Page 83 of The Rest is History
“They – they – Ash and Sawyer—” I don’t know how to go on.
“How wonderful to be loved like that, don’t you think?” she says, reaching over to wipe my cheeks.
“Do you really think so, ma’am? I won’t mess this up too?”
“You could never mess anything up, baby. And yes, I really think so.”
“I have so much to tell you,” I sniff.
“We have time.”
But there is one thing I have to tell her now. “I had a baby,” I say.
Her eyes fill with the same love as all those years ago. “Oh, sweetheart. I know . . .”
“She died, ma’am. She died.”
Mrs. Cameron pulls me into her arms. And for the first time, I realize that no one ever hugged me the day Abigail died. “Her name was Abigail,” I whisper through my tears. “Her name was Abigail.”
“Oh, that is a beautiful name, baby.”
I don’t know how long I stay there, buried in Asher’s mother’s embrace. It doesn’t matter. Sawyer was right and Mrs. Cameron is right. I’m home. I have Asher. And Sawyer. And her. Only Mr. Cameron isn’t here but she says he’s in a better place, so maybe that’s okay. Maybe he’s in the same place Abigail is in, and, for the first time, I feel like maybe Abigail isn’t alone.
It’s okay. It’s all okay now.
Chapter 39
Sawyer
Asher’s text says that Reece and his mom are bonding. At least something is working out. I had no doubt that Mrs. Cameron would accept our decision. She has never cared for anything other than our happiness and wellbeing. Reece is lucky to have her. We all are.
But my family is another story altogether. Pippin, to be precise.
The General Store is busy and the line to the checkout is long. Thankfully, Deliah is not the one working the line I’m standing in.
I check the time on my phone. Eleven o’clock. Ezra missed breakfast. Pippin wasn’t clear in her text when she sent it fifteen minutes ago.
I could have given her a piece of my mind over text or a phone call, but that wouldn’t have helped. She would’ve just agreed with everything I said and when I got there it would be like nothing happened. No. I’m going to give my little sister a piece of my mind when she’s standing in front of me.
The line moves at a snail’s pace, and I get jittery. Ordering food and sending it up there in the meantime wasn’t even an option. No one makes deliveries that far out.
I send Pippin a text while I wait.
Me: I’ll be there in a few minutes. Don’t you ever do this shit again.
Of course, she doesn’t respond. She won’t because she’s delusional about life. Walking around with rose tinted glasses like her life didn’t turn out exactly like our mother’s.
I finally get to the check-out and start unloading the groceries. Two packs of diapers. Four tubs of yogurt. Milk. Eggs, Cheese. And probably the entire bakery and butcher.
When I arrive at Pippin’s place, she’s standing outside with the baby, waiting for me.
I grab the pasta I got from Al’s Diner after I left the store from the front seat and rush up the steps.
I take Ezra from her and hand her the food. “Eat,” I tell her. She’s been crying. Over a fucking loser who won’t even stay with her when things get tough.
“I’m sorry,” she says as she shoves food into her mouth.
My blood boils but I don’t scold her while she’s eating. It’s not polite. But she’s not getting away with it altogether. “For what? For starving yourself and Ezra before you call me?” Settling Ezra on my lap, I feed him some yogurt.
