tubes, and blood pressure cuff would allow.
My dad was murmuring softly, sometimes he’d stop to kiss her head, sometimes his hand would move gently over her back. That was love, giving his Emily everything she needed. What my mom couldn’t see and what she’d never know was the whole time his face was a mask of pain.
“Take my daughter home,” Dad commanded.
“We’ll be by in the morning,” I told him. “I’ll talk to your doctor and get you sorted to start PT.”
My dad scowled and Trey chuckled.
“I don’t know what you’re laughing about. You’re back on the schedule, too, and now we’re adding shoulder strengthening to your rotation.”
“Right. She’s like Oprah.” My mom laughed. “PT for you. PT for you. PT for everybody.”
My dad and Trey joined my mother. Three of the people I loved the most in the world laughing at my expense.
I could live with that.
But I still feigned irritation and snapped, “Whatever. Glad you’re alive, Dad. See you tomorrow.”
“Adalynn,” my dad gently called my name. “I love you, my sweet girl.”
“Love you, Daddy.”
Trey’s arm tightened, my mom smiled, and Dad gave me a wink.
“Take me home and put me to bed,” I told Trey.
My father’s very angry rumble filled the room.
Trey contained his laughter. But Mom and I didn’t. And when the door closed behind me, Trey and I could still hear my mom laughing.
All was well.
We’d said our goodbyes to my family. Which took approximately five hundred hours since everyone was there except Uncle Lenox, Aunt Lily—they were still in Texas but coming home early—and Jason, who had taken an exhausted Mercy home since he’d already spent time with Dad.
Hugs were given, more hugs, handshakes, man-slaps on the back—which I didn’t appreciate since every time Trey received one he winced, but I kept my comments to myself. Uncle Levi and Uncle Clark had pulled Trey off to the side to have a word. Whatever was said, Trey hadn’t told me and I didn’t ask.
Now we were finally home, and after hours of being emotionally drained, I had my second wind.
“Do you need a pain pill?” I offered Trey as he sat on the side of the bed.
“Nope, just need you.”
I wasn’t ready for bed, not tired, and was going to tell him I was going to go downstairs and read when his statement hit me full-force.
“You say that a lot.”
“Say what?”
“When I ask what you need, your answer is just this or just you.”
“Everything okay?”
“It wasn’t. Everything was very, very wrong. But you made it so tonight I’m getting in bed next to you and my mom’s sitting by my dad’s side. So, yes, everything is okay.”
“Come here, Addy.”
I moved to him, and when I got close, he opened his legs so I could walk between them. When I got there, he wrapped an arm around my hips and pressed his forehead into my stomach.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Yep.”
“That easy?” I asked skeptically.
“Yep.
“But you…I mean…” Crap. I didn’t know how to say it, but thankfully, Trey understood my stuttered question.
“Addy, I pray to God that’s the very last time that happens. But I think you understand it’s not the first. There are things I’ve seen and done that have marked me. But I will not lose sleep over ending Belview and helping your dad. It is not one of the things that will leave a mark. Going into that cabin, I knew Belview wasn’t coming out alive, but I was gonna try my damnedest to make sure your dad did.”
“Okay.”
Trey smiled so big his eyes lit.
“I love when your eyes shine,” I told him.
“Baby, I’m a man, my eyes don’t shine.”
“They totally do. When you’re happy, truly happy, they shine. I made a vow to myself to fight for that look, make you feel it so you could stop hiding it and give it to—”
“Come here, Adalynn.”
“I’m here.”
“Closer.”
“If I come any closer, I’ll be on your lap.”
“That’s the idea, baby.”
“Oh.”
That shine sparkled brighter and my belly flip-flopped.
“You’re gonna have to do all the work tonight.”
“Okay.”
“Goddamn, I love you. Help me get these off so you can ride me, Addy,” he demanded.
So I said the only thing I could say, “Okay.”
Then I helped him take his pants off. Then I kissed him until he grew impatient and growled into my mouth. That turned me on so I grew impatient, and that was when I finally rode him. When I was done and he was done, he pulled me to his chest, and with my head tucked under