AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I couldn’t take it anymore, I had to get out of the hospital room. I opened the door and fled down the hall as far and as fast as my feet would carry me. I hadn’t made it far when I collapsed onto the floor, sobbing hysterically. I rested my back against the wall and drew my knees up. Burying my face in my hands, I let myself cry. Not just a few tears, but a torrent of them. I let them cleanse me and try to heal the pain I felt inside. But I knew I could never really be healed. There would always be a hole in my heart where my love for Gramps was held and so brutally cut out.
Someone sat down beside me and arms wrapped around me. Trace’s scent enveloped me and I grasped his shirt in my hands.
My tears were waning and anger was replacing sadness.
“It isn’t fair,” I smacked his solid chest as hard as I could, like this was his fault. “Why? Tell me why, he has to die. This isn’t right. He doesn’t deserve this,” I cried, hitting him repeatedly with the sides of my fists. I had never felt anger like this before, not even after Aaron tried to kill me.
Trace didn’t say anything as I hit him. When my fists fell to my sides, he pulled me onto his lap and rested his chin on top of my head.
“Life is never fair,” he whispered, “and it really fucking sucks.”
I clung to his shoulders, getting tears on his shirt, but he didn’t seem to mind.
He ran his fingers through my hair in an effort to soothe me.
When I was calmed down, I laid a hand over his heart. “I’m sorry for hitting you,” I whispered, ashamed of myself. “I shouldn’t have done that.” My hair fell around me to conceal my face.
“It’s okay. I understand. I feel like punching a wall, so I get it,” he pressed his lips lightly against my forehead.
“Did you really mean what you told Gramps? You’re not going to take over the business?”
“Yeah,” he sighed, “I meant it. You were right…God, you’re always right,” he leaned his head against the wall and gazed at the ceiling. “I need to do what makes me happy. Being a mechanic does that for me…and there’s something else I need to tell you…” He paused, taking a deep breath.
“What is it?” I cupped his stubbled cheek in the palm of my hand.
“A week before we left,” he swallowed thickly, “Pete called me into his office to talk. He’s older and not in the best shape, and he wants to sell the shop…to me.”
“To you? Like…to own?”
“Yeah,” he nodded. “Pete said he trusts me to take it over. He doesn’t have any kids and he wants it to go to someone who really cares about cars. Apparently, I’m his only choice. If I tell him no, he’ll close down the shop for good.”
Despite the situation we were currently surrounded by, I found myself smiling.
“I’m so proud of you,” I kissed his chin.
“Proud? Why?”
“For being the man I love and a person I can respect,” I traced a finger over his collarbone.
He kissed me lightly and stood, pulling me up with him.
“Let’s go find my mom and get this wedding figured out.” We turned down the hallway and a nurse directed us to the waiting room.
Lily was asleep in one of the chairs, her neck tilted at an uncomfortable ang
le. She’d definitely be feeling that later.
“Mom,” Trace shook her knee.
She came sputtering awake. “What? What? Did something bad happen?” She looked around hastily.
“No, nothing like that, mom,” Trace crouched in front of her.
“What is it, then?” She rubbed her eyes. “You ready to go?”
Trace didn’t hear her. Instead he was looking around the large waiting room. “Where’s Grammy?”
“I had Trent take her home. She was tired and wanted to stay here, but being in this place isn’t going to do her any good.”
