again in a healing sleep that lasted well into the morning.

Chapter Twenty-six

Over the next few weeks, many things happened. Once the excitement of their engagement settled, Demi and Whit were able to put things in motion for the oldies. Lefty and Harold both appeared relieved when Demi broached the suggestion. Harold more so.

As soon as she had a moment alone with him, she put it in words that she hoped they hadn’t gotten their signals wrong….more than likely her old insecurities biting her in the ass.

“Are you sure you do want to stay, Harold? You seem happy here. And you know how much it means for me to have you close. Whit has graciously suggested that you hang out in his house for as long as you want, but only if you want too.”

Demi saw the unmitigated relief in her old friend’s eyes and quickly hugged him. Being close, she heard him whisper, “I hated the thought of going back to that lonely existence. Leaving and never seeing you again.”

Pulling back so she could look into his face, she witnessed the tears the old man couldn’t hide. Eyes rheumy with age and wrinkles, they made her own well up. Wanting to give him time to recover, she kept talking. “I know. Because I feel the same way. We’ve been so close since you arrived, it tore me up thinking of you living by yourself again.”

Harold clutched her hand in his dry, weathered one and admitted, “I couldn’t stay alone in that house for much longer, honey. I never told anyone, but a few days before we came here, I fell… and I couldn’t get up. I-I struggled for what seemed like forever, but I got so weak that I had to stop trying. Finally, I pulled the pillow down from the chair and crawled to the couch and got a blanket. Then I curled up on the floor. The next day, I was able to pull myself up on the couch and from there I couldstand. It scared me, Demi. I’ve seen the ads on TV and heard the jokes. Except when it happens to you, it’s no joke. It’s one of the scariest times I’ve ever faced.” He stared at the wall behind her. “Truth is, I laid on the floor and bawled like a baby. It’s a hard thing to accept that old age is not just a number. It’s real and it’s frightening.”

Demi sighed her distress, her sympathy for the old man she loved overriding everything. “I’m really sorry, my dear. No one should have to be alone at a time like that. It’s why we’ve come up with this solution for you to live at Whit’s place. First of all, you know I’d have you live with me if there had been no other choice, but life at the cabin is hard. The place is small, old, and drafty. Hell, without that fireplace and the generator, we’d be screwed.”

“Oh no, I never would have let you take me in. Charlie is young and in much more need of your help than an old man. You’ll give him a good life and it makes my heart swell to think of that. I’m happy here, where I am, looking forward to visits from you when you get the time. I promise you, that’s paradise.”

“Except, we have a favor to ask, and you can say no, but hear me out first. Mrs. Knorrs is a nurse at the clinic here in Hyder.”