Her voice is smooth and melodious, and her eyes are shimmering dark and grateful. And for the first time, I can picture it—the beautiful couple she and Connor must’ve made for all those years.
And a sneaking, slithering voice in my head tells me how stupid I am—that I might be cutting my own throat. That it would’ve been so easy to do nothing and leave the wedge between Stacey and the boys right where it was. That the closer she gets to them, the closer she gets to Connor—and maybe, the further he gets from me.
But I could never do that. Not to them . . . not to him.
Still, I’m not a pushover and because I do love those boys, I tell her, “They’re giving you a chance, Stacey. If you hurt them again, there probably won’t be another. Don’t mess it up.”
She glances down at the floor, nodding.
“I won’t.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Violet
A week later things are better . . . and worse.
Aaron continues to improve. His fever breaks and we’re allowed to visit him briefly. The moment we walk into the ICU room, Spencer flings his arms wide and gently lays his head on his brother’s stomach, in an awkward but heartfelt hug.
“I’m so happy you’re not gonna die, Aaron!”
Brayden steps up beside the bed and holds Aaron’s hand, his words thick with emotion. “Yeah, I’m really glad you’re going to be okay.”
Aaron’s pale and his voice is weak, but he smiles. “Me too, guys. Me too.”
During the visit, things are noticeably easier between Stacey and Connor. The tension and animosity that was so palpable the night of the accident have completely evaporated.
Before we go, I kiss Aaron’s forehead and brush his hair back, telling him to rest up and that I know he’ll be home soon.
Connor’s been sleeping in the on-call room at the hospital, showering in the locker room. I stay at the house with Brayden and Spencer and we see him, but only for quick snippets of time.
But it’s okay. This is how relationships work. You’re there for each other, support each other in whatever way is needed.
At least . . . that’s what I thought.
Until a call from Connor at the hospital hits me right between the eyes.
“Vi, seriously it’s fine. You’ve done so much already—my parents can stay with the boys for a few days. I want you to go home and relax.”
“Brayden and Spencer are relaxing to me,” I tell him, standing in his kitchen.
“And that means everything to me—really. But I’m not going to put this all on you—go back to your house for a while, recharge or go back to work if you want.”
Work? He expects me to be able to focus on work knowing he’s upstairs and Aaron is still in the ICU? Has he lost his mind?
“Maybe you can take them again in a couple days. I might be home by then, I’m not sure.”
My stomach nosedives. So does my heart. A vertical drop, straight down from thirty-thousand feet—no safety net, no parachute.
“Connor—”
“I’ve got to go. Ortho’s here to talk about Aaron’s leg. I’ll call you back when I can.”
“Okay, I’ll—”
But the line is already dead.
I didn’t even get the chance to tell him I miss him. Or to give Aaron a hug for me. That I hope he’s doing okay.
Brayden and Spencer hang out in Connor’s room with me while I put a few of my things into a bag to take back to my house.
“I don’t want to stay with Pop and Nana!” Spencer whines, lying dramatically across the bed—his head dangling off the edge—like he’s being crucified.
“Pop snores and he doesn’t share the TV remote—and he watches the news all the time!”
I turn upside down, so I’m right-side up in Spencer world.
“I know sweetie, but your dad wants your grandparents to stay with you. It’ll only be a few days. Maybe you guys can come to my house and stay over there.”
“Why can’t we stay with you now? Everything’s been fine,” Brayden says.
I don’t have any answer for him, because I don’t understand it myself and Connor didn’t have time to explain. So I come up with a good answer on my own.
“Maybe your dad wants you guys to stay with your grandparents because they need you, not the other way around? I mean, Aaron is doing better and that’s fantastic—but maybe one of their grandkids being hurt has shaken them up? Maybe a little time with you guys will make them feel better?”
Brayden shrugs—like even if that makes sense, he wants no part of it.
Spencer considers this thoughtfully and nods . . . still upside down.
Connor’s parents show up an hour later. I say goodbye to Rosie and hug both the boys at the front door. And then I go home.
Alone.
* * *
A sick, uneasy feeling follows me the rest of the day.