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“We have a guest room,” I suggested.
Bobby squinted at me and Andy broke into laughter. “You’re like a teenager,” Bobby said.
I smacked his arm. “Fine, dad, just help me up, won’t you.”
“Would you hate me if I said I like that you’re helpless?” Bobby said. “At least now I won’t have to worry about you sneaking out of the house late at night.”
“Oh, believe me, I’ve learned my lesson,” I laughed, my merriment cut short when a stabbing pain radiated from below my chest. It still hurt to laugh.
“Easy,” Andy said, coming up beside me. “The sooner you heal, the better. Let’s not push ourselves.”
I smiled at Bobby. “See? He’s useful.”
“Shut up,” Bobby replied.
“That’s fine,” Andy chuckled. “Either way, I’m heading out to Manchester tonight. I can expect a guest room when I get back in a few days.”
I had given Bobby a list of things that needed to be done back in Manchester, one of which included officially finalizing my resignation at KarpTech. Not to mention I had a bunch of personal things that needed to be boxed and brought back to Mansfield. Thankfully, Andy had offered to take over that chore, arguing that, at least for now, I needed Bobby more than him.
I didn’t necessarily agree, but I was glad he had offered to go.
I wrapped an arm around Andy’s arm and let him lead me slowly towards the door while Bobby grabbed the bag off the table. I looked back at the hospital bed I had spent the last three weeks in, hoping that I would never have to see the inside of a hospital again for a very long time. Andy waited for me until I nodded that I was ready to go.
“Say goodbye,” Andy said.
I smiled and shook my head at him. “Get me out of here, boys. I want to go home.”
Andy smiled and helped me out. “By the way, Bobby, about that guest room –”
Chapter 18: Andy
I never got that guest room, but I was practically living with them for the next few weeks. Before my shift, I’d pass by and make sure she had all she needed, and afterwards I’d spend the rest of the evening with them, helping out with dinner. During my night shifts, I spent most of the morning and afternoon with Andrea, picking up groceries when asked to, driving her to the hospital to change her dressings, and helping out in any way I could.
I enjoyed every second of it and made the most out of the time we had together. We’d argue about which movie to watch, and usually end up watching both. We’d sit in beach chairs out on the porch and talk for hours. I even took it upon myself to get the porch swing fixed, although I doubt I did a very good job at it.
For the most part, it was smooth sailing, and the aftermath of the accident only brought us closer together. Sometimes, though, there would be triggers. Small things here and there, a car backfiring, a cup slipping off the kitchen counter and shattering. And every time, she’d flinch and stare into space for a few seconds before breaking into a sweat and uncontrollable shiver. It freaked me out the first time it happened, and I held her tight through it all, waiting for the episode to pass.
And when it was over, she would keep her distance for a day or two. I never understood if it was the intimacy that scared her, or the fact that she was embarrassed. Either way, I always gave her the space she needed, but never stopped showing up, even if it meant I had to sit on the opposite side of the dinner table.
By the third or fourth week, the episodes became less frequent, and she was starting to feel a lot more like herself. She shone, a ball of joy, and when the doctors proclaimed her injury-free, with no further need for dressings or careful tiptoeing around her injuries, she asked me to take her out to dinner.
Things only improved from there. We were out every day, spending as much time together as we possibly could. Bobby was starting to make fun of us, teasing us whenever he got a chance, acting like a teenager whose sister had just started dating someone new. At times it was fun to see the look of frustration on Andrea’s face. Other times, even I thought the teasing was a little too much. But I was glad Bobby wasn’t giving us hell instead.
When I had finally worked up the nerve, I asked her to move in with me.
She said yes.
***
“It’s been a while, Andy!”
I shook Jack’s hand, always a firm handshake from the Coventry man, and waved a hello to his friends. “It has,” I said. “The last few weeks have been quite a handful.”
Jack nodded and clicked his tongue, turning to Andrea. “Heard about the crash. I’m glad you’re okay,” he said.
“Just bruises, nothing serious,” she replied, glancing at me.
Jack smiled in approval and slapped me on the back. “She’s a tough one,” he said. “I’d hold onto her with teeth and claws.”
