Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 138683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 555(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 555(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
She paused for a second before she continued, “You are the most selfless person I know, Tessa, and I know you’d give anything for your brother, but it’s time for you to live for yourself, too. You deserve to be happy.”
“I am happy.”
“I’m not talking about that kind of happy. Not the surface kind or the merely content kind. You deserve the fullness of it. I know you’re lonely, as much as you try to hide it. You deserve cake.”
A soggy laugh jutted from my mouth as moisture filled my eyes. “I think I’m taking my first step toward it. I finally realized last night that I wasn’t helping anyone by staying with Karl. Not when there was going to be nothing left of me in the end. And yeah, I want cake.”
I wanted a life that was sweet.
Fulfilling.
And sure, I could do it on my own, which would be just fine. But a partner, finding my person? That sounded really nice.
“You know Salem and Aster are going to be banging down your door, wanting to know the details,” she warned.
Aster and Salem were Eden’s sisters-in-law, each married to one of Trent’s brothers.
Aka: The Fantastic Foursome.
They’d been pushing me to ditch Karl since they’d met him.
“Ugh, I’ll send out a text.”
“You deserve every question you have coming your way,” she teased.
So maybe I badgered them for details about their relationships, finding joy in what they had found when I’d succumbed to what I would never have.
“Hey, my only choice has been living vicariously through the three of you. Don’t blame a girl for her needs. I needed deets. Visuals.”
“That’s called porn.”
“Your hubbies are all way better to look at. I’ll take the blessings I’m given.”
“You are so messed up,” she giggled.
“And you’re my hero. Now get your cute butt in your car once Miss Baby Kate wakes up and bring me some clothes. Do you know where Milo lives?”
“I can get the address from Trent. As soon as she’s up, I’ll be on my way.”
“You are the best, Eden. Mad, mad love.”
“Mad love.”
The line went dead, and I was fighting a smile as I tapped out a message in our group thread. They were going to love this shit.
Me
The douche-canoe has been set at sea. Buh-bye, tiny-dick, prick-face.
It only took a second for the responses to come rolling in.
Salem
Shut your face.
Aster
Are you serious? Tell me you’re saying what I think you’re saying.
Salem
If this is a joke, I’m going to kick your scrawny ass.
Me
No joke. I ended it last night.
Salem
OMG, WHAT HAPPENED?
Me
Get together soon and talk about it?
Salem
Margaritas, Friday.
Me
As long as they’re bottomless.
Because I was definitely going to need them.
FIVE
TESSA
The next morning, I slipped down the brightly lit halls of St. John’s Meadows.
The summer sun stood proud where it shined through the windows and cast its cheery warmth on the tenants of the long-term care facility.
St. John’s Meadows boasted thirty private rooms. There was a big, shared living space and a few smaller alcoved dens, a dining room, not to mention a theater, game room, and a craft and art room.
It’d been designed to give off the vibe as close to a house as possible in hopes of offering its residents a form of comfort and tranquility. Its grounds lush and brimming with giant trees, the lawn perfectly trimmed, and the shrubs and plants overabundant with colorful flowers.
But it still had that smell.
The smell of medicine and antiseptic and forever crushed dreams.
I guarded myself against it. Against the sorrow that gripped my chest every time I stepped through the doors.
Bobby’s room was one-eleven, midway down the right hall and situated on the left.
My heart squeezed so hard it might as well have been one of those stress balls that could be flattened to nothing as I stood in the open doorway and peered inside.
Every prayer and promise I had ever made rose to the surface and threatened to clot out the resolution I had made to myself.
Because he was the reason. The catalyst to every choice that I made.
He was strapped to his wheelchair to keep him safe, staring out the window at the gardens.
I never knew if it was unseeing or not.
If he recognized its beauty. If he wished he were out there walking its paths. If he felt the loss of every memory and experience he would never get to have.
If he understood.
I carefully eased into his room. Loud noises startled him, so I kept my footsteps quiet as I crossed the floor.
I thought I could feel his spirit lighten when I approached him. My big brother who’d been hidden away and forgotten by everyone but me.
Well, me and Karl, who had used him like a bargaining chip.
No more.
“Hey, Bobby, it’s me, Tessa,” I whispered.
His arm and shoulder tremored just a bit, the only response I ever got.
I moved around his chair and knelt in front of him, my spirit flailing at the sight.