My daughter laughs lightly, her eyes creased with her smile. “Yeah, Dad. That’s life. We’re all faking it ’til we find the right rooms.”
“That’s terrifying.”
Her expression warms, my daughter of seventeen who’s grown up to be so much more than I ever could have known to hope for. “It kinda is,” she agrees, offering me her hand. I squeeze her tight. “Good thing none of us are alone, huh?”
I nod, my eyes stinging. “I’m so proud of you, Wen.”
She rolls her eyes, but I go on.
“I am. You’re smart and kind and cautious, which isn’t a bad thing. You’re observant and hold others to high standards. But you’re also forgiving when it counts. You genuinely want the best for those around you. You’re creative. Grounded. But you’re not scared to dream. I’m so proud of the person you are. I’ll always be proud of you.”
Wendy presses her lips tightly together, her eyes wet. “Thanks, Dad.”
Another knock at the door has Wendy quickly wiping her eyes. Oakley steps in, looking between the two of us.
Wendy gives me a smile before letting my hand go. “I’ll be in the waiting room with the rest of the family.”
“You sure?” I ask.
“I am. Love you, Dad.”
“Love you, too, Wen.”
As Wendy leaves the room, Oakley gives me a chagrined smile. “Bad timing?”
“No,” I assure him. “C’mere.”
He does, and I raise the head of my bed some, putting myself into more of a sitting position. Oakley’s eyes run over me, as if the man is assuring himself I’m well. That I’m here.
I keep my tone soft, knowing we both went through a lot today. “I’m fine, Oak.”
“Need anything?”
“Just you.”
His breath leaves him in a rush. “Jesus, Law.”
“What is it?”
Oakley looks down at where my arm is resting, at the crescent-shaped bite scar he runs a finger along. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to get used to you saying things like that.”
“You’ll manage,” I tell him, sure of it.
He snorts his amusement, but his expression quickly sobers. “Law… I shouldn’t have left the way I did. If you hadn’t come after me—”
“No,” I tell him, not wanting him for one second to blame himself for what happened. “It’s not your fault, Oak. It was an accident that could have happened anytime to anyone. And I’mfine. Yes, it could’ve been worse. But we’re not playing thewhat ifgame. It does no one any good.”
He nods, although his face is still downcast. I catch his wandering hand, the man finally meeting my eye.
I steel myself for what needs to be aired. “What I want to know…is why you were okay leaving things like that. Why you would have rather ended things than tell me how you feel.”
He swallows, the motion heavy.
“I don’t usually have to encourage you to speak your mind, Oak.”
“I know,” he says at a rasp. “I do, I just… I didn’t think you wanted me like that, Law. And I couldn’t bear it. I thought maybe it’d be okay. That I could keep on like we were, even if you didn’t feel…the way I did. But coming face to face with it, I… I knew it’d slowly eat away at me. It wouldn’t have been fair to either of us.”
“So you ran instead of talking to me about it.”
