Cid heard Sally stirring. He closed the book and pushed the horror into a corner of his brain. He moved quickly to the bunkroom.
Sally looked up from the pillow. “You’re here.”
“Where else would I be?” Cid asked, sitting on the edge of the bunk.
“A smart man would have headed for parts unknown,” Sally said.
“Evidently, I’m not a smart man,” Cid said.
“Did you finish the book?” Sally asked.
“No, not yet. I read more. It’s pretty bad. Not the writing, the content.”
“His words pulled me in.”
“Me too.”
“I want you to tell me his story when I’m stronger.”
“I will.”
“I want to see this adventure through, but I fear I’m not going to be able to do so.”
“I called Mrs. Leighton, and she has a space open in the woman’s ward for you. I’m going to drive you there as soon as you’re ready.”
“But what about your crew?”
“Jesse is here.”
“No. You need to be here. I’ll have Carl drive me,” Sally said. “He’s used to me. He’s seen the signs.”
Cid fought a war within himself. He wanted to be with Sally, but he was also responsible to keep the crew safe. He decided that he had to trust Jesse to bring them through or at least know when to get the hell out. He decided to follow his heart.
Sally waited for him to talk, and when he didn’t, she said, “I’m not leaving you, Cid. I want us to continue, but I know that I’m too broken to be here. Two attacks so close together is a warning that I need to pay attention to. It could just be the atmosphere of this place. I’m hoping that’s it. Otherwise, I need to be under care for a while. Will you wait for me?”
“Sally, I can’t imagine not having you in my life. Of course, I’ll wait for you. We’ll get through this together. Please let me take you. I’m not sure I’ll be much good here anyway with you gone. I promise not to crowd you. I want to be close.”
Sally moved over to Cid and looked him in the eyes. “This is something I need to do without you. I need to be able to stand on my own two feet so I can look you in the eyes and be worthy of you. I need to know that our children will be safe under my care. You can’t be with me every minute. I have to learn to trust myself before I can trust me with you. I love you, Cid.”
Cid pulled Sally to him. “I love you, Sally.”
~
“It couldn’t be better timing,” Wayne said, patting Cid on the back as they watched Carl’s truck pass through the gates. “His work is finished. Sure, I’d like to have his hands and strength to complete the other projects, but his being gone is not going to halt work.”
“I wanted to take her. She refused.”
Wayne turned to Cid. “You need to be strong for her. She has made up her mind. She told Carl that the moment she returned from your trip to the city, she decided to live, not just exist. She looked at you and saw a future. Carl said she’d not talked that way since before she joined the Army.”
“Are these confidences you shouldn’t share?” Cid questioned.
“Maybe. But I know you’re a good man and will keep them to yourself.”
“Am I a good man? Sometimes I worry that I’m not up to my good press,” Cid said. “Kiki thinks I’m constantly trying to undermine her.”
“Kiki is paranoid and needs to see a shrink. There are times I want to turn her over my knee. I don’t know how Alan can put up with her mercurial nature?”
“Love eases so much,” Cid said.
“Are you in love with Sally? You’ve just met her.”
“Yes, I think I am. I can’t ever remember feeling this way with anyone else. I love my friends, their children, and I have enjoyed a type of love with two other women. But this is different. I’m fiercely protective. It’s almost primal.”
“I still feel that way about my wife. We have spats and don’t agree on everything, but when I close my eyes, I see her. I miss her. If Kiki gets that block of apartments, I’m going to rent an apartment and insist that my Wendy stay there with me. My daughter will be spending a semester abroad. This will give us time to become reacquainted.”
“Would you ever move away from home to live in Chicago?” Cid asked.
“No. Wendy and I made a forever home, and we’ll return there. My brother can watch the place while we’re gone.”
“I have my forever home, but I worry it will be too remote for Sally.”
“You’re already thinking of moving in together?” Wayne asked, scratching his head.
“I just know that I don’t want to waste any more time. I love Sally Wright.”
“Give her time to get used to all that is Cid Garrett, the normal and the paranormal, before you start buying his and her towels.”
“That is good advice. I hope I can follow it,” Cid said.
~
Sarah Leighton stood up as Sally Wright and Carl Lee were escorted in. Sarah waved them to a sitting area where she joined them.
“Hello, I’m Sarah Leighton, and for better or worse, I run this establishment. I’m not a doctor, I’m an administrator. My son and I opened this facility in order to bring the best care, initially, to my husband Glen who has locked-in syndrome. The VA certified us for treatment of veterans once I
