Page 97 of His Wounded Heart

She gives me a huge put-upon sigh.

“Good night, Mama.”

I kiss her forehead. At least I know that she comes by her babbling honestly.

Chapter Twenty-Five

“His truck was in your driveway until almost midnight last night. What is that all about?”

I smile. It is the most animated my sister, Chloe, has been since her miscarriage.

“He and I were just talking about Bernie. You know that he’s now going to have to be in the hospital longer, don’t you?”

“Is it the gout? Zarek told me something about that.”

“No, the last round of meds cleared that up. It’s his heart. From what I’ve read up on it, he can do okay with his diagnosis, but according to him, with all he has to give up, there’s no point in living.”

I wince as soon as those words leave my mouth.

“But I talked to him about everyone who is depending on him. I told him what it was like visiting Azariah. And Bertha giving him the hot and spicy apple chutney. Of course, that just put him into another round of bitching, saying how he couldn’t have her preserves anymore.”

“Trenda, stop.”

“But I’m not done talking about the trip down the mountain.” I want to keep talking. Anything to cover-up my faux pas by bringing up death to Chloe. She’s been deeply depressed since her baby’s death, and my mouth actually says that some man says there’s no point in living.

I am such a dumbass!

“Trenda, I can hear you beating yourself up. You need to stop it.”

“Chloe, I can’t believe what I just said, it was so thoughtless,” I whisper.

“It’s okay.” Her voice is emphatic. “I’m no longer just trying to pull myself up by my bootstraps. I realized that I needed help, and I started seeing my old counselor, and my physician has put me back on a low dose antidepressant. I’ve got a ways to go. But at least I’m pretty sure I’m in a tunnel, even though I don’t see light, yet.”

“What made you change your mind?”

“Zarek.” She laughs softly. “Of course, Zarek. It’s always Zarek.”

“Do you mind me asking what he said?”

“It wasn’t what he said, it was how he was doing. I realized that my depression, and me refusing to open up about the miscarriage, was really hurting him. Some of the sessions I’ll be setting up will be for both of us, some he’ll have on his own.”

Chloe makes a choking sound.

“Honey, what is it?”

“It’s just that it’s tough to realize I hurt him so badly.”

“You didn’t. It’s just that you were both affected by this, and you needed one another’s support to heal.”

“Yeah, that’s what Zoe said. She stopped by. I was kind of scared she might hit me upside my head.”

“That’s what twins are for,” I chuckle.

“She’s scary when she’s riled,” Chloe laughs too. “Of course, nobody has anything on Evie.”

“You got that right.”

“So back down to business. Zarek told me that Simon isn’t a good kisser. And before you make a snarky comment, Zarek heard it from Aaron, who heard it from Pearl who heard it from Florence who heard it from Simon. So, can I squelch the rumor?”