Page 85 of The Rest is History
“How much is due on the light bill?” I ask.
“Fifty,” she says sniffing quietly. “I’m sorry, Sawyer. I didn’t know how to tell you.”
Ezra is sleeping. I take him to Pippin. “Put him down. I’ll get the groceries.”
I unload the truck, setting the bags on the floor and some on the table. Pippin comes into the kitchen and starts to unpack them, and I step back outside to text Asher: Can I call?
He doesn’t respond. Instead, my phone lights up with a call. “Everything okay, sweetheart?” Ash says.
“Uh, yeah. Babe, I’m so sorry to do this, but the electricity is out over here at Pip’s.”
“Carlson didn’t pay it like he said he would?” His voice is tight. Carlson better hope Ash doesn’t find him. There’s nothing on this earth that Asher hates more than Carlson. Carlson and Buddy Carter.
“Yeah. He didn’t pay for it. I have enough in my account to cover half. Could you—”
“Yeah, of course. Send me the details. I’ll make the payment.”
“I’ll send you what I have.”
“No, baby. I got it. Keep yours.”
“Okay. Thanks, Ash. Sorry about this.”
“Yeah. I’m gonna kill Carlson one of these days and drag Pippin out of there and chain her up in the guest room.”
“Yeah. Basically what I told her.”
“Send me the details. And tell Pippin I’m coming out there the first chance I get.”
Inside, Pippin is unpacking the groceries. “Ash is going to pay the light bill.”
“Thank you. I’m sorry. I’ll text him just now to say thank you.”
“You need to leave this asshole.”
She says nothing.
“Ash said he’s coming up here one of these days.”
She looks up at me quickly. “I don’t want him to get into trouble again.”
“He cares about you, Pip. He hates how much you let yourself suffer like this.”
“I know. And I’m grateful. But Ezra needs a father, Sawyer.”
Again with this bullshit. I text Ash the amount owing to the electric company. And then I help her unpack the groceries. Hopefully the meat and milk will keep until they switch the power back on.
Chapter 40
Reece
When I left Arizona, I was convinced I would come to Asher and tell him my story and leave with a heart more broken than when I arrived. Still, it was what I was prepared to do. A heart broken into a million pieces is not much different than a heart broken into a hundred thousand pieces. Even if he’d sent me away, told me he wanted nothing to do with me, I would’ve still come. I would’ve taken my heart back from him in however many pieces he would’ve shattered it and went on my way. Because to never see Asher again was worse than any punishment he might have offered up.
Yet, here I am, standing in his home, watching him unpack leftovers from his mother’s house and making up a plate for Sawyer before placing it in the microwave, my observations bringing me more joy than I could ever have imagined. Because I’m no longer alone. I’m no longer an orphan.
I have Mrs. Cameron back.
Yes. The woman who loved me like her own, and who gave her son to me so unconditionally, even now.
