AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Is Forrest giving you problems again?”
Savannah shook her head, the words getting caught up on her tongue just like she knew they would. It was so damn hard to speak sometimes. “No, I spoke to an attorney about suing the hospital and doctors.”
Kyla’s shoulders stiffened immediately. She did a slow turn from the stove to look directly at Savannah, her eyes wide and fearful. “You did what?”
“I told you that I wanted to. I want to know if we have a case against them, if there’s something there to actually pursue. It was just an informational meeting. I didn’t agree to anything. I wouldn’t do that without talking to you first.”
“And that’s what you’re doing now?” Kyla scoffed. “Jesus, Savannah, way to drop this in my lap.” Kyla lifted up on her toes and looked around Savannah toward the entryway to the kitchen, no doubt checking to make sure that they really were alone.
“Something needs to happen. It’s not okay that he went so long without a diagnosis or that he went so long without proper treatment. And you deserve some financial compensation for that.”
“I deserve to have him back!” Kyla’s voice cracked, sending a shot of guilt right to Savannah’s heart.
“We all do.” Savannah rubbed her lips together, taking her time to formulate another response. “But if it can help, at least cushion some things while you figure other things out, then what’s the harm?”
Kyla shook her head and closed her eyes. Reaching up, she pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed heavily. “I want to move on, Savannah, not keep dragging everything up. It’s enough of a struggle to live every day. The kids and I don’t need to add to that.”
“You wouldn’t have to. I’d do it all, and then you’d reap the benefits.” Savannah wasn’t quite sure how that would work out, especially after her meeting with Athena, but she would do her best to make sure that it happened that way. “But think about what that money could help with. It could help keep you in this house.”
Kyla’s eyes instantly filled with tears, and she shook her head. “No, it won’t.”
“What?” Savannah’s voice wobbled.
“The bank’s already foreclosed on the house. The paperwork has finally gone through, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.”
“Kyla…” Savannah’s heart sank. She was already too late. They were going to have to leave the one place that held the last memories of Conrad, and they weren’t ever going to get that back. “There has to be something—”
“There isn’t. And I realize you’re only trying to help, but it’s not helping. I need to work through this on my own. We need to start to move on and stop being stuck in the shadow of memories. Conrad was a wonderful man and husband, and I love him dearly. I’ll never not love him. But we have to learn to live without him.”
Savannah’s heart broke again. Kyla was so much stronger than she was, and while she knew she was channeling her anger over the entire situation into a lawsuit, it felt good to be able to do something about it, to actually be making headway instead of feeling like the world stopped when Conrad took his last breath.
Because it had.
For so many of them.
And yet at the same time, the world kept on turning, as if Conrad’s singular voice and life made not a lick of difference in the grand scheme of things. And that was nothing other than injustice in Savannah’s mind.
“Just let me do it all. I promise you’ll do nothing but reap the benefits of whatever happens.”
“I don’t want to hear about it.” Kyla raised her chin up, that fierceness coming back into gaze. Savannah had missed that in the last six months. It was rare to find it. “I definitely don’t want the kids to know a damn thing about it.”
“I promise they won’t. I’ll handle everything.” Savannah glanced to the doorway of the kitchen to make sure that no small person had entered while she wasn’t expecting it.
“Fine.”
Savannah sighed heavily, but she didn’t feel any lighter than when she had walked into the house. “So when do you have to be out?”
“End of the month.” Kyla flicked her gaze around the room. “I’m telling the kids tonight when they’re all home.”
“Mommy?” Aiden stepped into the kitchen, his bright eyes a dead ringer for Savannah’s brother. She loved being able to look at him and see Conrad. “When’s dinner? I’m hungry.”
“Soon. It just has to finish cooking.” Kyla clapped her hands together, plastered on a smile, and started chasing Aiden around like she was going to tickle him. He squealed in laughter and ran away.
Savannah knew the conversation was over, at least for now. She moved to stand next to Kyla as she put something on the television in the living room for the little kids to watch. “Do you want me to stay for that conversation?”
“Yeah. Might be a good idea. I know Evie will probably want to talk to you when it’s all out in the open.”
“Then I’ll stay. I can’t pick up Brinley until after eight tonight anyway.”
