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“Here he is,” Delta rushed in with an EMT. I stepped back to give the guy room, and he started tending to Buddy right away. Delta ushered the other two EMTs down the hall to Dad’s room.
“I-I should go with her.” I gestured.
“Yeah. We’ll talk later.” Buddy jerked his head toward the door. But I stopped in the doorway and for one last look at him. In this very moment, finally getting everything I ever wanted, I wondered if it was enough. My life would change, exactly the life I’d always wanted, but could he also fit in to the picture?
The Denial
HONEY
I visited the hospital the next day on the way to my lawyers. I wore black in reverence to Dad.
“Hi. How’s the shoulder?” I asked Buddy as I entered his hospital room. A little pal, otherwise, he looked fine, still handsome.
“The doctor stitched me up and said I’ll be able to start physical therapy next week.”
“That good news. But I cannot believe you got shot. I’m so sorry.”
“I’ll be fine. So…” He reached his other hand out for me. “I missed you last night. But I understand. You must have had so much to do with Cal’s arrangements.”
“Yes. I can’t stay long. I’m actually headed to the lawyers office for the reading of the will.”
“So soon?”
I shrug. “Cal’s body is being cremated. So I’m not hosting a memorial for him until I get his ashes back. Today is more of a formality, just getting it over with. I’ve waited for this moment for so long, to finally get control of Mom’s company. Starting tomorrow, I have work to do. You understand.”
“Yep. You have my script to produce, after all.”
“Um. Yeah. About that.” I twirled the ring on my finger. “I’m going to put a pause on it for now, just during this transition while I take over. Besides, I think it’s best if we part ways, don’t you? I mean our agreement is over. There’s no reason for you to stay here now.”
“But I thought I’d stick around. See this project through. Make sure you get on your feet with this studio.”
“The thing is. I don’t need your help, Buddy. I don’t need any man. After Cal and Edward, I just want to be alone for a while. I hope you understand?”
“Uh, what?” He scoffs. “I thought we had something real. You said?—”
“I know what I said. And I’m sorry, I’m so confused. There’s just so much going on right now. I need time.”
“So I guess you got what you wanted. Your revenge. Now I’m disposable.”
“Revenge is all I’ve wanted. Of course, it wouldn’t have been worth my time if there wasn’t a big pay off in the end.”
“What about love? About the night we married, and all the things we shared and said and did together. Fuck I thought it all was starting to mean something.”
I couldn’t speak to that at first, because it I’d be lying if I disagreed.
“Your eyes and your hesitation give you away, Honey. You got your revenge and money, though. I can’t believe I’m saying this and going against the very vow I took long ago, but hell, we’re already married. Let’s give things between us time to develop. What do you say?”
“I got you a gift.”
I set the box in front of him, but he can’t open it. “Well, It’s a Rolex watch. I had them engrave something to you on the back. You can open it later. Oh, and here. The ring…” I almost hated to part with it.
“Keep it.”
“What? Oh, I shouldn’t.”
“No, really. I bought it for you. It’s yours.”
I twirl it nervously on my finger. It represents…so much.
