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Don’t worry—he’s squeaky clean.
I’m starting to feel like a third wheel in this room. Not leaving. I settle back in my armchair, happy to be ignored and just getting to sit here, taking her in.
She’s wearing her hair a little shorter now. She’s had a few inches cut off. I would never have noticed on another woman but with her, I notice everything. She’s wearing dark-blue coveralls, her named stitched across her heart in white letters. Rhett. She’s traded in her sneakers for heavy work boots.
It’s fucking sexy.
Boston returns, with two cups of coffee. One’s for me. I take it with a thanks, grateful he knew I needed one.
Rhett rises, offering Boston her seat on the bed. “Thanks,” he says, taking a seat and giving Ashely a kiss. Rhett moves to a corner of the room, opposite me.
I stand from my seat, eyeing A. She still hasn’t said why Rhett’s here. Is it rude to ask? With Rhett standing right there? I don’t care. I need to know.
“Ashely, why is Rhett here?” Yeah—that does sound rude. Doesn’t it? I turn to Rhett. “Not that I’m not happy to be seeing you, of course. I just want to know what A is up to.”
Rhett nods. “Fair enough.” She gives a little laugh. “Honestly? I’m happy to be here but I’m kinda wondering why I’m here too.”
Ashely gives a little sigh, rolling her eyes up toward the ceiling. “Okay, okay. I’ll tell you already. She’s not for me.”
“Who is she here for,” I ask.
Ashely’s eyes fall on me. “For you.”
Rhett and I share a confused look. Color rises in Rhett’s cheeks. She glances down at the toes of her boots.
“Me?” I say. “I’m fine. I’m not the one who has a tiny human trying to escape my body.”
Ashely looks down at her hands, nervously twisting the giant diamond on her finger. “I know—but as the due date got closer, I started having these irrational fears. That I would die during childbirth and you’d be all alone.”
I stare at my sister. “What? That’s crazy.”
She gives an exasperated sigh. “I didn’t say it was rational. It’s just this fear I’ve been having. I even had a nightmare about it one day. You were standing there, alone, in the middle of the street.”
“It’s probably just leftover fear from my accident,” I say.
“That makes sense,” Rhett agrees.
“I had the same thought.” Ashely nods. “And that night, when you were lying in the street dying, Rhett was there to save you. The universe sent her to you. I mean, she literally brought you back to life.” My sister shakes her head, as if she’s realizing her words sound silly as she says them aloud. “It doesn’t make sense, I know. But I wanted her to be here for you now too.”
Rhett reaches over, giving my sister a big hug. “I’m sorry. That must have been scary for you. I’m happy I could be here.”
I move to Ashely’s other side. I reach out, rubbing her back. “Nothing’s going to happen to you. You’re going to be around till we’re old and gray. Still fighting with each other, but we’ll be in walkers, trying to outrun one another. And I’m never all alone. I have the Bachmans now.”
Rhett and I share a glance over the top of Ashely’s head. So many emotions pass through our locked gazes.
“I know.” Ashely’s eyes fill with tears. “I’m scared. Childbirth terrifies me.”
“You’ll be safe,” I say, making circles over her gown. “They know what they’re doing here. You’ve got the best doctors in the city.”
“I know. I know,” Ashely says. “I said it was irrational.”
Whatever color was left in Boston’s face completely drains from his high cheekbones. “It’s not the 1800’s. Women don’t die in childbirth, Ashe.” But there’s worry in his words.
I stare at Boston. “She is not going to die.”
“I know that.” He looks away, that Doc Martens boot still shaking.
I move my determined gaze from Boston to Ashely. My sister looks up at me, her big blue eyes searching mine for comfort. It’s strange, having the tables turned like this, me being the one to offer her support.
