Healing Hearts (Hope River #3) - Margaret McHeyzer Page 0,60

and waits for me to do the same thing. “I’m not going.” I cross my arms and stomp my foot.

Aunt May looks at me, shaking her head. “I’d like some privacy, please.”

I know why she’s doing this, because she thinks I need to rest. But I don’t; I’m fine. “Come on.” Charlie wraps his arm around my shoulders. “Let’s give her some privacy.”

“But I’m not tired.”

“You may not be, but May is. Give her some space,” Charlie encourages. “I’m stepping outside, give you both a moment to talk. Don’t be too long, because I think Serena wants to get things moving quickly.” Charlie walks out leaving us alone.

“Let me stay,” I plead. “Please, I’ll go home tomorrow, I promise.”

“That boy is your future, and I’m your past. Like it or not, you need him, and I’m fairly certain he needs you. I need to do this, and I don’t want an audience.”

I want to say more, argue and refuse to leave. But I know what she’s like. She’s stubborn. “Okay,” I finally relent. Leaning down I give her a kiss on the cheek. “If you need anything, you only have to call me.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.” Even with her slurred voice, she’s still got the sharpest tongue I know. But she means well. She’s always got my best interest at heart.

Opening the door, Charlie is leaning against the opposite wall on his phone. “Okay. Thank you.” He hangs up, links our hands together, and we walk past Serena who’s now holding a bottle of water and heading toward my aunt’s room.

“Please take care of her,” I beg,

“Absolutely.”

Serena disappears in the room, and I look behind me, feeling guilty that I’ve left Aunt May by herself. “Don’t do that,” Charlie says. I look at him, tilting my head to the side. “You’re feeling guilty, right?” I nod. “Well don’t. May’s in good hands. And, we’re only a phone call away.”

I let out a long breath. “Jesus, it feels like I haven’t had a moment to breathe.”

“Well, I’m taking you home. You need to have a shower, and then we’re going out.”

“We are? Where? I’m not really in the mood to go anywhere.”

“We’re going to Hope and River’s.”

I swing my head around to look at him. “Hope can’t cook. And I don’t really feel like cooking, I’m sorry.”

He chuckles. “No, Hope can’t cook. She never could. So, Elle’s taking care of it. All we have to do, is show up. And if you say no, they’ll be disappointed, because they suggested it.”

“They did?” I ask. “But…”

“Yes, they did.”

My heart is beating quickly. I’ve deliberately cut myself out of everyone’s lives, and they’re doing something for me. This causes all kinds of confused emotions to swarm inside me. “Thank you.” I lean my head on Charlie’s shoulder as we walk out to his truck. “I’ll just grab a quick shower and we can go, okay?”

“Sounds good to me.”

As Charlie drives home, I close my eyes for a moment, and finally let everything sink in.

Charlie

From the moment I got to the hospital, I could see how exhausted Tabitha was. I’m fairly certain she only slept a broken hour or so through the night. I stayed with her as long as I could, but I had to get to work today. I busted my ass to get it all done as quickly as I could because I needed to get back to my girl.

Now, I can hear her in the shower, and it’s taking all my willpower not to go in there and join her. But I can’t let her use sex as a substitute for love. The water turns off, and within a few moments she’s out and dashing across the hallway to her room.

Thank God I only heard her and didn’t see her. Because if she’s only wearing a towel I’m not sure how long my resolve not to touch her would survive. Although I’ve promised her that we’re not going to have sex until she can kiss me. It’s been her one hard and fast rule all along. No kissing on the mouth. Once she kisses me, then I’ll know she’s broken all the barriers closing her off to me.

“I’m nearly ready,” she yells from her bedroom.

“Okay,” I reply while pacing the kitchen and hallway.

Tabitha walks out in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, with her damp hair back in a ponytail. “I’m so tired. Can we come home early, please? I could do with a good