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Trevor heard the pain in his voice. The last week had been so lonely for him and it was why he’d come to the conclusion that it was decision time. He was tired of being lonely and he wanted to share his success with someone besides his family.
“That first night after you left, I got drunk. Very drunk and either my mind played tricks on me or John came to visit me. He said don’t fuck up the life I have. Make a decision and learn to live. Get over his death. ‘Don’t disappoint me, soldier.’”
Luis walked over to a chair. “It was right here in this spot that he came to me. I don’t believe in ghosts, but something felt right. It was like he was reaching out from the grave and telling me to stop ruining my life. To live the life I’ve always dreamed of. To stop fucking it up.”
Trevor shook his head. That was the weirdest story he’d ever heard, but if it reached Luis, then he was glad.
“As soon as I could, I called Dr. Richards. I’m going to see him again in a few days. I’m working on getting better,” he said. “He’s telling me that if I work hard, I may get over this.”
Trevor was filled with relief. But Luis still had not said if he wanted to marry and have children.
“I miss Stacy,” he said. “My heart is breaking, I miss her so much. I’ve tried to find her cell phone number. I even called Kalie and asked her to give me her number, but she refused. But I did find her address.”
Warmth filled Trevor. Did this mean what he hoped it meant?
“I want her back,” he said.
“Me too,” Trevor said.
“Let’s go find her,” he said.
“Not yet,” Trevor replied. “I’m not going to go find her for her only to walk away from us again. Are you ready to commit to her on her terms? To have a family and not get a vasectomy?”
Luis sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “I’m scared as hell, but yes, if that’s what it takes to get her back, then I’ll get her pregnant as soon as we see her again.”
Hope filled Trevor. “I’m serious. I want to ask her to marry us. For us to bring her home to Texas and create a life together. I want her here, not working some job, but to make our ranch into a home. I want to hear the pitter-patter of little kids running up and down the stairs. I want to see our baby filling her belly. And if that’s not what you want, then let me know now.”
Nodding, Luis grinned. “All I want is for Stacy to be in our lives and to give her whatever will make her happy. And if that’s half a dozen kids, then let’s get started. Will I still have episodes? Probably, at least for a while, but I’m going to continue working with Dr. Richards. I’m not going to give up on facing my fears and overcoming them. Being with you and Stacy is more important to me than those damn demons.”
Trevor could hardly contain his excitement. “I came home, worrying that our partnership was going to end, but I know you’re a good man who will do whatever it takes to get over your disorder. And even if you never are fully over the episodes, Stacy and I will protect you and do our best to make certain no one sees them but us. Including our children. Now let’s go get our girl. If we get to San Antonio tonight, we could catch the red-eye to New York.”
A big smile filled Luis’s face, and for the first time since he’d returned from the Navy, Trevor sensed a peace about him. If nothing else, Stacy’s leaving had made him face that he needed to get help. And Trevor believed she would stay on him to continue.
There was hope and that filled his chest with such happiness.
“Let’s go,” Luis said. He reached out and hugged his friend. “Thank you for sticking by me. I was afraid I’d lost both of you.”
“You came mighty close,” Trevor said. “Now come on, let’s go get our girl.”
CHAPTER14
Ten days away from where she’d grown up, and when Stacy returned, she realized she hated living in the Big Apple. Sure it had its advantages. She didn’t need a car; she could travel by bus or subway or even taxi to anywhere she wanted. But it was the hustle and bustle of the city that really got to her.
She missed hearing the birds early in the morning, the cows mooing, the buzz of the hummingbirds, and the snort of a horse as it stood in the pasture. She would’ve thought she would have missed the honking taxis, the constant movement of people as they hurried down the street, the street performers, everything she was accustomed to, but it was like something had awakened inside her. Something that loved the peacefulness of the country.
Now the noise grated on her last nerve. She had no patience with people. She was miserable. They had welcomed her back to work and yet she didn’t much care about her job any longer.
Working in a museum, she once hoped to run it with her liberal arts degree, but now she didn’t care. It was a job. She worked her hours and then she went home to an empty apartment that wasn’t much bigger than the large bedroom that she’d shared with Trevor and Luis. The large bedroom where they had fucked for hours until they were all sated and worn out.
They had treated her with so much care and support. The time with them had been magical and she would always remember it as a beautiful period of her life. Until that last morning when Luis spoke how he truly felt.
That last day had been gut wrenching, and getting on that plane, she’d felt like a zombie walking to her assigned seat. Wishing she could sleep and hurting so much, she sat and stared into the dark sky, searching for an answer.
But it was better that she learned now that he didn’t want children than after they were together and her heart was fully involved.
She’d spoken to Kalie and asked her to not give her phone number or address to them. She didn’t want them showing up here and trying to convince her to come back.
A week had passed, and with each day, she kept telling herself soon she would feel better, but so far, just the thought of them brought tears to her eyes.
