Page 158 of Beautifully Shattered
“Mum or one of those cult crazies stole my wedding ring, but we still have this.”
Tahli takes my hand, eyes tracing over Ringo’s name tattooed on my finger, then glances at his hand, seeing my name inked there too.
A small smile tugs at her lips as she glances up at Ringo, but when her gaze returns to me, pain flickers behind them.
“Where… where’s your baby?”
The words cut like a dagger, and I know she sees the flinch I can’t hide in time.
“It doesn’t matter. You don’t have to answer that,” Tahli rushes out, her eyes dropping to her lap in such a way that looks achingly familiar.
I feel like I’m looking at myself.
Conditioned.
She’s been conditioned the same way I was, and I didn’t even notice it until now.
Probably because I’m aware of it now.
“My baby…” I start, my voice cracking as I clear the lump from my throat. “She died.”
Tahli’s head snaps up, tears flooding her eyes. “No.”
“Yes,” I whisper, taking her hand in mine. “She only lived for a few minutes, I think, but I got to hold her.” I press my hand to my chest, feeling her there still, even after all this time. “I called her Bobbi Cameron Musgrove.”
“That’s a really pretty name.” Tahli sobs, trying to stop her tears with the sleeve of her jumper, and Doreen hurries over with a box of tissues, placing it on the table in front of us.
I offer her a nod in thanks, grabbing tissues for Tahli and then myself.
“I named her Bobbi after my husband’s brother, who died a couple of years ago,” I explain, pointing to the picture on the wall. One Doreen told me all about during those weeks I was here without Ringo. “He was actually the guy who saved Lexi once.”
“He was?” Tahli asks, eyes wide, and I nod.
“Yeah. I wanted to name her after him, and I thought Bobbi was kinda cool for a girl.”
“It is.” Tahli smiles, dabbing at her tears with the tissue.
“And her middle name is Cameron. After Ringo.” I jut my finger in Ringo’s direction. “His real name is Cameron, and he’s the man who saved me.”
“I love that, Abs.” She sobs again, so I squeeze her hand. “And Musgrove?”
“That’s my married name. Ringo’s surname.”
“Oh.” Tahli sits taller. “Abigail Eloise Musgrove.”
“Yeah.” I giggle, pulling her in for a hug, but when we pull back, she cringes.
“I hope you’ve let Harry Styles know you won’t be marrying him anymore.”
Laughter explodes around the table, and even Ringo lets out a bark of amusement as everyone remembers my wedding day. Tahli has no idea how perfectly she hit the mark.
As the afternoon fades into night, I give Tahli a tour of the house, and with Ringo’s encouragement, I take her to my room and show her where she’ll be staying for the meantime.
Ringo suggested that keeping her close for a while until she feels safe again would be best, and he agreed to crash on the couch so I could share our marital bed with my sister.
We join Doreen in the kitchen and help her cook. It’s mostly for Tahli’s sake, knowing her love for cooking will help her settle in, and after dinner, we retreat up to our room and watch a movie in Ringo’s suite before bed.
Tahli is absolutely buggered by 9pm. She takes a quick shower and snuggles into bed while I take my turn to shower.
