Page 17 of Always Mine

“Don’t worry, I think you’ll be able to take a shower in a couple of days. And then I’ll teach your caregiver how to change the bandage. Your mom, right?”

“For now.”

After she finished, she said, “I’ve had fun tending to you, Diego.”

“Thanks. You’ve been great.”

“I’ll talk to your mother now. Goodbye until Thursday.”

Diego was starting to drift off when his mother came in. “I talked to Mary. She’s going to teach me to take care of the cleaning and bandaging.”

“It’s pretty simple.” He grasped her hand. “Gracias. I appreciate all your help.”

“You seem tired,hijo. Take a nap. It’s early in the day.”

“I think I will.Te amo, Mama.”

“Te amo, son.”

* * *

“Look who I found parked out front.” Sofia was smiling as she led Annie into the den.

Diego perked up. “What a sight for sore eyes.”

Annie sighed. “I brought dinner over for your family. I thought they might like a break from cooking.”

“Thanks.” He gestured to the chair. “Hermana, you can close the door on your way out.”

“Sí.”

He faced Annie again. She looked sad. At one time, he would have done anything not to make her unhappy or to cheer her up. “Annie, you okay?”

“I was sitting outside, telling myself not to come in.”

“Why?”

She shook her head. “You know why. You almost destroyed me.”

“Idestroyedyou?”

“What do you mean?”

“You refused to marry me. It just about killed me. I—” He glanced away, right back there again in bed with her. Disbelief had ambushed him then and the pain was nearly unbearable.

“You pressured me. I just wanted a bit of freedom.”

“That didn’t include me.”

“Yes, it did.”

He took hold of her left hand. Linked their fingers. “That was a long time ago. Have you had enough freedom?”

“Diego, it’s been eight years.”

He sighed. “I know. I got over you. But seeing you again…”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t stay away when you got hurt.”

---