Page 71 of Tru Blue
“I’ve never been through anything like this. I was pretty terrified last night. Is that what it was like for you growing up?” She went up on her knees and slid an arm across his shoulder.
It was embarrassing how much he craved and needed her touch. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I hate that you and the kids had to go through that. When we were growing up, I was so focused on taking care of Quincy that everything else was a blur. Going to school was a reprieve, and coming home was a nightmare. Last night, when I saw Quincy lying there, I was thrown right back there, to finding my mother passed out after school, or coming home to an empty house and she’d show up sometimes days later.”
He cradled her face in his hands and said, “I don’t want you or the kids to ever see anything like that again. If Quincy doesn’t get clean, I’ll lay down the law with him, and he won’t come back.”
She shook her head, her eyes serious. “You can’t do that, because even if he isn’t ready now, one day he might be. And if you’re not there to help him, he’ll have nowhere to go.”
“Jesus, Gemma. What did I do to deserve you?”
“I ask myself the same thing about you, Tru. Dixie said some things that really made me think about us last night. I don’t want to change anything about you. I was honest when I said I was terrified, and I second-guessed everything for half the night, because I’ve never been around anything even remotely similar to drugs or alcoholism, or even biker guys.”
She paused and nibbled on her lower lip, making his stomach knot up.
“But I’ve never been happier, or felt more loved, in all my life than I am when I’m with you. And I love your kids, and I know that when we’re together, we’re safe. You took care of us before taking care of your own brother. I don’t know how to deal with what Quincy is going through, but you didn’t know how to raise babies. I have to believe we found each other for a reason, and I know you’ll help me figure out how to deal with Quincy if it comes to that.”
Lincoln patted Truman’s leg and they both looked at his sweet, smiling face.
“See?” she said. “Lincoln has faith in us, too.”
“Come here, sweetheart.” He held her close. “I’m so happy to finally be home.”
“But we’re at my apartment,” she said. “We never spend time here.”
“You and the kids are home to me, Gem. Wherever you guys are is where I want to be.”
She pressed her lips to his in a tender kiss. “Me too.”
“I’ve been thinking all night about the apartment. I don’t think there’s any risk to our being there, but I want you to feel safe wherever we are. So if you’d rather not stay there, I’ll understand.”
“I know you wouldn’t put me or the kids in danger, so I’m okay staying there if you really believe we’re safe. Besides”—she lowered her voice to a whisper—“those apartment walls hold the story of our secret sexy nights and all the things that led us to where we are in our relationship. And the paintings on the cars out back are the story of your life, which I know mean a lot to you, even if you painted them with the intent of never looking back. I can’t imagine not being there.”
Chapter Twenty-One
GEMMA AND CRYSTAL sat at the table in the back of the boutique going over their schedule of events for the next week, but Gemma’s mind refused to focus. It had been a little more than two weeks since Quincy went into rehab, and Truman had made arrangements for Dixie to watch the kids so he could visit him this afternoon. He hadn’t said much about Quincy since Halloween night, and he’d kept so busy finishing and painting the bedroom, Gemma wondered if he purposefully didn’t give himself time to slow down and think about it. The nights she worked late, she’d found him out back painting dark, stormy images again. She knew he was struggling, but when she tried to talk to him about it, it was as if he couldn’t breathe. He didn’t shut her out. He simply didn’t have much to say beyond, It’s a waiting game. Only time will tell. It’s up to him now. She got the feeling it was killing him not to be able to step in and complete the rehab for his brother to ensure a positive outcome, and that broke her heart.
