“I wish he’d woken me up so I could see him.”
“I think he wanted you to rest.” Kelly laid a hand on his knee. “He really cares about you.”
“I know he does, but…” Bernard wanted to tell someone, needed to tell someone.
“But what?”
“But I don’t deserve someone as sweet, kind, and wonderful as him.”
Tears pooled in his eyes. Rory deserved to be happy, and he couldn’t give him happiness. He was a wreck and couldn’t even take care of himself right now.
“I think it’s the heartache talking, I don’t think you really mean that.”
“How long has it been?”
“It’s Tuesday the fifteenth.”
“I’ve been like this for four days?”
“Yes, and we’re worried about you.” Kelly rubbed his knee. “If you need to talk, please reach out.”
“I miss my dad. He’s gone, and I don’t know what to do. I could talk to him about anything, and now he’s gone. I should have done more to stop him from drinking and smoking. I should have helped him when my mom died, I should have done so much more.”
It all poured out of him. He was sixteen when his mom passed away, and he wallowed in his own emotions instead of helping his father and brother. He didn’t try hard enough to protect them.
“It’s not your fault,” Kelly said. “You can only warn people so much. You can’t force them to change. I know it’s hard, I do. You need to take time to grieve your way. What happened back then wasn’t your fault, and you were a teenager. I want to believe you did your best.”
Bernard petted Ginger. She was a sweet dog who knew when he was sad. She was by his side with Tracy, and she was by his side with Sean, and she was here now.
Tracy, that arrogant asshole who is now with his other ex. Those monsters deserved each other.
Kelly broke the silence. “I’m gonna leave Ginger here with you for a little while. There’s some food from Sarah in your fridge. I’ll be back this evening to take her home.”
“Thank you, Kelly. You’re a great friend.”
“I’m happy to help.”
*
BERNARD SLEPT THErest of the day with Ginger by his side. She refused to leave him.
He woke up in the dark. He reached to scratch Ginger’s ears. She was gone.
“Ginger, here, girl,” he called out.
Where is she?
Bernard ran through the house. He called her. He checked the laundry room, the backyard, the spare room, and even the closets. Panic set in.Did she get out?
There was a note on the fridge.
Hello Bernard,
I thought you might forget that I took Ginger, so I left this note. She’s safe with me. You don’t need to worry. Take care of yourself.
Your friend,
Kelly.
