“Stop apologising. We knew this was coming and as long as you are alright, nothing else matters.”
“I just wish it would all hurry up and come back, so I can be over it already.” I sighed. I knew it wouldn’t be that easy to just get over whatever happened to Chris, but at least if I knew, I could try to process, and it wouldn’t be like some huge rock, hanging over my head while I just braced never knowing when it would drop.
“I’m afraid to say, I think it will come back to you, likely very soon.” She warned.
“We’ll stay with you tonight, Princess. Cole’s on his way home now, and Kade’s going to try and be here too.”
“You didn’t need to call them.” I argued. It was the first night since I arrived at that house that Cole had dared to go to Charlie’s, to just chill out with his friends, and now my drama was pulling him back. And poor Kade was trying to find a missing child. He didn’t need to come home in case I had a bad dream!
“I did. They’d have gone ballistic if they found out about this, and that I didn’t bother to call them” Kyle replied.
“They want to be here for you Cariña, we all do. We love you. Stop thinking of yourself as an obligation. We would all gladly drop anything to be where you need us to be.” Matt added.
“They’re right Sweetie, let them take care of you. There will be plenty of times they’ll need you to come to them too. Will you be hesitating, or worrying about friends or work?” Keira asked knowingly.
“Of course not!” I cried, then realised the point of her argument, and gave in. “Ok, fine. But if Kade can’t make it then it’s fine. I’m going to be ok. I’m going to get through whatever this damned memory shows me.”
“We know, Livy.” Matt agreed.
“What do you want to do now, Baby? Are you hungry?” Kyle asked, but food was the last thing on my mind.
“I’m tired. I just want to head up to bed, maybe take a soak.” I sighed, remembering how sweaty I had been earlier, then all of the vomiting too. Yeah, I guessed I smelled far from good at that moment.
“You need a hand Honey? You still look really pale.” Keira offered.
“Thanks, but I think I’ll be alright.” I pushed back the blankets and moved to sit up, but I had barely moved before Matt had his arm around me, helping me to sit up at his side.
“Come on. I’ll help you upstairs.” He whispered softly.
“You guys go ahead. I need to call Rob and update him on a few cases I’m working. I’ll be up in a while.” Kyle said. I knew there was no way he was making a standard call to Rob at almost eleven PM at night. He was likely calling out for the next day, but I didn’t call him on it, because I was worried I was going to need him if this memory came back half as terribly as I anticipated.
I stood with Matt’s assistance and stepped forward enough to embrace Keira. She didn’t seem to expect it, but quickly returned it anyway.
“Thank you for always being here.” I whispered to her. It was true, she worked insane hours, and yet whenever I needed her, be it for make-up and hair duty, or to pick me up mid break down, she was always just there. Grant too, he had sorted everything to do with me starting school, and he’d even had my timetable amended since I started, to change my AP calculus, to art, and my gym, to a free period each day. He had also managed everything to do with the police investigation around me, and handled all of the drama with the press weeks before, and any calls since. He helped me with sessions in the gym, and was just generally a great role model in my life at that time. They both were, and I was very grateful to have them both.
“Anything, you know that Olivia. Grant and I will always be here for you, sweet girl.” She gave me one last squeeze, then released me right back to Matt, who waited close behind me. I sank into his side as he wrapped a strong arm around my back, then we both slowly headed up the stairs and to my room.
“Just sit and rest for a minute.” Matt suggested as he helped me perch on the end of my bed. “I’ll fill the tub so you can take that soak, ok?”
“Thank you.” He turned, and headed into the adjoining bathroom. He still wore his slacks and shirt, but was looking distinctly more rumpled after everything that had happened. Still, he was an amazing sight to behold.
I hoped one day, when he had fulfilled his dreams of law school, and became some big important attorney, that I would be there every morning to see him leave for work, dressed in a suit, and there to greet him each night when he returned in that same suit, all rumpled after a hard day.
I could picture it all so clearly, each of them headed off to their jobs each morning, me too. I had no idea what I wanted my career to be, but I wanted to head off to work with my guys each morning, then come home to them each night. I truly believed we could have that, and that we could be happy together. It was a welcome thought, a flicker of hope amongst the vast darkness.
“Livy?” I came back to the present and found Matt leant in the doorway of the bathroom, leant casually against the doorjamb with his arms crossed over his chest. “It’s almost full. Shall I grab you something to sleep in?” He offered.
“Oh…..yes, please. That would be good.” I stood
