Page 17 of Aftersome
“You lost Hayes, but you lost Mal too. And I want to bring him back. Despite how I feel about him. Despite how badly I want to scream and shout at him for cutting off all contact, I realize that he deserves this just as much as you guys do.”
A slow stream of tears began to fall from Shelia’s eyes. They coated her freckled cheeks until she took the back of her sleeve and wiped them away with one stroke.
“I can’t let you go any longer wondering what you may have done wrong or why he chose to do what he did. It’s not fair, and I think it’s time for him to see that.”
With the glass still in my hand, I set it down beside me on the counter without taking a drink. My emotions were running high and all I could focus on was Shelia.
“God, Wren… You don’t.” She stumbled through her words as she continued to wipe profusely at her face. “You don’t have to do this. You don’t have to put…”
“I know I don’t have to, but I want to. I want to do this for both you and Greg. I talked with Kate and she’s letting me stay with her as long I need to,” I explained while taking a step toward her. “I’ll try my best to have him come home. He may not like it. He might not even listen to me, but I don’t care. I’ll make him listen.”
If it took a week or month, I’d try everything.
Before Shelia could say anything, the sliding door was shoved open and Greg walked in carrying a tray of sizzling steaks.
“Steaks are re—” he started before noticing his wife wiping away the tears on her face. A frown replaced his smile as he set the tray down onto the kitchen table and walked over to us. “What’s going on?” He glanced between the two of us.
“Oh, Greg, these are just happy tears.” Shelia chuckled as he wrapped an arm around her waist and brought her in close to his chest.
“Happy tears? Why?”
Not knowing whether I should answer that or not, I waited for Shelia.
“When I went over to Wren’s last week, I brought up Mal.”
Instantly, Greg's eyes shot down toward hers and a painful gleam in his stare struck me to the core.
“Shelia, I told you we could do that together…”
Her hands found their way to his chest as she slowly rubbed along the buttons of his flannel.
“I know, and I’m sorry I did it without you. I just… I couldn’t wait any longer.” Shelia’s chin dropped.
“Hey, it’s okay.” Greg lifted her head with a single finger beneath her chin. “I know you’re hurting. We both are.”
“It’s time that he comes home.”
Their eyes were secured on one another. Unwavering and sharing a plethora of emotions that only they could decipher. It was beyond powerful and for a moment, I found myself watching them.
Smiling and wishing.
Smiling because I loved them beyond words and wishing that I could have that myself one day.
You did have that.
“I’m going to bring him back,” I declared, causing Greg to shift his focus to me. “I don’t know how long it will take, and I might need you to check on the house and cut the grass whileI’m gone…” I couldn’t help but laugh. “But I promise, I’ll do my absolute best to bring him back to you.”
“Wren, are you…” Greg watched me intently with hazy eyes that never left mine. “Are you sure you’re up for that? It’s a lot to ask and we know how… difficult it will be.”
Difficult? It would be nearly impossible, but I already made up in my mind that I wouldn’t leave without him.
I wouldn’t leave without him hearing me out.
“Trust me, I’ve done a lot of thinking. I already know it won’t be easy, but I don’t care.”
“He might listen to you, Wren,” Greg said as a short scoff had blown past my lips.
“Maybe.” I smiled sadly, not wanting to shred their only hope of getting him back.
