Annie was right.
Libby was ashamed she hadn’t pushed harder.
“You don’t tell me anything,” Libby replied, her voice climbing a little toward the end. They earned a quick disapproving look from a passing nurse, so Libby forced herself to take a deep breath. “I’ve tried, Annie. I really have, and you know I did. I don’t know what else you want me to do.”
Annie’s hands fell to her sides, and she lowered her head. “I know you’ve been trying, but it’s just going to take some time. Why couldn’t you be patient?”
“Because I…because…”
Because I love you, Annie, and you’re family.
“You know my history,” Annie continued in a smaller voice. “You know I’ve got family out there who’ve barely spared me a thought since my mom passed. Feeling like I’ve been abandoned isn’t just going to go away overnight, no matter how much I wish it would.”
Libby’s chest tightened, and she took a step in her direction. “I’m so sorry, Annie. I had no idea that’s how you felt.”
Or she wouldn’t have risked such a thing.
Suddenly, Libby desperately wished she could go back in time and take it all back.
Annie lifted tear-stained eyes to hers. “I know you don’t. I know I need to work on improving my communication skills, but your response can’t be to follow me around and accuse people of being in gangs.”
“You’re right.”
Libby had gotten carried away for all of the right reasons, but it didn’t change any of the facts.
She needed Annie to trust her again.
Annie ran a hand over her face. “We both need to start being more honest with each other, and we need to do a better job of communicating.”
Libby nodded, and she uncurled her hands. “I agree.”
“I like living with you,” Annie added in a whisper-soft voice. “I don’t want to go anywhere else.”
Libby made a low, choked sound and pulled Annie into her arms. She hugged her tight and ignored the tight flurry of emotions—guilt, regret, and hope—all blossoming inside of her chest. It warmed her stomach and spread through the rest of her body, making her feel lighter than she had in a long, long time. Then, she squeezed her eyes shut and let some of the tears fall.
It had taken a few wrong turns, but there was finally some light at the end of the tunnel, and Libby wanted to reach for it with both hands.
Libby drew back to look at her. “I love having you around, Annie. You’re not going anywhere, not if I can help it. You and I…this is the real deal.”
Annie gave her a tight nod and buried her face in the crook of Libby’s neck.
For a while, they stood there, and Libby felt Annie’s resolve soften, little by little, and then, all at once. When another nursepassed, Libby draped an arm over Annie’s shoulders and steered her in the direction of the cafeteria and toward a better future.
For both of them.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“I’ll sneak back in,” Savannah whispered with a quick wink in her direction. “Just remember to look sad.”
In a loud voice, the nurse urged everyone away from Charlotte’s bedside and into the waiting area.
Once they were gone, Charlotte leaned back against the bed and lifted her arms over her head.
It had been hours since she’d been rushed to the hospital in an ambulance ride she couldn’t remember. Hours since they’d drawn blood and hung up the IV drip. And hours since Dr. Reese showed up to take charge of the situation and set everyone at ease.
Since then, Charlotte had been lying in the hospital bed, alternating between staring at the ceiling and checking the clock on the wall. Although waiting for the discharge papers to be ready was tedious, at least it gave Charlotte some time alone amidst the horrors of the day. And the chaos that resulted from having too many people at her bedside.
Everyone wanted to help, and everyone thought they knew better.
