“What?” I roared, the reaction so visceral I knocked into Trent. He caught me by the shoulders, but I twisted, staring at my husband. “Trent, is that true?”
Trent’s eyes darkened with shadows, and I knew it was true. The scars from that time in our lives would always be inside him.
Trent didn’t say anything, and I turned back to our son. “Where did you hear that?”
Travis seemed a little unsure, as if he’d uncovered some piece of ancient history that no one was supposed to know. “Uhh…”
“It’s okay, Trav. Just tell me,” I said.
“Some article. Some nurse they interviewed. They said Dad walked into your room, and you were gone. They heard someone tell him that you were gone.”
A pained sound ripped out of Trent, and I spun, catching his face between my hands.
“T,” I implored, searching the ghosts haunting him. “Is that true? Did he really tell you I was dead?”
“Just that you were gone. Gone and never coming back,” Trent replied, voice hollow. “I assumed that’s what it meant, and he didn’t clarify…”
The rage I thought I’d gotten rid of years ago came back with startling force. I guess I was also covered in scars—this one just ripped open. “Why didn’t you say anything?” I demanded, voice rough.
“Romeo came. He told me it wasn’t true,” Trent murmured.
“You should have toldme.”
Trent’s eyes found mine, and I saw the same vulnerable expression he’d worn years ago. “Hearing it was enough. I’d rather cut out my tongue than repeat it even once.”
“Oh, T,” I groaned, wrapping my arms around him. No, wrapping my entire body around him. He hugged me back, his deep breaths brushing against my neck. “I’m sorry,” I whispered. “So sorry.”
Behind us, Travis cleared his throat. “I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
I pulled away from my husband to face our son. “You can bring up anything. You can talk to us about anything, anytime. It doesn’t matter what it is. We will always be here for you, and we will always love you. No matter what.”
“That’s what I mean, though,” Travis replied.
“What?” I wasn’t following. Those fresh wounds from old scars were making it hard to think.
“You aren’t like him. I know he disowned you for loving your best friend. For living the life you wanted and not the one he did.”
“Is all this out in the media?” I wondered. Because goddamn. Trent and I didn’t read the news after my accident. We were too busy putting our lives together and making a family with two kids.
Maybe I should have. I would have been prepared for our kids snooping.
“Well…” Travis hedged.
“Travis,” Trent intoned.
“I might have asked Aunt Ivy.”
I let out a choked sound. “You talked to your Aunt Ivy about this?”
“He’s her dad too,” Trav defended. “Figured she’d know better than the internet.”
“Well, that’s the truth.” I agreed.
“Next time, ask us, okay? Anything you want to know,” Trent said.
“But it hurts you.”
“You being afraid to ask us something hurts way worse,” Trent said candidly.
