“Helllllooo,” she sang. Yve was completely oblivious to what had happened.
“Hey.” I jogged to the closet where my suitcases were. “I’ll be there soon.”
“What?”
“Oh, Yve, I’ve made a mess of everything.” I dropped to my knees and cried.
“Brie . . . I’m thrilled, but I don’t understand why?”
“Julian’s dead. I’m coming home.”
Chapter 37
Nathaniel
Beep.
My throat ached and my mouth was dry. My body felt heavy, and it was difficult to open my eyes.
Beep.
Inhaling slowly, I gathered my thoughts. Julian found us. He had his gun aimed at Brielle. I dove to protect her, but the room went dark and I felt weak.
Beep.
My vision came into focus. I was in a hospital room. I opened my mouth to speak, but I felt the tube. Trying not to gag, I located the nurse call button and pressed it with the little strength I had.
A moment later, a nurse popped in. “Mr. Wright, I'm glad to see you're awake.” She walked to the bed and slowly pulled out the tube. “I'm Susan. Is there anything I can get you?” Her hand gripped my wrist as she checked my pulse.
“Water,” I mouthed to her.
She smiled and grabbed a pink cup with a straw. “Your throat will be a little sore, but I’m sure we can give you something for that. I’ll let the doctor know that you're awake.”
“Brielle,” I managed to say after the cold water soothed my throat.
“She's right outside the room. I'll call her right in.”
I closed my eyes again.
“Nate!” I opened my eyes as Delaney rushed to my side. “Oh, baby . . .”
A wave of disappointment washed over me. Brielle wasn't with her. “Where’s—”
“Caleb's fine. He's home with your parents.” Delaney brushed her hand through my hair.
I meant to ask for Brielle.
Delaney pulled out her cell. “I'm going to call home. I know Caleb will be very excited to see you.”
“Del?” She looked up from her phone and at me. “Julian? What happened?”
She slid both of her lips between her teeth and sighed. “I'm sorry, Nate. Your brother ended his own life.”
I couldn't remember anything after I pushed Brielle out of the way. “And Brielle?” I managed to ask.
Delaney rubbed the palm of her hand along my cheek. “She’s home, but why don't you worry about getting better?”
I dropped the subject.
My parents and Caleb arrived shortly after Delaney called them. All were excited to see me doing so well. I kept waiting for Brielle to arrive. Surely she'd come and say hello. But there was no word from her.
“Mom,” Caleb said, and the room grew silent. He was lying on the bed watching television with me.
“Yes?” Delaney pulled her gaze away from her phone.
“I'm hungry.”
“The cafeteria is open until eleven,” my mother added.
“Come on.” Delaney stood. “Let’s go grab you something.”
Caleb hopped off the bed, and coiled his hands with Delaney’s. My mother stood. “I’m going to grab something, too. Do you want anything?”
I shook my head.
As they walked out, Warren came in with some ice chips for me. His head was lowered and he avoided my eyes.
“Warren?” I said when it was only the two of us. “Are you okay?”
He sighed and sat at the edge of the bed. “I’m between a rock and a hard place.”
“I’m sorry about Julian.”
“It’s not your fault. And just like I told Brielle, it’s not her fault, either.”
I sat higher on the bed. “Is she okay? Did he hurt her?” This was the first time anyone had said anything to me about her.
Warren dug in his back pocket and pulled out a folded envelope. “She’s gone home.”
My heart sank.
“She asked me to give you this. I was going to wait until you were home, but I noticed you keep looking at that door waiting for her to arrive. She’s not coming, son.”
I reached for the crisp white envelope and peeled back the folds. I didn’t need to read the letter to know why she left. Maybe in a different lifetime, she said.
But she was wrong.
I would be with her in this lifetime.
Four days later I was discharged.
My parents had returned to Ecuador, Caleb had returned to school, and it was the first time Delaney and I were alone. She’d been sweeter than usual, loving even to both Caleb and myself. She acted surprised when we arrived home and found the garage apartment empty, but I’d been married to her for ten years. I knew when she was lying.
I was in the kitchen eating breakfast when Delaney walked in freshly showered and ready for her day. “I have to run a few errands. Maybe we can pick up Caleb from school and have lunch—”