The Resurrection of Wildflowers (Wildflower #2)(60)

“You’re right.” I look around the kitchen, the walls now bare, the drawers empty, cabinets and countertops completely wiped down. “I guess this just has me dwelling more than usual.”

He reaches across the table, squeezing my hand. “Come on,” he stands, still holding onto my hand and using it to tug me up with him. “Let’s go drop this off and grab something to eat. I think we deserve it.”

My stomach rumbles in answer. “Good idea.”





CHAPTER 39





SALEM





We work on clearing out the house as much as possible. With Thayer working, he’s not around to help during the weekdays so I do what I can that doesn’t involve heavy lifting. After that first day it’s gotten easier. I think I’ve managed to put blinders on and not think too much about it, which has helped. Plus, I know this needs to be done. We can’t just leave the house sitting here. Sometimes, you have to set your grief aside and take care of what has to be done.

I’m elbow deep in dust, cleaning out a storage closet when my phone rings. I can’t grab it right now, so I let it go to voicemail.

It rings again right away.

“Huh.” I set down my cleaning supplies and get up off the floor, my body groaning in protest since I’ve been in a hunched position for too long. I knew I should’ve gotten up and taken a break, but I didn’t bother.

I don’t make it to my phone in time before it stops, but it starts up yet again just in time for me to find it under a pile of trash bags. Lovely.

Georgia’s name lights up the phone.

“Hello?”

“I’m in labor,” are the first words out of her mouth, “I know we didn’t talk about this, but mom was with me both other times and I want you to be there this time. Are you okay with that?”

My heart warms that she wants me there, that she trusts and loves me enough to be there when she brings her third child into the world.

“Yeah, of course. Are you at the hospital?” I start gathering up my stuff and trying to leave things in some sort of order, but quickly realize that’s a futile effort since everything is a mess.

“We’re dropping the boys off with Michael’s parents and driving straight there. Oh, fuck,” she curses. “This hurts. I don’t remember it hurting this bad before. Was it always like this?”

Michael answers her and I hear his reply of, “Yeah, and you just always forget,” through the speaker phone.

“I’ll be right behind you guys.”

“Thank you.” I can hear the tears in her voice. “I just don’t want to be alone.”

“What am I? Chopped liver?” Michael asks.

“You know what I mean,” she argues, and they launch into a back and forth.

“All right, I’m going to hang up now so I can finish up and head to the hospital.”

“Okay,” my sister replies. “I love you.”

“Love you, too.”

I turn the lights off, set out the garbage, and run over to Thayer’s to have a quick shower since I’m covered in dust and change my clothes.

When I get into my car to head to the hospital, I shoot him a quick text to let him know what’s going on and that I won’t be home.

He texts right back as I’m backing out of the driveway.

Thayer: I’ll head to the hospital when I’m done with work.

The local hospital isn’t far, only twenty minutes away, so I call Michael through my car’s Bluetooth speaker.

“Hey, I’m on my way. How is she?”

“Uh … for the moment, calm. But as soon as she has another contraction, she’ll be demanding that I get a vasectomy. As soon as that has passed, she’ll threaten me that I better not because she wants one or two more. Honestly, Salem, if she keeps this up my balls are going to shrivel up and die.”

I can’t help but laugh. The poor guy. “Sounds like my sister. Let her know I’m on my way and I—”

I don’t finish my sentence, because in that exact moment someone runs a red light, and the sound of screeching metal fills my ears. My head slams against the window, the airbag exploding, and then there’s only blackness.





CHAPTER 40





THAYER





Saying goodbye to my crew, I hop in my truck to head home. I’ll take a shower and grab a bite to eat before going to the hospital.

I’m halfway home when my phone rings and it’s Georgia’s name on the screen.

“Hello?” I answer skeptically, wondering why Salem’s sister would be calling me. Maybe Salem’s phone died, though, and she’s wondering where I’m at.

“Thayer,” Georgia says my name in a rush of relief. “Oh, ow! Son of a bitch! Fuck, I better not say that, because that makes me the ah!” She screams in my ear. “Michael, take the phone.”

A moment later, her husband comes on the line. “Uh, hey, man.”

“What’s going on? Is something wrong with Salem’s phone?”

He’s silent for a moment. I know it’s only seconds, but it feels like minutes.

“Salem’s been in an accident.”