Tucker (In Safe Hands Book 4) by S.M. Shade

Author:S.M. Shade [Shade, S.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2017-07-29T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Tucker

I hurt her. I know I did. I can’t stand the expression on her face when she looks at me, which she tries so hard to avoid now. Leah is the happiest, bubbliest, most annoyingly perky person I’ve ever met and it sometimes drives me insane, but more than anything right now, I just want to see her smile.

I’ve taken that from her and this is the only way I know to make her understand. I’m sure she feels rejected and wonders what she did wrong, so I have to show her. I have to let her in on a secret no one else in the world knows about me.

I have to tell her about Kathi.

“What are we doing here?”

I walk around and open her door. “I need to show you something. Well, someone.”

She has no idea how hard this is for me. How could she? But she must sense it’s not the time for her usual arguing and just follows me inside.

I hate how this place always smells, like piss and antiseptic. You’d think I’d be used to it by now. “Mr. Long. I’m surprised to see you on a weekday. If you’re concerned because of the storm, we have emergency generators. It’s been business as usual here.”

“I’m glad to hear it. We just want to visit for a few minutes,” I explain to the nurse who has watched me come in and out of here for three years.

“Of course. Go on up. I’ll call and let the duty nurse know you’re coming.”

Confusion mars Leah’s face as we ride the elevator, but she doesn’t question me, just waits silently while I lead her down the hall and into a bright yellow room.

We’re met with the usual sound of beeping machinery and the wheeze of the respirator. Leah freezes as I approach the bed where a lone woman lies, gaunt and pale. “Leah, this is Kathi, my wife.”

Leah’s jaw hits the floor and she shakes her head as if willing it not to be true. “Your wife.”

“Yes, we were married before I went into the service.”

Leah’s face is white as she whispers, “And how long has she been…here?”

“Four years. You don’t need to lower your voice. She can’t hear us.”

“What happened to her?”

Running my palm over my face, I try to think of how to explain. I can’t do it here even if Kathi can’t hear me. “It’s a long story. I’ll tell you everything when we get home. I just wanted you to see for yourself why…it’s not you. It’s not that I don’t want you.”

She holds up her palm. “I get it. I’ll…wait in the hall for you.”

Before I can respond, she flees the room as if all the devils of hell pursue her. With a sigh, I straighten Kathi’s blanket and kiss her forehead. She’s always so cold now. The doctors tell me that’s normal. We’re approaching the end now.

“Oh Kat,” I tell her, taking a seat beside her bed. “I screwed up real good this time.

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