Page 74 of Choosing a Forever
He looks at me. “I was going to change it tomorrow when I talked to HR about benefits. I’m so sorry, Mack.”
“You don’t need to apologize. I’m just glad you’re okay. What happened?” I motion towards his ankle.
“I have a grade two sprain. I got tangled in a rug and went down trying to save a dog.”
I let out a long, relieved breath. A sprained ankle is painful but not life-threatening. All of this for a dog?
“Oh my goodness! Do you need to stay at my house so I can take care of you? I don’t want you to be alone,” Laurie coos, and Talmage looks annoyed.
“No, Mom. I live with my wife, who is more than capable of helping me. I just have to stay off of it for the next few weeks and use crutches, then I’ll have to go to physical therapy.”
Laurie glares at me like I’m controlling what Talmage says.
“There’s no one more fit to take care of you than your mother.”
“My wife does an excellent job taking care of me. I think it’d be best if you leave. I want Mack to take me home so I can rest.”
“You’re not still upset—”
“Oh, I am. You haven’t apologized for the way you spoke to me the last time we talked, and I’m too tired to deal with it right now. If you’d like to check in on me, you can send me a text, but until you’re ready to apologize, I want some space.”
Laurie’s eyes well with tears. “Fine. I’ll be praying for you.”
Then, she storms out.
Tal motions for me to sit on the chair next to his bed, so I do.
“I was so scared when Enoch called me,” I whisper. “He didn’t give me any information other than you were at the hospital.” My voice cracks, and a tear slips out. He may be okay, but my body is still shaking with fear.
Tal reaches over and grabs my hand, interlacing our fingers. “Damn it, I’m so sorry, Firefly. I wish he would have told you it wasn’t anything serious. Nothing life-threatening. I may be off of work for two weeks, but I’m okay. I’m here, and I’m safe. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Don’t be sorry. It’s not like you did it on purpose.” I sniffle. “I know you didn’t have control over this. I just… I d-don’t want to lose you, Tal.”
“You’re not going to lose me, Mack. Hey, look at me.” I lift my chin to look at him through my tears. “You have me, for as long as you want me. I’m not going anywhere.”
I want you forever.
Chapter 27
Talmage
15 years old…
It’s been three weeks since school started. Three weeks of riding the bus to and from school with Mack. Three weeks of all the old feelings I had for her rushing to the surface.
I need to break up with her. I can’t keep this up. My mom keeps asking if I’ve ended things, and I keep telling her I will. She’s getting irritated with me, and the tension between us hurts.
I’ve never disappointed my parents before, and I hate the way it feels. I hate the strain it’s put on our relationship. I know what I need to do in order to make them proud, but I know it’s going to be hard.
Mack stayed behind a few days last week to audition for the dance company—which she got into. I’m happy for her; I know how badly she wanted to be part of the musical, and now she will be.
But it also means we’ll be spending even more time together, and it makes breaking up even harder.
I had a lot of time to think about it over the summer. I studied my scriptures and prayed for guidance, but I don’t feel like I ever got a clear answer. It felt like Heavenly Father was just saying, “You know what to do.”
And I do.
But it’s going to hurt.
