Page 92 of I’m Already Gone

“How are you doing, sweetheart?” he asks. He settles onto the edge of the chair next to mine.

I take a good, long look at him. The lines around his kind eyes seem a little deeper, and his short hair is definitely more salt than pepper these days. I find myself smiling at his thick, unruly eyebrows that need a good trimming.

“I’m actually doing well today,” I say honestly.

“We wanted to stop by after you were released from the hospital,” Erica murmurs, wrapping her arms around me. “But Ethan thought we should wait.”

“Well, I’m glad you came. It’s so nice to see you both,” I say, turning my gaze back to James. His eyes are noticeably misty, and he blinks rapidly, trying to clear them, a small, sad smile playing on his lips.

“You look beautiful.” Erica says, as she pulls back to look at me.

My hand goes to the scarf covering my head. “Thank you.”

She sits on the opposite side of the small table, reaching across to take my hand.

“We were thinking,” she begins, “of taking Jake, Maddy, and Ollie out for dinner. Get them some pizza, maybe an ice cream afterward. Would you feel up to going?”

I pause, considering. “I would love to, but I’m really not feeling up for it tonight. But the kids will be ecstatic.”

“We understand,” Erica says, giving my hand another gentle squeeze.

The patio door slides open with a soft whoosh, and Ethan appears. He looks so handsome in his worn jeans and a light gray T-shirt, his dark hair tousled as if he’s been running his hands through it all day.

He scans the group, a subtle crease forming between his brows. “Everything alright?” He steps out onto the patio.

“Everything is fine,” I reassure him with a soft smile.

He tilts his head slightly, the corners of his mouth lifting as his gaze meets mine.

“Well,” James announces, pushing himself to his feet with a soft grunt. “We’d better get going if we want to beat the traffic.”

He walks over to me and kneels, bringing his face level with mine. “Lily, you have always been, and will always be family. Please don’t hesitate to call us for anything. We are here for you.” He cups my face gently in his large hands, his thumbs tracing my cheekbones.

I sniffle, a tear threatening to spill. “Thank you, James,” I whisper.

“We love you,” he adds.

I smile through the tears welling in my eyes. “I love you too.” I turn my head slightly to Erica, who is standing beside James. “And I love you too, Erica.”

Her voice catches. “I love you too, sweetheart.” She leans down, pressing a soft kiss to the side of my temple, and gives me one last, firm hug.

James lingers for another moment, his gaze fixed on my face as if he’s trying to memorize every feature. “We’ll see you very soon,” he promises.

I nod. “Good. Don’t be strangers. And thank you for coming.”

He hugs me one last time, and I return it with all the strength I have.

They turn and walk toward the patio door, their figures a little blurry through my misty eyes. As they pass Ethan, my eyes meet his.

For a second, everything else fades away, and we’re Ethan and Lily once again. There’s a pull between us, a reminder of the love we once shared.

And maybe, that will be enough to help us find our way back to each other.

Lily

“Honey, your father and I would’ve met you at your house so you wouldn’t have needed to leave,” Mom reminds me for what must be the hundredth time today.

I lean back in my chair on my parents’ patio with the sweet scent of hibiscus and freshly cut grass surrounding me. It’s a perfect afternoon, bright and vibrant, but everything inside me feels fragile and gray.