Saving Us(68)

While he was talking, I didn’t take my eyes off of Amy. She looked up and I winked. “Seems like the ones you have to fight for are usually the ones you don’t want to live without. I happened to pick the one woman that I couldn’t have.”

“I didn’t see you goin’ about things any different. You’re famous for making things harder on yourself.”

I shook hands with my cousin, before he walked over to rag on Ty some more. When I realized I was too weak to follow him, I headed back into the room and sat down near Amy. I knew that men weren’t supposed to be around, but I was too damn tired and sore to stand around for hours. My discharge papers said that I was supposed to be resting.

Randa had brought a bunch of gifts from some of Amy’s favorite clients. Some of them even wrote her nice little notes asking her to move back soon. She seemed touched by their kind words.

With Rick out of the picture, everything had changed for us. We could go back to North Carolina and live a happy life without Amy’s ex trying to ruin our lives or put us in early graves. It was because of Rick that we’d spent over a year in fear. This was the first real time in our relationship when we were free.

I think we both needed to consider where would be the best place to live. My mind was already made up, I just needed Amy to feel the same.

The family being here was great, but once the presents were opened, they played their little games and the food was almost gone, it was time for everyone to go home. I didn’t even wait to say goodbye to everyone. When my head hit the pillows on my bed, I was out like a light. I knew my mother and the girls would make sure Amy didn’t have to clean up.

When she finally came to bed, it was dark outside. I had no idea what time it was, or how long I had been asleep. I refused to take my pain medication due to my earlier addiction with it. Over the counter medicine could take the edge off, but it wasn’t the best.

I reached over and pulled Amy into my arms. “Did everyone leave?”

She kissed my nose. “They are all still on the ranch, but we’re alone here.”

“Were you surprised?”

“You knew about it didn’t you?” She sat up and looked shocked.

“I just found out the other day. It just worked out that I got discharged and they were able to have it here. You know my family. They were plannin’ this shit for months.”

“I was so surprised. I knew they would have a shower, I just didn’t know it would be today. Getting you home was the best day for me.”

I pulled her back down, even though it hurt my stomach. “Now that we don’t have anything standin’ in our way. Where would you like to spend forever? Do you want to stay here, or do you want to go back to North Carolina? Our permits have been approved. We could break ground in as early as two weeks.”

Amy rolled on her back and put both of her hands on her belly. I put one of my hands on top of hers. The baby was moving all around and it made me smile knowing that it would be born and never know the hell that we had gone through. I was completely fine with that.

“You know, when I didn’t know if you were going to make it, I asked myself the same question. Would I be able to move back to North Carolina and move on with my life? Would I want to be here so that your mother could be close to her grandchildren? I didn’t know what to do. Now that I know you’re okay, everything is different. I’d go anywhere as long as it’s with you.”

“I should have been packin’ my own gun that day. None of this shit would have ever happened to me. I could have taken that fucker out before he even knew I was there.”

Amy’s head leaned into my shoulder. She lifted our locked hands into the air above us. “Conner, it doesn’t even matter. The police set me up with a great counselor and after we knew you were out of danger, I focused on moving forward. I can work anywhere, but it would be nice to have a brand new house to raise our child in.”

“Our children.”

“Children? Really?” I liked how she sat up and wondered how serious I was.

“Yeah. You’ve had time to stay home and enjoy bein’ pregnant. Just imagine bein’ able to stay home and raise our children. I’d never admit to bein’ jealous of Ty, but I do envy that he gets to see my sister and their kids whenever he wants. I don’t want to have daycare.”

Amy took her finger and traced where the bullet had gone in. She was extremely gentle considering how tender it was. “Do I get to pick out the colors?”

“Are you going to put pink in my house?”

She cocked her eyebrow. “Not in every room.”