Page 44 of Only Yours
My other hand reaches for her, and she grabs it. “Can you forgive me, princess? When we fell for each other, you didn’t exactly sign up to be with a grumpy ass. You could have run anytime. I’m surprised you haven’t,” I say sheepishly.
She brings my hand to her lips. “I don’t run when things get tough.” She nods towards Sophie and my mom. “None of us women do. And I love you, even when you’re being a grumpy ass.”
I let go of her hand to stroke her cheek. “I promise to try harder, princess. I promise to try to be the man you fell in love with.”
She places another kiss on my palm. “You just work on getting better. I’m not going anywhere.”
Chapter 41
Loving someone during the best times is easy. Loving them through hell is what makes that love strong. -Reina
Reina
Brian is finally going home today. The words ring over and over again in my head. After four months in this hospital, he’s finally going to his mom’s house where I can look over him there. The progress he’s made in the last month has been fantastic. There are times now when I see the old Brian there with his familiar grin, and I know everything will be okay. It’s been a long road, but I’m ready for wherever the rest of this journey takes us.
Lyla pushes him out and gives me a cheeky grin. “He’s all yours now, honey,” she says in a teasing voice.
Brian grins up at me. His mom and sister are waiting in the car behind us, and I can feel them watching us. I know they’re smiling too.
“You ready for this, princess?” Brian teases, “I’m going to be gettin’ on your nerves morning, noon, and night from now on.” Brian’s mom asked me if I wanted to stay with them this summer and of course I agreed. I’ll be staying in Sophie’s old room while she takes summer classes. I can’t imagine being away from my soldier now that I’ve finally gotten him back.
“I’m ready, soldier boy. Let’s get this show on the road.” I lean down and help him up. I pass him the cane that he finally picked out after much deliberation. You would have thought he was picking out a car the way he dithered over the choice of the dark walnut walking piece. He said he wanted something classic and not too flashy. I died laughing at the choices we had from purple stripes to a plain old stick. Brian chose right.
His mom opens up the van door and he gets in with a small huff. Over the last month, he’s been grimacing less and less in pain, thank goodness. Watching him writhe in pain when he first started here was excruciating for all of us.
I pull the handle to the door. Brian puts an arm out to stop me. “You going to sit next to me, princess?” he asks gruffly. “I couldn’t imagine going anywhere without you right by my side.”
I flash him a smile. “I couldn’t either, soldier. That’s where I belong.”
And it is. What started out as a few words on a blank page has become my everything. This may be the toughest thing we face, or there may be more obstacles with bigger reckonings, but this is my person. And for your person, you buck up and face the hard times. The times that maybe aren’t so sexy or romantic. The times that make you see the person for who they are.
I hold his hand in the back of that van all the way home and I vow to never let go.
Epilogue
“And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.” ~ Haruki Murakami
Brian
Reina dances around our new apartment in the red sundress she bought last week. She’s singing at the top of her lungs something about ‘Never, ever getting back together’ and I grin as I watch her.
There’s so much beauty in her simple grace. Or rather ungracefulness. I wince as she trips over a box and run to catch her before she can fall. Or since I can’t really run, I should say walk quickly. I’ve learned to adjust my thinking like that.
I catch her in my arms just in time. “Gotcha, princess,” I say and hold her there, looking down at her flushed face.
She flutters her lashes. “My, my what would I do without a big, strapping man around to rescue me?”
“Why ma’am I’m just doing my duty as your local hero.” I chuckle and flash her a smile.
I lean into kiss those pouty lips of hers and she opens them on a sigh. We both sink into the kiss, letting it take over. Her arms come around my neck and she scrapes her nails through the hair at my nape. I revel in her touch and the feel of tongue twining with mine.
She pulls back. “What about your leg? Brian, I should get up. We can’t put pressure on it like this.” She pushes at me and stumbles to get up. I hold her tightly to me and her eyes widen.
“Nope, not this time, Reina. It’s been almost a year since the accident and I’m tired of you treating me like broken glass. Even when we make love, you treat me so gently.” I take her hand and kiss it. “I appreciate it, baby. But it’s time to just let go. I got this. I’m okay. I don’t know what part of you needs to hear this, but I’m going to be okay. You can’t hurt me.” It’s been a long, hard road physically and mentally, but I’ve come a long way. On both fronts. I’m still working with a counselor, but I feel better. I even wrote the captain’s daughters a letter to let them know about the conversation I had with him, and how much he loved his girls. Something about that letter helped heal my heart. I guess you could say letters have been very important during the turning points in my life.
Her eyes fill with tears. “I know, babe. I know that in here,” she points to her head and then her heart, “but in here, I’m scared shitless I’m going to do something wrong.” She sniffles. “I don’t want to break you.”
I throw back my head and laugh. “You aren’t going to break me, I promise. Now, get in that bedroom and strip. It’s time to christen our new place.”
