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I didn’t necessarily agree, but I was glad he had offered to go.
I wrapped an arm around Andy’s arm and let him lead me slowly towards the door while Bobby grabbed the bag off the table. I looked back at the hospital bed I had spent the last three weeks in, hoping that I would never
have to see the inside of a hospital again for a very long time. Andy waited for me until I nodded that I was ready to go.
“Say goodbye,” Andy said.
I smiled and shook my head at him. “Get me out of here, boys. I want to go home.”
Andy smiled and helped me out. “By the way, Bobby, about that guest room –”
Chapter 18: Andy
I never got that guest room, but I was practically living with them for the next few weeks. Before my shift, I’d pass by and make sure she had all she needed, and afterwards I’d spend the rest of the evening with them, helping out with dinner. During my night shifts, I spent most of the morning and afternoon with Andrea, picking up groceries when asked to, driving her to the hospital to change her dressings, and helping out in any way I could.
I enjoyed every second of it and made the most out of the time we had together. We’d argue about which movie to watch, and usually end up watching both. We’d sit in beach chairs out on the porch and talk for hours. I even took it upon myself to get the porch swing fixed, although I doubt I did a very good job at it.
For the most part, it was smooth sailing, and the aftermath of the accident only brought us closer together. Sometimes, though, there would be triggers. Small things here and there, a car backfiring, a cup slipping off the kitchen counter and shattering. And every time, she’d flinch and stare into space for a few seconds before breaking into a sweat and uncontrollable shiver. It freaked me out the first time it happened, and I held her tight through it all, waiting for the episode to pass.
And when it was over, she would keep her distance for a day or two. I never understood if it was the intimacy that scared her, or the fact that she was embarrassed. Either way, I always gave her the space she needed, but never stopped showing up, even if it meant I had to sit on the opposite side of the dinner table.
By the third or fourth week, the episodes became less frequent, and she was starting to feel a lot more like herself. She shone, a ball of joy, and when the doctors proclaimed her injury-free, with no further need for dressings or careful tiptoeing around her injuries, she asked me to take her out to dinner.
Things only improved from there. We were out every day, spending as much time together as we possibly could. Bobby was starting to make fun of us, teasing us whenever he got a chance, acting like a teenager whose sister had just started dating someone new. At times it was fun to see the look of frustration on Andrea’s face. Other times, even I thought the teasing was a little too much. But I was glad Bobby wasn’t giving us hell instead.
When I had finally worked up the nerve, I asked her to move in with me.
She said yes.
***
“It’s been a while, Andy!”
I shook Jack’s hand, always a firm handshake from the Coventry man, and waved a hello to his friends. “It has,” I said. “The last few weeks have been quite a handful.”
Jack nodded and clicked his tongue, turning to Andrea. “Heard about the crash. I’m glad you’re okay,” he said.
“Just bruises, nothing serious,” she replied, glancing at me.
Jack smiled in approval and slapped me on the back. “She’s a tough one,” he said. “I’d hold onto her with teeth and claws.”
“Exactly what I intend to do,” I replied.
“Good lad,” Jack smiled. “Same as always?”
“We might be staying a bit longer, if that’s okay,” I said. “Make a day out of it.”
Jack fished for the keys in his pocket and tossed them to me. “Just make sure you’re here before the sun sets,” he said. “Otherwise people’ll think the place really is haunted, and I don’t want any thrill seekers around here. My job’s hectic as is without having to chase kids away.”
I laughed. “Will do,” I assured him. “Thanks, Jack.”
“Welcome,” he nodded. “And glad to see you’re doing well, Andrea.”
“Thank you, Jack,” she replied, and I quickly led her down the embankment to where the boats were docked.
We had decided the other day to spend the afternoon at Eagleville Manor. It was Andrea’s idea, an attempt at rekindling that first time we were together and hopefully ending it in a better way than the last time. I had taken a couple of days off, and for the entire weekend, I was all hers. I had suggested a trip to the coast, and she told me that the only body of water she wanted to be looking out at with me was at Eagleville Lake.
We docked the boat and I helped her out, walking up to the manor with my arm around her waist and her head resting against my shoulder.
