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“No, it needs to be said. Ever since I returned, I’ve heard more about Trenton’s wife’s death than her life. He only talked about her life when I asked him about it.” Trenton was the one to look away. “You’re doing her a disservice that way. I think forgetting yesterday was probably a good thing for you. Instead, remember her like she’d want to be remembered.”
Not able to face the damage she’d likely done, Celia turned and fled the place that had finally, after so many hadn’t, felt like home.
Chapter 36
Trenton’sgazefelltothe wedding picture of him and Emily on the tile next to him. Her smile carried the joy that she hadn’t been able to contain back when they first met. She’d had little of that joy in the last months of her life.
“I’m sorry, Trent. Celia had no right to talk about Emily that way.” Malcolm shifted to sit next to him, his hand patting Trenton’s shoulder. “Celia has been acting a little odd all week.”
“It’s spending so much time with Erin and Katie,” Blake said. “Those two are blunt to a fault, especially Erin.”
Trenton propped himself up against the fridge, lifting the picture. “Celia was right. Even looking at this memory, I always thought about how she’s gone. I never let myself remember the happiness we felt that day.” He smiled down at the grinning woman he had loved. “She was always so joyful. I loved that.”
“That annoyed the hell out of me,” Blake said, setting the glass bottle down.
Malcolm glared at their friend. “Jesus, Blake, shut up.”
Trenton met Malcolm’s gaze. “Admit it. Emily annoyed you, too.”
Malcolm flushed. “She was your wife.”
“That’s right!” Blake chuckled. “Those two used to argue all the time. Especially when she brought up all that environmental shit.”
“Just because we disagreed on politics doesn’t mean I didn’t like her.” Malcolm looked away, pushing his hand through his hair.
Trenton smiled as the memories filled him. “She used to do it on purpose.”
Malcolm’s eyes snapped to his. “What?”
“Emily always said you were too in control. She enjoyed shaking you up.” Trenton thought back, his fuzzy drunken memories coming faster. “She did the same with me, but was always disappointed.”
“Because you don’t get riled, no matter how bad people act.” Blake shook his head. “It’s that ‘way too nice’ thing you have going on.”
Trenton turned, sticking the magnetic frame back on the fridge. “Yeah, nothing Emily did really upset me. I just enjoyed her and the life we had together.” He closed his eyes, the guilt seeping in again. “I can’t believe I forgot the anniversary of her death. It’s only been three years.”
“You seriously don’t need to beat yourself up over that,” Blake said. “I’m sure she gets it, if she’s some floating spirit watching. Even if she isn’t, you do your best to remember her. You always do.” He stood, crossing over to the counter. He snagged an almost full bottle of gin, crossing back. “Despite how much it hurts, you’re there for her.”
Trenton stared at his friend as he took off the top, took a swig that made him choke, and held the bottle out. “You think I need more alcohol in my system?”
Blake shrugged. “You’re making too much sense still. Let’s fix that.”
Trenton took the bottle being nudged at him. The gin slid down his throat with a slight burn. He preferred to cut it with tonic.
Malcolm sighed, stretching his legs out. “Let me ask you something.”
Trenton nodded, tilting the bottle for another sip.
“Are you in love with Celia?”
The gin almost came out of his nose. Trenton coughed, his eyes watering as he swallowed.
“That’s what he pretty much said to me,” Blake said, taking the bottle from him.
Malcolm let his head fall against the cabinet. “I knew something was up back when you punched her ex. Like we said before, you never get riled.”
Trenton stared at his bare feet. The hand he held against his chest felt warm. Malcolm was right. For him to have gotten violent, he had to have already begun to care about her back then. “I didn’t realize it until the idea of her in the hospital sent me spinning. And then when we—”
Malcolm cleared his throat loudly. “I don’t need to hear the details.”
