Page 29 of The Rules We Broke
I held up my hand, silencing him.
He turned toward Caroline, dejected, and began to pull back the blanket.
“Don’t worry about that,” I said. “I don’t want her to get cold.”
He cradled her gently. I rested her shoes on top of the blanket with quiet precision.
“Please tell Caroline when she wakes how much I loved meeting her,” I whispered. “I hope she has a Merry Christmas.”
“I will,” he said softly.
“I hope you have a Merry Christmas too, Brady.”
“Merry Christmas, Ellie,” he said, downcast.
I watched him walk out the door, gently place Caroline in his truck, and buckle her in. She didn’t stir—not even a flutter.
I remembered the nights we used to daydream about our future together. About the kids we’d raise. We even named them.
It felt ridiculous now.
Brady turned and waved. I hesitated, then waved back before slowly closing the door. I leaned against it, slid down to the floor, and let the tears come. Silent. Unrelenting. I hadn’t laughed that much in years. I hadn’t felt this hollow in even longer.
I needed to leave Kaysville. Soon.
Aunt Lu needed to have her angioplasty and recover—quickly.
Because if she didn’t . . . I was in real danger of never recovering from Brady Jackson.
***
The next morning, I dressed carefully. Too carefully. Another reminder of why I needed to get out of this place.
I loved Aunt Lu, truly. But I would’ve preferred sweatpants and a hoodie on a Saturday. Instead, I pulled on a cashmere sweater, fitted jeans, and heeled boots. She wouldn’t love the jeans—I was counting on it. She deserved at least that much for not warning me about Brady.
When I walked into her room, she was propped up like the Queen of Sheba, complete with her regal smile and a stack of silk pillows. She smiled at me, then immediately glanced down.
“Jeans, Ella Lu?”
“Good morning to you, too,” I said as I kissed her cheek.
“Did you get the Christmas trees decorated?”
“Yes, Aunt Lu. And I signed everything at the bank. They have the power of attorney.”
I squeezed her hand. “So, will youpleaseschedule your procedure now?”
She gave my hand a squeeze back. “What about the gifts and Christmas cards?”
“I’ll take care of it. But you’re a ticking time bomb, and you know it. Please. Do this for me.”
She smiled catlike, eyes crinkling. “All in good time, Ella Lu.”
What did that even mean? This was serious.
“How did it go at the bank yesterday?” The subject change was swift, almost evasive.
I didn’t press it. No use.
