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Chapter Thirty-six
Finley
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“It’s so good to haveyou home.” Claire tucks the blanket around me after helping me into bed.
I’m exhausted in a way I’ve never been before. An exhaustion that goes way beyond just being tired or wore down.
After the night I spent in the ER, Abel gave me no choice about coming home. He drove us straight through, only stopping twice to get a little sleep before he continued on. And while he did his best to try to act like things were normal, something in him shifted that night.
I don’t know what it was or why but the last couple of days everything feels forced. His smile. His laugh. None of it feels real anymore.
“Did Abel say when he’d be back?” I ask, looking up at my sister.
“A couple of hours. He said he was going to go check in on his mom for a few minutes.”
“She seems to be doing well. His mom.”
“Thank god for that.” She gives me a sad smile.
“Yeah. I can’t imagine him having to lose us both. At least one of us might make it.” I frown.
“Hey. Don’t talk like that.” Claire sits on the edge of the bed and takes my hand.
“Why not? It’s the truth.”
“Let’s talk about something else. Tell me about the wedding. I still can’t believe you got married without me.” She puts on a brave smile for my sake.
I indulge her, filling her in on all the details of not only our wedding, but the entire trip. Details I left out over the phone because I was too anxious to get back to Abel to stay on the phone with her for too long.
Claire hangs onto my every word like she’s never heard anything more exciting in her entire life. At first I think it’s because she’s happy for me, but then I realize that it’s because she realizes what I’ve known all along. That up until three days ago I was living a fairytale. A fairytale that I never wanted to end.
Unfortunately for me, my real life fairytale isn’t going to get the happy ending that they do in books. But I guess that’s what makes mine special. Time is more precious when you have less of it to spare.
“I’m so happy you have him,” she tells me once I’m finished, reaching out to squeeze my hand.
“So am I.” I try to smile but the action feels too difficult at the moment.
“I hope one day I can find a man that loves me even half as much as Abel loves you.”
“You will. One day you’ll find someone that loves you more. Because that’s how much you deserve to be loved. You deserve everything, Claire.”
“Don’t go getting all sappy on me. You’re going to make me cry.” She fans her face with her free hand.
“I’m serious. You are the most incredible person I’ve ever met. You saved me from a life that would have destroyed me. You brought me here. You gave me a chance at something normal. And it’s because of you that I have Abel in my life.”
“You’re my sister. All I ever wanted was for you to be happy.”
“Iamhappy. Despite everything I’m happier than I’ve ever been. And I have you to thank for that.”
“I love you, Fin. So much.”
“I love you too, Claire,” I say, my eyes suddenly feeling too heavy to hold open.
“I’ll let you get some rest. I’m going to make us some dinner for later.”
Her lips pressing to my forehead is the last thing I remember before sleep takes me under.
