He took a deep breath. “The woman I love. Minnow Winters.”
I smiled before I kissed his lips softly. “Baby, you’re home with me. No squad, just me and you.”
The tension in his body slowly released, and his shoulders loosened. When his arms wrapped around me, it felt like the first time that I took a breath. I didn’t care what his flashback was about. We never had to talk about it.
His eyes softened the longer he looked at me. He lifted his hand and rubbed it down his face. “Fuck, baby. I’m sorry.”
I shook my head. “Don’t do that. I got you just like you got me.”
“You got me, huh? I love that you got me.” He kissed my lips. “I love you.”
This was the first time that he officially told me that he loved me. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. That was a feeling that I wasn’t used to.It feels good.“I love you too.
I shifted my body to lay next to him, but he tightened his hold on me. “Don’t move. I need you right here.”
Then right here was where I would stay. Right here was where we both felt peace and love. Yeah, I had no problem with right here.
A Short Time Later
VA Visit . . .
Mrs. Pressley had left one too many messages about my missed appointments. Yeah, I missed a couple in the past months, but I mean, it didn’t stop my direct deposits. I guess I did need to give my change of address.
I had to fight Vic to not go with me this morning. Well, more fuck than fight. The butcher shop had a huge order that came from a company a town over that had a big company cookout planned. They needed enough beef to feed 250 people. He didn’t need to tag along with me. It was all hands on deck today. I was annoyed that I had to come.
My appointment time was at nine this morning, but of course that was just a suggested time to be there. It was 10:45, and I was still in the waiting room with colored pencils and a coloring book. My coloring book was a gift from Ma Vicky. Vic’s mother told me to call her that at the first family dinner at Dawson Manor. I was hesitant at first because I never had anyone to call Ma.
The foster parents that I had weren’t all bad, but they weren’t good. They made it clear that I was a check for them. That was cool as long as they left me alone, which, for the most part, they did. I got in fights at school because bitches talked too much, but such was life.
I was almost finished my coloring page when I was called to the back to see my social worker. When I walked into Mrs. Pressley’s office, she was in her seat behind her desk. She looked up from the notepad that she wrote on when she heard me.
Her smile was bright. “Miss Winters! It is so nice to see you. It’s been such a long time.”
I sat in the seat across from her desk. “Ha, you’re so funny. I’ve been kind of busy at my new job. It’s very demanding.”
Her face lit up, and her back straightened. “Oh, a new job. Please tell me more.”
I tried to hide my smile, but it was impossible. It was like trying to hide the giggling angels. “I work atDawson Premium Butcher Shop & Farm.”
She bounced around in her seat a little. “Oh, you did go toPlasters. I’m so happy that you were able to find a place at the butcher shop. How do you likePlasters?”
I held my head down to stifle my chuckle. “I like it there. Um, I decided to make it a permanent move.” I dug into my fanny pack and pulled out what I needed. “Here is my new address to update the file.”
She reached her hand out for the slip of paper. After I handed it to her, she looked at the address. Her right brow rose. “This is your new address?” She didn’t look up at me until I confirmed that it was. “You live at Dawson Manor with Victor?”
My back straightened in my seat. With pride, I said, “I do.”
She nodded with a smile. “Good for you. I’m happy that you found some peace down there. I’ll make sure I update your address.” She tapped on her keyboard for a moment before she addressed me again. “How are we feeling about revisiting the discussion about support groups?”
Here she goes!“I’m not sure how we feel about it. I feel like it’s a waste of time. I’m not going to go.”
“Did you know that Vic attends a PTSD support group? I’m not sure how long you’ve been down there.”Oh, this slick bitch.
I smirked. “He mentioned it once or twice. He also has not tried to force me to attend with him like you do.” My words were snippy.
She smirked right back at me. “I’m not forcing you. I just think it would really benefit you to do so. I wouldn’t expect Vic to do so because that’s not the kind of person that he is. For as long as I’ve known him, he’s never been a forceful person.”
For a split second, I forgot that she told me that she was born and raised inPlasters. “Did you and Vic go to school together?”
