Her mind flashed to her father’s smiling face, and a bittersweet smile lifted her lips as her tears slowed. “I miss you so much, Dad,” she spoke into the darkness of her room. Feeling too beat to care anymore, she fell into a fitful slumber.
When she woke in the morning, she had a raging headache and stiffness in her neck. After rising from the bed, she walked to the small kitchenette in her one-bedroom apartment and poured herself a cup of water before downing it to clear the dry, cottony feeling in her throat.
After cooking herself breakfast, she took two Tylenol and hoped it would clear up the heavy hammering against her temple. She finished her morning routine with a shower and got dressed. After switching her phone back on, she winced at the number of missed calls and texts she’d received, mostly from Derek. She rolled her eyes. Great, she complained all the time because he barely reached out, and the moment she chose to ignore him, he called nonstop.
She opened the string of messages.
“I’m sorry, you’re right. I need to make time for you. I’ve just been really stressed at work, and I took it out on you.”
She held the phone to her chest before holding it up to her face to make sure she wasn’t mistaken that Derek had actually apologized for neglecting her.
“Okay. All is forgiven. My family is having a picnic by Double Bluff Beach this Sunday.”
His reply came almost immediately.“I’m sorry, I don’t think I can make it. I’ll try, but I can’t promise you. I’ll make it up to you, though.”
Just like that, the glimmer of joy she’d felt was doused in another bout of disappointment.
She couldn’t help but wonder for the umpteenth time if it was worth it.
ChapterFive
Beverly Barton
“Oh, Troy, my love. How I wish you were here right now.” Beverly tenderly ran her finger over the photo of her husband, tracing the outline of his face. “I still can’t believe it’s been a year since I last touched your handsome face.” With a sorrowful sigh, she replaced the picture frame on her bedside table and scooched to the edge of the bed before gingerly rising to her feet.
“Ouch!” she cried out, nearly falling over as a searing pain shot from the middle of her back down her thigh to the back of her calf. She slowly sat down on the edge of her bed and tried using her hand to massage her leg. She winced as the pain became more excruciating each time she bent her back. Eventually, she gave up on trying to massage the area herself.
She slowly stretched her arm over to the house phone resting on the table and dialed the number of her doctor’s office. “Hello. I would like to make an appointment to see Dr. Panton today,” she informed the receptionist.
“Sure thing. If you just provide me with your name, I’ll have you penciled in for ten o’clock today,” the woman responded.
“It’s Beverly Barton. Mrs.,” she added the latter statement.
“Okay, Mrs. Barton, you’re all set. I’ll see you at ten,” the woman informed her.
“Thanks, dear.” After hanging up, Beverly slowly rose to her feet before limping toward the bathroom. She took a shower, allowing the warm water longer access to the areas on her body where she was experiencing more pain than usual. After getting dressed, she headed to the kitchen to make some oatmeal.
Just as she sat down to eat, the house phone rang. Rising from the stool, she ambled out of the kitchen toward the living room. The answering machine picked up before she was able to get to it.
“Hi. This is Beverly and Troy. We can’t get to the phone right now but leave a message, and we will definitely get back to you.”Beep.
At the sound of his voice, she felt a sharp yearning tighten her chest. She had meant to change the greeting but just hadn’t gotten around to it. If she was honest with herself, she knew she wasn’t in any rush to remove the few things that remained to remind her of him. Even though it dredged up the old pain each and every time, she just couldn’t do it.
She’d recorded it with Troy a few months before the diagnosis. Back then, they had been planning their big move to Oak Harbor. But after the diagnosis, everything changed.
“Hi, Grandma, it’s Joshua. I was just calling to see how you are. I’m on base, so I had some time…”
At the sound of her grandson’s voice, she hastened her steps and swiped up the phone before he could end the call.
“Joshua, it’s so good to hear from you,” she spoke into the receiver, her lips widening into a smile.
“Oh, hi, Grandma. I was just about to leave you a message.”
“Yes, I know. I heard it.” She chuckled.
“I was just checking in. Seeing how you are,” he spoke softly.
“I’m fine. All is well,” Bev said lightly, her voice reassuring.
