The Resurrection of Wildflowers (Wildflower #2)(47)

“Fuck, baby.” He squeezes my throat a little tighter. “I can’t—” He grits his teeth, trying to stave off his release. “I have to—” He throws his head back, flicking his hair out his eyes. “Oh, fuck.”

He comes long and hard, his body shaking from the force of his release. His sweat-dampened body drapes over mine, his hold on my neck slackening.

He rises up slightly, placing a tender kiss on my swollen lips.

“Wrecked,” he struggles to get a breath. “You have completely, and utterly wrecked me.”

We fall asleep like that, right on the floor—a tangle of limbs and promises of a tomorrow.





CHAPTER 30





SALEM





Georgia sleeps soundly on the couch, her hands cradled under her head, mouth hanging open. She can’t be comfortable. I knew she wouldn’t go home, so I told her to at least go upstairs and lay in bed. She didn’t listen. She wanted to be here.

My mom inhales a struggled breath.

This last week, we’ve known this time was coming, and I feel it now.

I had dozed off asleep, but I woke up—sensing the time is imminent, probably within the next hour. Nudging Georgia awake, we climb awkwardly into the hospital bed on either side of her. I rest one of my feet on the floor. I want to be close to my mom, for her to know she’s not alone.

Her eyes crack open the tiniest bit. “Hey, Mom,” Georgia sniffles.

“M-y my girls,” she says groggily, the two words so quiet they’re barely audible.

“We’re here.” I take one of her hands, her skin paper thin. Georgia takes the other. “We’re not going anywhere.”

“L-Love you b-both.”

“We love you too.” Tears stream down my face.

“D-Don’t be m-mad at the world g-girls.” Her chest inflates with a breath, making her cough. “Be h-happy b-because I l-lived.”

Georgia and I hold onto her tiny frail form, both of us crying, and less than twenty minutes later, the alarms on her monitors that she’s been wearing the past few weeks sound, alerting us to the fact that she’s really and truly gone.

“Bye, Mom,” I sob brokenly. “I’ll miss you every day.”

“Love you,” Georgia cries. “I hope you’re not hurting anymore, Mom.”

Our mom suffered so much in her life, a life that was much too short, and all we can do is hope that there really is a better place out there, because if there’s anyone who deserves it, it’s her.





CHAPTER 31





THAYER





The sound of sirens wakes me up from a dream, returning me to a nightmare. Every time I hear them now, I’m transported back to that dreadful day with Forrest. My stomach rolls as I get up from bed. Stumbling into the bathroom, I relieve myself and realize I still hear the sirens and they’re loud.

Salem.

I yank on a pair of shorts, shoving my feet into a pair of shoes as I rush down the stairs. I don’t even bother grabbing a shirt.

Rushing out the door, I see the ambulance is next door at her house.

I don’t think, I just run over.

And there she is, standing on the driveway in her pajamas with her sister. They cry holding onto each other like if they let go one or both of them will completely crumble.

“Baby,” I whisper, and somehow Salem hears me.

She opens her tear-streaked eyes, and I see the instant relief when she realizes it’s me.

While she holds her sister, I hold her. She needs my support right now and I’m more than happy to give it. I’d give this woman anything.

Her body sinks against mine, inhaling audibly like she can breathe for the first time.

“I’ve got you,” I murmur, kissing the top of her head. “I’ve always got you.”

They roll her mother’s body out of the house, loading it into the back of the ambulance.

“She’s gone,” Georgia cries loudly. “She’s really gone.”

“It was time.”

“She didn’t get to meet the new baby.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I know you wanted that.”

Salem’s the youngest, but here she is comforting her older sister. Salem’s always been that person though—putting everyone else above herself. But she has me now. I’ll be her rock, her support when she needs it. With me, she doesn’t have to be the strongest person. I’ll help her weather any storm.

The ambulance leaves, the street getting eerily quiet once more and very dark. Across the street, my two favorite nosy neighbors, Thelma and Cynthia, stand on their porch watching. Thelma throws her hand up in a wave before the two of them scuttle back into their house.

“I need to take Georgia home,” Salem whispers up to me.

“I’ll take her.”

“No.” She shakes her head. “I need to do this.”

“Are you sure? I can drive you both.”

She hesitates, struggling to let me help, but finally she nods. “Okay.”

“Let me grab my keys”

I run back over to my house, swiping my truck keys. Salem sits in the back with a crying Georgia while quietly giving me directions to her sister’s house. I park out front and hop out to open the door. Salem gets out with her sister, walking her up to the door and unlocking it. I stand outside by my truck, waiting. She’s in there for about fifteen minutes before she comes out. Her blonde hair hangs in her eyes, her shoulders hunched with exhaustion. I want to take her in my arms and hold her. I want to make this all go away.