Page 26 of Heal For Me

That’s all I wanted, to see her eyes.

The weight of a million bricks lifts from my shoulders, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I’m able to let out a full breath.

My girl is awake.

Jethro rushes in behind me, but she doesn’t even look at him.

“Ash.” Her voice is rougher than ever, but I’ve never heard a more beautiful sound.

I rush forward and tug her into my body. She doesn’t hug me back, but I once again feel her heart beating with mine, and life falls back into place. No matter what happens, this is what’s important. Us, together.

“Hi, babygirl,” I whisper for only her to hear. There’s only a nurse and Jethro here, but still.

Finally small arms wrap around my waist. She doesn’t squeeze, but I get the feeling she can’t. Weak from weeks of no use.

I hold her like that for a long time, enjoying the feeling until Jethro clears his throat for the hundredth time. Even as I pull away, I stay close to her side, and to my pleasure, she keeps a hold of my hand.

“Nice to see you awake,” he tells her.

“Yeah.”

Her eyes drift around the room, a line of confusion etches between her brows, but quickly that confusion turns to sadness to the point tears are filling her eyes. I know why she is crying right away, and any relief I was feeling, dies and is replaced with absolute dread.

I pull her into my side and shoot Jethro a look, but he doesn’t understand her crying because he doesn’t know her like I do. This isn’t a good time for me to rub it in that next to me is where she belongs, but I really want to.

“I got you, babygirl.”

I hold her as she sobs against my side. My own tears threatening to rise.

“He’s really gone, isn’t he?”

Fuck. This is so much harder than I could have ever imagined. How do I tell her that her grandpa died. She knows, but I don’t want to be the one to confirm it.

Reading my mind, Jethro takes the chair on the other side of her and places a gentle hand on her arm. I think it’s meant to be comforting, but it looks awkward. Like he’s never comforted anyone a day in his life.

“He is,” he tells her. I dip my head in a silent thank you and then he dips his.

Her sobs grow, and eventually, I’m not able to stop a single tear from dripping down my cheek onto the top of her head. Jethro pretends not to notice, or maybe he doesn’t because his jaw is working overtime, as if he’s fighting his own emotions.

Eventually doctors and nurses alike come in, stealing Payson’s attention from me. I keep close, not even by choice but because she’s not let go of my hand once. I’ve caught the looks from the staff, but if holding my hand is what she needs, then that is what I will give her. Consequences be damned.

Once we’re alone again, I settle on the bed next to her and let her curl into my side. She’s been quiet all day during the numerous tests, aside from speaking when the doctor asked her something, and somehow, her silence is the worst part of this. If she is silent, I can’t get a read on her. At least not when I don’t have her focus.

“I don’t know what to do.” Her voice is so quiet I almost don’t hear it.

“Nothing.” I keep my voice gentle. “You simply need to worry about healing, the rest can be dealt with later.”

“I’m scared.”

Me too. I don’t tell her though. “We will figure everything out.”

She nods, settling in deeper. “Me and you?”

I press my lips to the top of her head and suck in a deep breath. “You and me, babygirl. Always.”

11

Ash

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