Me After You (31 page)

“Hey,” I croak, swallowing back tears and brush my fingertips across his partially unbandaged jaw.
 

His eyes open as much as they can. “Hey,” he rasps.

My heart clenches at the weakness in his voice that sounds nothing like him. The doctors are surprised he’s still conscious. I don’t know what to say. I want to say everything and yet nothing at all.

He licks his lips before he speaks. “I waited for you,” he whispers.

I can’t force back the tears. I collapse across his chest. “There is so much I want to tell you, and yet I don’t know where to begin.” His hand slowly brushes down my back.

“Some way to go, huh?”

“Stop it,” I hiss, looking up. “That’s not funny, Gray.”

“Sawyer, you need to go back to Willowhaven.” His voice is so gruff I can hardly hear him. “You need to go back home.”

“No.” I shake my head. “What are you even saying?”

“Sawyer, promise you’ll go home. Be with your parents,” he utters. “Fix whatever it is you need to.” He pauses, then says, “Find him. Have babies. Grow old. Live your life.”

“No, I’m staying here with you. I’ve already made that decision. I was coming to tell you before,” I choke as the tears stream down my cheeks. “I want this to work. I. Choose. You.”

His head feebly shakes once. “You know it doesn’t matter anymore.”

“It does matter. You have to stay with me. I choose you!”

“Stop it, Sawyer. I know the doctors…” he pauses to catch his breath, “spoke with you.”

I shake my head in frustration. “It wasn’t supposed to happen like this.”

“I know.” He tries to lift his hand to touch my cheek, but he doesn’t have enough strength. I grab his hand between mine and bring it to my lips. “I love you.” His words make me cry more. “I love you so much.”

I kiss his palm and cup it against my cheek. “I love you, too.
So
much.”

“Promise me. I couldn’t fix this. You have to do that for yourself.” I clench my jaw and try to breathe. “Promise me,” he presses.

“I promise.”

He nods once and relaxes, closing his eyes.

“Grayson?” I ask, fearing he’s already gone.

“I’m still here, S.”

I swallow. “Please don’t leave me. Please. Please stay.”

“You know I’ll never leave you.”

Tears pool in Alix’s eyes. “Sawyer,” she murmurs. And then she pulls me into her arms because she obviously can’t bear to look at me in the eyes anymore.

“You don’t look surprised,” I whisper.

“Of course you picked him.” She pulls away. “He was your husband. Your loyalty runs deep. Why would he think there was any other option?”

“I think he wanted to hear me say it.”

“And you did. Whether you did it because that’s what your heart wanted or because of loyalty, it doesn’t matter. He knows you loved him. You had a good life together, no matter how short. It was good. Great, even.”

I nod and feel the tears taking over me again. It
was
great. It was
really
great.

Her fingers brush through my hair. “Do you not want to be with Dean?” she quietly asks.

“I do,” I confess. “I just… I can’t. We would never work. I don’t understand why he felt like he had to leave, why he thought that was what was best for us. He said it was because he was afraid, but that doesn’t sound like him to me. I’ve never seen him do anything but face life head on. With everything and everyone against him, he always believed in himself. If he really loved me, he would never have left.”

Alix speaks into my hair. “Everyone has their reasons and, as much as it pains me to say it, I’m guessing even Dean Preston had a good enough reason. But in the end, it’s your choice.” She lifts my left hand gesturing toward my wedding ring. “Though before you can ever move on with life, Sawyer, other things need to happen.”

I nod, gazing at the diamonds. “You’re right. Just not tonight. Okay?”

“Okay.”

W
ITH
RESOLVE
, I dial Rob Dillon’s number as I sit at my desk.

“Rob Dillon,” he answers.

“Rob, hey. It’s Dean Preston.”

“Dean, what an unexpected surprise.”

I shift the phone between my shoulder and ear. “I was hoping that I’m not too late.”

“Having second thoughts?”

“More like I’d like to do a little renegotiating. Is it possible that your offer still stands?”

He clears his throat. “Well, I’ve had some other promising options, but nothing is set in stone. What do you have mind?”

“I’d like to sell the garage to you, business end and all. Everything.”

“You wouldn’t be staying on board?”

“No, I, uh, I’ll be moving out of Willowhaven in the next couple weeks.”

Rob exhales. “Well.”

“I know before the offer included me, but I’d like to just hand everything to you. My friend, Aiden, knows this garage almost as well as I do. I think you’d be just as happy with him at the helm as you would me. He’s been a part of this business from day one. I know he’d be a perfect asset for you.”

Rob is silent for a moment, and I say a silent prayer. If this falls through so will everything else. “You sure about this?” he asks.

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”

“Can I ask you what made you change your mind?”

That was an easy answer. “There’s something in this world I care more about than this garage, and I can’t have both.”

“Well, all right.”

Rob and I discuss the final business transaction. The final price was renegotiated. I don’t get as much as he originally offered, but it’s enough. It doesn’t take more than ten minutes to essentially sign my life away.

“Well,” Rob says, “if you ever change your mind, I’d be happy to have you on board.”

“I won’t, but thank you, sir.”

“I’ll have the papers drawn up. All you’ll have to do it sign on the dotted line.”

“Thanks, Rob.”

“Thank
you,
Dean. I hope everything works out for you.”

I do, too. “Eventually it will.”

***

It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be to give up the garage. That’s how I know I made the right decision. I thought it would feel more like a loss, but losing Sawyer drowns that out. This is the only way for me to move forward.

It only takes about a week for everything to finalize. Rob wasn’t kidding when he said he’d pay cash. Thankfully, he made everything really painless. The garage has officially been signed over to him. By the end of the week, I’ll be on my way out of Willowhaven. For good this time.

“I can’t believe you’re really leaving, man. You sure about this?”

“It’s got to be done. I can’t stay here. If I have to stay in Willowhaven and watch Sawyer fall in love with someone else, marry someone else…” I can’t finish the thought. It’s too much to let my thoughts go that far. Clenching my teeth, I keep my emotions in check. I shake my head and continue. “I know you’ll take good care of the garage.”

“It won’t be the same without you there. Who am I going to go to about my Alix drama now?”

“I’m sure you’ll find someone,” I chuckle dryly.

“Well, at least you’re giving me the chance to say goodbye this time.” Aiden smirks and punches my shoulder.

“Well, I’ll need your help, so I had to tell you.”

“You have underlying motives. I see how it is. You’re just using me.”

“It’s all a little impossible without you, Aide.”

Aiden agrees to help me sell the house. I put it on the market, and he’s agreed to keep me posted as buyers approach. It’s not really a seller’s market right now, but with the mortgage already paid off, I’m not too worried about it.

With Aiden’s help, I’m boxing my life away. I’ve decided to sell the majority of what my father left behind. His things only hold memories I want to forget, and it will be easier to move with less to worry about. There’s just one thing that I don’t want to sell.

Aiden’s mouth hangs open as we stand in my bedroom, packing up my dresser. “Why are you giving me this?”

“You need it more than I do.”

He looks at the open ring box in his hand and tries to give it back to me. “I can’t take this.”

“You can and you will. I don’t have any use for it anymore.” I shove it back to him. I don’t want it.

“But this was meant for Sawyer.”

My wall shoots up. I can’t think about that. “And that’s not going to happen. So, take it.” I shake my head firmly. If I can’t give it to Sawyer, I don’t want to give it to anyone else. “Someday, Alix will get her crap together. Now you can be prepared.”

Aiden chuckles humorlessly, but nods. “You really do have faith in me.”

“Always have.”

***

Through a little detective work, I found out when Sawyer wouldn’t be at Sprinkles. Pushing her out of my mind hasn’t been easy, but it’s the only way I’m still functioning. I’ve done everything I can to avoid running into her over the last week. It’s a lot easier not seeing her face and I know she doesn’t want to see me. I will respect that.

The door chimes as I walk into the bakery. Polly appears from the back, wiping her hands down the front of her apron. Her gray hair is tied up on top of her head.

“Dean Preston, how are ya, son?” She smiles.

“Ms. Polly, I’m doing well. How are you today?

“I’m blessed.” She nods. “If you’re here to see Sawyer, she’s not here today. She has the day off.”

Taking a step toward the counter, I say, “I actually came here to talk with you. Do you have a minute? I have an offer for you I’m hoping you’ll consider.”

W
ITH
THE
MORNING
light shining through my bedroom windows, I sit on the edge of my bed with trembling hands. Today is the first day of my fresh start. It’s been three weeks since I told Dean it was over. In order to really begin anew though, I have to start with this. My head bows forward as I gaze down at my right hand clutching the other in my lap. I spin my wedding ring around and around on my finger, watching each facet sparkle under the rays streaming in. The reflection dances on my yellow walls. It’s time. I know it is, but this diamond-encrusted band hasn’t left my hand in five years. I’ve never taken it off. Not once.

I remember the way it felt when he first put it on my finger. How the cold band warmed instantly, fitting perfectly in place, like this ring was always meant for my finger. I remember the look in Grayson’s eyes whenever he saw it. They way his eyes would light up every time as if he was reminded that I said yes.

I grasp my ring, still circling my finger, and close my eyes. With a shaky breath, I imagine Grayson with me. I can’t do this without him. His hand rests atop mine. When I peer into his face, he offers a tender smile. A lock of hair curls in the center of his forehead. I have the urge to sweep it back. His hazel eyes gleam behind his dark-rimmed glasses and then he nods. A tear escapes my eye, but I know I’m ready. I breathe in. Pulling the ring gently off, I breathe out.

***

“Sawyer, you headed in to work?” Mom asks while I’m grabbing an apple from the fridge with my naked left hand.

“Yeah, I’m opening for Polly today.”

“Will you bring home a dozen red velvet cupcakes? I need a dessert for pikino tonight with the ladies.”

I nod. “Shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Also, when you talk to Blaine, will you ask him to come home for Christmas? I think you have a better chance of him saying yes.”

I grunt out a laugh and head toward the front door. “I’ll try, but we haven’t been able to get him back out here in how many years? I doubt this will be the first year.”

She follows me. “It doesn’t mean a mother can’t dream. He might surprise you. This year has been quite a year. I think he just might make an exception. For you.”

Offering a small smile, I turn back to her. “I’ll call him later today, but I’m not making any promises. Christmas is barely a month away.”

“Thanks, darlin’.”

When I open the front door to leave, someone is jogging down our walkway, away from my house. The broad shoulders and blond hair give him away instantly.

“Aiden? What are you—” I step out onto the mat and close the door behind me. Something crinkles under my foot. Looking down, I notice a manila envelope on the doormat. “Did you drop this off?” I pick it up and turn it over. It’s blank.

Aiden looks over his shoulder with an expression full of guilt, like someone caught with his hand in the cookie jar, but he doesn’t respond.

“What is this?” I press.

“I… I…” Never in the ten years that I’ve known Aiden Ballard has he ever been at a loss for words. He shifts uncomfortably and my stomach drops.
What is going on?

I open the envelope and pull out some paperwork. Something clinks on the porch. I squat down to pick up a brass key.
Huh
. Standing back up, I scan over words I can’t compute: BILL OF SALE - TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP. Polly’s name is on it. My name is on it.

“Aiden, what in the world is this?” I ask, breathless.

He curses under his breath. “You weren’t supposed to see me.”

My shoulders sag as I read further over all the legal mumbo jumbo. “Aiden.” I exhale.

“He didn’t want you to know, which is ridiculously stupid. Of course, you would have figured it out. You’re not an idiot.”

My hands begin to shake.
What is he trying to tell me? Why is my name at the top of a deed for Sprinkles?

“If you couldn’t get it out of me, you would have made Alix try to pull the information out of me—”

“What did Dean do, Aiden?” I demand. I have to hear him say it to understand. Tears distort my vision as I clench my fist over my heart.

Sighing, he says, “He bought it for you.”

“He what?” I wrench my eyes away from the paperwork to look up at Aiden.

“Dean bought Sprinkles for you. It belongs to you now.”

My head shakes in disbelief.
What did he just say?
“Where is he, at the garage? Why would he do this?” I can’t control the volume of my voice. “I need to talk to him.”