Page 42 of When He Saved Me
I jumped off the stool and tore up the stairs to my bedroom, where I slammed the door, throwing myself on my bed, hot tears streaming down my face. I cried and cried, big, ugly, hiccuping sobs. Two weeks of tears had been bottled up inside me, and it seemed I was going to let them all out at once.
I didn’t hear the door open, but I felt my mom’s hand on my back. I tried to shrug it off, but she wouldn’t be deterred. She just kept rubbing soothing circles as the tears continued to fall.
“I wasn’t trying to take your dad’s place,” she finally said.
“I know,” I mumbled with a sniffle.
Guilt washed over me. I’d never yelled at my mom before. Dad would be so disappointed in me. A few more tears fell at the thought.
“I’m sorry I yelled,” I said at last.
“Oh, sweet boy. It’s okay.” She smoothed some of the hair off my forehead.
“It’s not. I shouldn’t have talked to you like that. I don’t know why I did.”
“Grief is a funny thing. It makes you say things and do things you might not normally do.”
I turned to look at her. “I hate it. I hate feeling this way. It feels like I’m going to be sad and angry forever.”
“I know, honey. I feel that way too. And I think we’ll probably feel that way for a long time. But hopefully, as the days pass, that weight will get lighter, and we’ll be able to carry it easier.”
“I miss him, Mom.” I squeezed my eyes shut against the new round of tears threatening to fall.
“I know, baby. I miss him too.”
She held me for a long time after that, as both of our tears fell.
CHAPTER22
JAMIE
I wasneither a morning person nor a night owl, falling somewhere in between. Still, when I awoke Saturday morning, the time on my phone read ten-fourteen. The warmth of Finn’s body next to mine made me smile. Unused to sleeping with someone else next to me, I’d awoken several times throughout the night, and each time, some part of him had been touching some part of me. Almost as if he was afraid to break the connection.
This morning, he looked so peaceful, his usually serious face relaxed in sleep, a curl hanging loose over his forehead. I wanted to brush away that curl and kiss his forehead, but I also knew he needed to rest, and I didn’t want to wake him. Finn was one of the hardest-working people I’d ever met, and at the rate he was going, he was going to wind up ill.
I lay there for a while, just watching him, but eventually, my bladder forced me out of bed. Having taken care of that business, I pulled on my jeans and made my way into the kitchen, taking my phone with me so I could text Ashley.
Good Morning! How’s Mom doing?
When she didn’t respond right away, I put the phone back in my pocket and started opening cabinets, looking for the coffee. After starting the pot to brew, I opened the fridge, scanning the contents to see if I could whip up some breakfast. It would be nice to be able to spoil my guy.
Expecting the nearly empty fridge of a typical bachelor, I was pleasantly surprised to find it fairly well-stocked. Pulling out bacon, eggs, some veggies, and cheese, I located the tools I’d need to whip up an omelet.
I paused for a moment when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket.
Ashley
She’s doing great, actually! I think yesterday’s baking adventures with Finn wore her out, so she headed to bed early, but she woke up this morning with more energy than I’ve seen in a while
That’s great! What do you have going on today? What time do you need me home?
Ashley
Actually…my mom is coming over in a little bit, and we’re all going to do a little Christmas shopping
I frowned at that. Mom really shouldn’t be out shopping in big crowds. Before I could respond, another text came through.
Ashley
