Page 33 of Wildest Forever

“I'm going to find Morgan,” he says, turning and gripping onto the doorframe as he steps over the threshold and back into the hallway. Dropping my head, I kind of feel like I have bitten off more than I can chew. But like always, I'll bury my head and just get on with it.

“Oh, and Rivera,” Gerry's hoarse voice has me lifting my head.

“Don't give up on her, she's a good girl... I promise she will be the sunshine on your darkest days.”

A genuine smile pulls at my lips.

“I hope so,” I say softly before he disappears, and I am left alone in my room.

Sighing, I make a mental note of what I needed to get done, but first things first was getting the bedding off.

Stripping the sheets and cover, I drop it to the floor then tackle the pillowcases.

The mattress is pristine, and I wonder if anyone has actually slept in here.

Bending, I fold the sheets and pillowcases and stack them neatly on the side unit on the end wall.

Moving out of the room, I take the stairs and I’m straight out the door as I begin to unload the boxes.

Morgan is nowhere to be seen and Gerry is sitting in the living room, the radio on softly asDolly Parton'svoice fills the small space.

After six trips up and down the stairs, all the boxes are unloaded, and I am back out the door but not before telling Gerry where I was going.

Climbing into my truck, I call my ma and fill her in about the last few hours and I didn't want to tell her but I am already missing her and worrying if this was a huge mistake.

I had no idea just what I had got myself into but no backing down now.

I glance at the gold band wrapped around my finger and my chest aches.

I was married.

I had a wife.

And yet, I had never felt more alone than I did now.

Pulling into the parking lot, I slam the door shut and make my way into the department store and grab a cart on my way in.

Moving straight for the home section, I toss bedding, pillows and a new comforter in. I browse through the lamps before deciding on a light gray one with a white shade. Reaching for a couple of pictures, I slip them in the cart then finish it off with a small gray rug.

I needed something to cover the hardwood floor until I had some time to sand it and treat it.

The house was beautiful, set on land with amazing views, but it had fallen into disrepair and if I could do one thing in this marriage, I would fix her house up like it was brand new.

The wrap around porch needed work, it was rotten and I swear it'll fall before I get a chance to fix it. The porch deck is also in need of love, the steps cracked beneath my feet earlier and I know I need to make that a priority.

Paying the cashier, I move to the truck and load it up before I am pulling into the hardware store.

I grab what I need and just as the afternoon creeps in, I am pulling down the long and winding driveway.

Pushing the car into park, I grab the bits for my room first and walk straight upstairs but not before giving Gerry a quick glance as I pass and he holds his hand up.

I am petrified that I am going to find him dead.

I didn't need that.

Dumping it on the ground, I would get to work on that soon. I dropped my new bedding back to my mom's to wash and dry whilst I made a start on the mold wash in the corner of the room, then hooked out the nails of the windows.

Testing it out, it was a quick fix.

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