Page 28 of Fighting for Family

“Yes, she’s very helpful,” Catherine said. “Once I get settled, I’ll return the favor and watch your munchkins.”

“Please,” Bryanna brushed her off. “They’re angels. I merely hung out with them.”

“I hate to feel like a party crasher, but I’m ready for bed,” Catherine said, hugging Bryanna again. “I really appreciate the help.”

“Good night,” Bryanna said softly.

“Night,” Catherine said as she entered the bedroom. She hesitated by the closet. Feeling the need to have Leo with her, she perused his shirts until she found his favorite. Entering the bathroom, she took off her makeup, brushed out her hair, brushed her teeth, and changed, pulling his shirt over her head. She smelled it, longing to catch his scent. Walking into the bedroom, she noticed Kassie changed and already lying on Leo’s side of the bed, careful not to touch his pillow.

Her best friend smiled at her. “Climb in, and I’ll get the light,” she said, fluffing her pillow.

Slipping into the covers, Catherine got in and sighed. “Didn’t we talk about this? You can’t sleep with me forever,” she reminded her.

“Starting tomorrow, you’re on your own,” Kassie informed her. “But I’m not leaving my best friend on the night she called her husband’s team home.”

“Neither will I,” Bryanna said, rolling out a sleeping bag and a pillow and sliding inside.

“Have you gone mad?” she asked.

Samantha and Lizzy softly knocked and made room on the opposite side, rolling out their sleeping bags.

Claire and Gabby waddled in and kissed her cheek. “We’re here, too. The women insisted we use the pullout couch. Bryanna has made it up for us.”

Tess and Stormy entered next, hugging her. Stormy brought a cot and set it up in the corner for Tess and then unrolled her bag as Brownie watched.

Annabelle smiled as she took her turn and lay next to Tess.

Tears gathered as the women showed their support. The gesture meant more than she could express.

Julie and Avie silently made their way in and settled. Addyson arrived last and settled at the foot of the bed.

“I can’t believe…,” Catherine stammered. “You did this.”

“We want you to know you’re not alone,” Addyson whispered. “There will come a time when you’ll feel alone, and we want you to remember this moment. We stand with you through the good times and the bad.”

“How did you do it, Addyson? I’m sorry. It’s a highly personal question. When Sam died, did you feel like you woke up from a horrible dream?” Catherine asked, holding Kassie’s hand.

“I won’t lie to you,” Addyson said. “The first year felt the worst. Some days I felt sad. Others, I felt mad at the world. Eventually, I learned to take it minute by minute, then hour by hour. Then, I made it through an entire day,” she explained. “The pain doesn’t go away. You learn to live with it differently.”

Catherine let out a shaky breath. “It hurts too much to think about it. Did he suffer? What were his last thoughts? Did he know how much I loved him?”

“It won’t do any good to torment yourself,” Addyson chided. “Concentrate on the good memories. As a nurse who worked in the field, a lot of men claim to relive their best memories. I’m sure Leo thought of you and his kids.”

“Everyone knows we fought about the baby,” Catherine cried. “We agreed not to discuss it the night before he left. I wish I could take back all those hurtful words. I want this baby more than anything.”

“Shhh,” Kassie said. “Leo knew how much you loved him. He always got in trouble for something. It defined your relationship. Remember when he swore enough to pay for all new floors?”

Lizzy giggled. “How about the time when we went away, and he forgot to treat his office for lice after picking Melody up from school? He spread it to the whole team.”

The women laughed together.

“I’ll never forget Patch bitching about Leo putting him on latrine duty for a month. Turns out Brody ate all the bacon,” Claire called softly from the other room.

“We can’t forget how he stood vigilante over Taco after he got stabbed, wearing that ridiculous mask he bought for you,” Tess reminded them.

“Saint nearly choked him when he caught the flu and whined the entire time,” Bryanna added.

“I’ll never forget how he kept doing CPR on you after the fire. He refused to let you go,” Kassie said gently.