Page 59 of The Wedding Driver
Not the fear his precious memories would vanish in a cloud of smoke.
“I found decent coffee, but the snacks are basic.” Tonya’s voice filled his heart like a much-needed hug.
He turned, swiping at his cheeks.
She set a tray on the table in the center of the room and tilted her head.
Everything around him disappeared. The only thing he saw was Tonya. He closed the gap and wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on top of her head. Her hair smelled like strawberries. He inhaled sharply, unable to get enough. “Thank you,” he whispered.
“I have no idea for what, but okay.” She held him tight.
“Victor. Denise. You’re right. It’s time. I’ll talk to the doctors and ask them to take her off the ventilator.”
Victor curled his hand over Foster’s biceps. “It could be hours. It could be days. But we’ll get through this together.”
16
“So, how long have you and Foster been an item?”
Tonya swallowed as she tried to come up with the perfect words to answer Denise. Everything still felt so complicated with Foster.
“It’s new.” Tonya uncrossed her legs and shifted in her seat. Victor and Foster had left the waiting room to have a discussion with hospice care. Victor thought Foster was nuts to bring Victoria back to his place if she survived having the breathing tube pulled out, which the doctors didn’t think would last more than a few hours.
But they couldn’t be sure.
Anything was possible.
However, Foster was adamant that if she could be released and die anywhere but a hospital, that would be what was best for Victoria.
Tonya would support him no matter what. She loved him and he was doing what he thought was best. He was a compassionate man who suffered a great loss and all he wanted was a bit of peace in his life.
“Is that code for you don’t know what the hell is going on?” Denise leaned forward, resting her hands on the table.
“I wouldn’t go that far.”
“When Victoria was in prison, we gave Foster space. He was angry at the world, but he internalized it. We always believed we’d eventually have a good relationship with him again, but then he started enabling Victoria.”
“I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but he doesn’t see it that way.”
Denise nodded. “I know. However, he was driven by guilt for his affair. He’s always believed that Lisa would be alive if that hadn’t happened. Even though we don’t hold him responsible, or even Kathy, whom I can’t stand, Foster did stay out that night and that’s a dark cloud that’s nearly impossible to get out from underneath.”
“If he’d been at home, he could have died too.”
“That’s a true statement and no one wanted that either.” Denise took Tonya’s hand. “We’ve missed having Foster in our lives. He’s a good man with a big heart. But to us, Victoria died a long time ago. We told her when she got out of prison that if she was ever serious about getting help, we’d be there for her. Foster knew that we wouldn’t turn our backs on her if she was willing to do the work. But we couldn’t have our hearts broken again.”
“I can understand that.”
“You seem like a sweet, caring person. Foster deserves to have someone who will love and cherish him. Promise me that you will help bring us together and keep the memories alive.” Denise sniffled.
“You’re Lisa’s grandparents. Why would I ever want to stand between you and Foster? I know how much keeping a connection with his daughter means to him, so I would never do that. I just don’t know if Foster and I will ever be more than ships passing in the night.”
“I’ve known Foster since he was in high school. He’s never looked at a woman the way he looks at you.” Denise smiled and patted Tonya’s hand. “He’s a wounded man. But he’s not broken. His heart might have a part that will always be filled with pain, but that doesn’t mean the rest of it can’t be filled with happiness. He’s held on to Victoria because he thought that was the only way he could keep his love alive for Lisa.”
“It’s not just that,” Tonya said. She’d understood that about Foster for years. “He believes that if he has a life, if he falls in love or starts any part of his life over, then he’s stomped on Lisa’s memory. It’s as if staying in limbo allows him to stay with Lisa at the exact instant of her death. But if he moves forward, then he has to accept she’s really gone.”
The sound of someone clearing their throat caught her attention. She glanced up.
Foster stood in the doorway with a scowl.
