“Where are the girls?” I ask.
“They’re at the hotel, Vanessa arrived a couple hours ago. We figured we would give you some time before we showed up,” Torin explains.
“She’s been here the whole time,” I shake my head, the darkness under her eyes haunting me.
“We couldn’t get her to leave,” Rett drops into the chair, making himself at home, “Trust me, I tried. The girl looked about dead on her feet.”
“She’s stubborn,” I rub at the thick, days old hair on my chin that really needed a trim.
“She loves you,” Torin says, his back to me as he stares out the window, watching the snow fall gently beyond.
I nod, agreeing. “I’ll buy you a new boat.” I tell him.
His head whips around, a scowl on his face, “I don’t give a fuck about the boat.”
Rett’s face drops, a seriousness coming over him I don’t see often in my younger brother, “We thought you died, man.”
“Didn’t you once say it’s not in my nature to die?” I tease him, hoping to lighten the mood.
“I take it back,” Rett huffs, “If you’re gonna die though, it’s going to be because you do something stupid like take a damn bullet for one of us. You gotta stop doing that man, it’s annoying.”
I chuckle, “Sure thing.”
“He’s right,” Torin turns to me fully now, crossing his arms over his chest. I no longer felt like the older brother here. “You missed the first two years of your son’s life because you were protecting everyone else. That’s not time you can get back.”
“I’m aware.” I look away, shaking my head.
“We’re family, man,” Rett stands, slapping his hand against the top of my arm, “The fucking Avery’s. We don’t do shit alone.”
“I couldn’t even if I wanted to,” I admit.
“Good.” Torin continues to scowl, turning back to the window.
“It’s a real wonder how he managed to bag the girl,” Rett muses, “He’s like a bear with an injured paw.”
“Shut up, Rett,” Torin growls.
But that just makes our youngest brother laugh. Always the shit stirrer.
It’s another couple of hours before the girls arrive back at the hospital, Vanessa looking more alive, but the exhaustion of the past few days hangs off her shoulders.
She climbs into the bed on one side of me, while Ethan sits on the other, a book open on my abdomen which he’s staring at, his podgy finger tracing the pictures inside.
And everything settles back into place.
No more fractures or splinters. Everything is exactly where it needs to be.
Chapter Forty-seven
Two weeks later
My son sits on my knee as laughter echoes through the kitchen at Torin’s house. The smell of fresh food and fire saturates the air while Ness sits at my side, a glass of red wine in her hand and a smile that brings back all the good memories.
It’s the smile that reminds me of the girl I found laying in the sand in a pretty dress, and the girl who stripped and took a midnight swim.
She’s wearing her blue dress for me tonight, her blonde hair left down to tumble over her shoulders like liquid gold.
Ethan grabs a handful of pasta from his plate, shoving it into his mouth, “Use your spoon, buddy,” I frown at him.
