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“Fuck,” I breathe out.
My eyes close shut before I open them to find Avery staring at me.
“Lachlan,” she answers in a daze.
I rush over to her side and pull her hands into mine.
“Fuck, Goldie. You had me worried there.”
“You saved me,” she whispers.
“You’re alive,” I whisper.
I’m sitting on an uncomfortable chair next to her bedside. I lean up and gently kiss her forehead.
“It’s over, Avery. You’re going to finally be okay. Kevin is going to jail,” I tell her.
She’s visibly relieved by my words. She locks eyes with me as we continue to hold each other’s hands for comfort.
“Lachlan, you and me. Forever, right?”
“There isn’t a lifetime where I’ll ever be separated from you, Avery Parker. You are mine in every sense of the word possible. Forever. I love you.”
“And I love you.”
I slept in the uncomfortable chair most of the night and the following one too. I didn’t leave her side.
Avery had offered for me to join her, but honestly, I was too nervous after the events that had transpired. I didn’t want to have Avery move too much. We’re waiting for news from her shift doctor that she can be discharged and taken home.
“Anxious?” she asks me.
“No, Goldie. Just ready to get you home again.”
I squeeze her hand to reassure her before double-checking the hospital room once more. Since we both slept here the past two nights, I had Grayson grab a few new sets of clothes for us both. Packing up our bag is a good sign that after all the turmoil, we finally will have peace.
Today is meant to be the first day of my last week, but I called the last remaining priest of the parish, Nick, and told him I wouldn’t be coming in. For a quiet older man, he was surprisingly kind without any ulterior motives. He told me he understood and that it was probably best I only return this week to clear out my office and home.
News spread quickly in Charleston about that night.
It’s still so fresh in my mind that I know I won’t be able to shake it for some time. I’ll have to put on a brave front for Avery—she deserves that much from me after everything she’s been through.
Surrounding parishes have volunteered for their priests to rotate in and out to help fill the schedule to give Nick time to add on new staff. He’s the new leader, and I have a good feeling under him there will be real change at the parish.
“Father Nick was awfully understanding, don’t you think?” Avery muses.
“I think the fact that Kevin tried to kidnap and kill you, Missy and Frank were part of a giant scheme to funnel money, Greg was the mastermind behind the whole thing, and oh, it was announced to the world that we’re together… yeah he was totally understanding,” I tease back.
“Well, when you put it like that…”
One of Avery’s wide smiles takes over her face, and I can’t help but reciprocate it.
“How do you feel about that last part?”
I’m anxious for her response.
“This weekend, next month, next year, everyone is going to find out we’re together eventually. So be it that it’s happening now.”
My body was tense up until that moment, and I can feel the relief course through me.
