Page 82 of Shape Of My Heart
She looked at their hands joined together, then lifted her gaze back up to meet his eyes. “I don’t know what to say to you. It’s so stupid that I didn’t remember you had to go back. I completely forgot that the first game is just weeks away.” A tear ran down her cheek. “There’s so much to do andorganize.”
“Don’t worryaboutthat.”
“Whataboutyou?”
“I’ll be fine. I will. And I’ll call you every chanceIget.”
“Youpromise?”
“Of course.” He nodded. More tears ran down her cheeks and he wiped them away. Josh pulled her in for a hug andkissedher.
Then it was goodbye. He thought he’d leave quickly because prolonging his departure would beharder.
Hours later he got back to L.A. As he stepped into his empty house he felt odd.Itfelt odd. The life that Amy brought to it would no longer bethere.
He was alone, again, and left to hisdevices.
It was easier to change his ways and find strength to beat his alcohol addiction when she was here. She made him a better person. She balanced him and gave him something to look forward to on a dailybasis.
He wasn’t about to fall back into old habits—no, definitely not—but he didn’t know how he was going to do anythingwithouther.
He remembered that week when Corey came by and implied that a good woman was what he needed. Josh had thought the idea of being with one woman was completely absurd. His thoughts had dramatically changed after he first kissed Amy. Now all he could think ofwasher.
Josh got very little sleep that night and woke earlier than normal. He’d even cleaned up the rose petals and other stuff he had lying around for the special night he’d planned for her. By the time Hilda came in there wasn’t much for hertodo.
“How is she?” she asked. He’d filled her in over theweekend.
“She’s fine, and her mother should make a good recovery.” He smiled, doing his best to hide hisemotions.
“How long is she going tobeaway?”
That was a good question. “Well um, the doctors said her mother needed ten weeks to recover, but she…um. Well, she doesn’t need this job anymore, really, I suppose.” He brought his hand up to his stubbly chin and ran it overhisface.
Hilda offered him a kind smile. “But she will come backforyou.”
He looked at her and appreciated her kindness. “I don’t know, Hilda. I don’t know if she sees me like that. I might not see heragain.”
Hilda shook her head. “Josh, it’s Amy, of course you will.” She looked at him like the thought of that happening was ridiculous. He wished that he could see it that way. He wished he could see what Hilda saw, but right now the possibility of not seeing Amy again scared him. “Trust me. Just give her some time to get over this incident with her mom. That was a real good thing you did for her. You’re a good man, Josh. I know she’llcomeback.”
He pulled in a breath and hoped forthebest.
* * *
Hearty laughter rippledthrough the air, travelling on the edge of the warm summer breeze along with the delicious aroma of an assortmentoffood.
Amy brought her knees to her chest as she sat by the window in her room and gazed out at her family and friends having fun in the back garden. While Tristan and his friend, Peter, stood behind the barbecue serving burgers, Amy’s little cousins ran around with their black Labrador in tow. Alecia, the oldest of the children, had just taken Uncle Tom’s toupee, again. The kids thought it hilarious; Uncle Tom, on the other hand, was well and truly annoyed. That was the fifth time that the kids had taken his hair right off his head and he was now too tired to chase them, and the dog too. It was funny. Her family had a way of creating their own drama and entertaining themselves. Amy could see Cynthia and Larissa, her friends from high school, killing themselves withlaughter.
Everyone had turned up, itwasnice.
It was Sunday, and Sunday always meant a big get together at her mother’s house. This particular Sunday was special, though, because it was the first get together since her mother hadgottensick.
Her mother was doing remarkably well, and even though she still required a lot of care and support, Amy could see the massive difference in her. She’d been here now for eight weeks and had witnessed her getting significantly better each day. It was actually the healthiest her mother had looked in years. A new heart was definitely what she needed. A strong new heart that would save her and give her the chance for a longer life with all the happiness shedeserved.
The whole family had turned up today for this grand barbeque her brother and cousin had done. Music played and everyone was having a realgoodtime.
Amy, however, couldn’tjointhem.
She couldn’t bring herself to join in the celebration because her mind was on Josh. Having her mother look so alive and healthy was the best thing could ever ask for, but she missed Josh so much it made herheartache.
