Wes slept for a couple of hours and although I was tired I couldn’t sleep after his expression of love for me. I kept telling myself it is because we’re just stressed and tired and he didn’t really mean it. I mean, it was barely conscious with he said it. That doesn’t mean that I don’t do my best overthinking about the situation.

Love, I’ve told exactly one boyfriend that I loved him, and no soon after that did he drop kick my heart across the room and force me to move on without him. I always dreamed of having the love that my parents did, could Wes be that person? I don’t know. Our relationship feels so, complicated. It’s the only word to describe it. The passion is there, the lust is there, but love? 

Wes finally wakes up and it is just in time for the ortho doctor to come back in with the results of the x-rays. He goes over all of the information for physical therapy appointments that Annabelle will need to attend and then our follow-up visit here with him. I say “our” because he’s talking to the two of us, but is there even an “us?” I don’t know.

“So it is going to be two weeks with the cast on and then we will revisit and probably retake x-rays,” the doctor finishes up.

Wes nods in understanding, “Are you still thinking 6-8 weeks in the cast?”

“Kid’s bones tend to heal a little faster, but I’m sticking with that estimate for right now. We will revisit it in two weeks.”

“And pain management?” Wes looks over at his daughter.”

The doctor sighs, “The next couple days are going to be the worst. Here she is getting consistent meds through the IV. At home, things can be forgotten. Be sure that you stay on top of the medication. It will make her sleepy, even though it is such a low-dose.”

I’m sure that it is better for Annabelle to be sleeping than dealing with the pain, but it is hard to see her in such a constant state of zoned out. Even when she is awake, sometimes she’s not all there. We’ve had very limited moments of seeing the real Annabelle since we’ve been here.

“Do the two of you have any other questions for me?”

I shake my head, “I can’t think of any at this time. Wes?”

“No, no I think we’re good. I just want to get her discharged and home.”

“The nurses have already started the paperwork. They are going to miss Annabelle though. Apparently she plays a mean game of Go Fish.” The doctor says with a chuckle.

Wes smirks, “I’m pretty sure she counts cards or hides some up her sleeve.”

The doctor shakes both of our hands and steps back out into the hallway. Wes sighs heavily and sits back down on the couch. I take a seat next to him and pull his hand into my lap. “Hey, you okay? I mean, all things considered?”

“Yeah, yeah I’ll be okay. It is just so much.” He runs his hands through his hair. His face tells the story of his exhaustion. “Holly?”

He gives me hand a little squeeze. “Yeah?”

“I couldn’t have done this without you. I know that this,” he points back and forth between us, “hasn’t gone the way either of us probably planned, but over the last week and a half, I realized that you are so important to me and to Annabelle.” I smile up at him as I run my hand up and down his arm. Wes chuckles a bit, “You probably think I’m a huge pussy or something.”

“Just the opposite, Wes. You’ve put on such a tough face for everybody. I’m glad that I can be here for you and let you feel everything you really want to feel.”

“When things calm down, I want to take you out on another date.”

I reach up and rest my hand against the back of his neck, “I’d really like that.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.”

It takes another couple of hours to finally get Annabelle discharged, but when she is ready to go we wheel out into the parking lot and are welcomed by a whole bunch of people who are all excited to see her leaving the hospital.

“Daddy, it’s everybody!” She exclaims as we approach the truck.

He rests his hand on her shoulder. “Look at that baby girl, it is everybody. You must be a special little gal.”

“Auntie Tiff!” Tiff slowly makes her way over to us. She’s still sore from the accident, but the bruising is starting to heal from when I saw her last. She gently leans down and gives Annabelle a huge hug.

“Oh my Banana, Auntie Tiff is so happy to see you ready to go home.” Her eyes are a little misty when they pull back.

“Me too!” She says with a fist pump in the air and everybody laughs. Jimmy joins Tiff’s side and helps her stand up. She turns to me and pulls me into a hug. I’m not sure if I’ve cried at all during this time, but the flood gates open and Tiff and I hold onto each other tightly while we both cry. 

Between sobs, she whispers into my ear. “Thank you for taking care of my niece and my brother.”

“Of course. They’re both so important to me,” I whisper back.

We finally break apart and wipe our eyes. The rest of the Brown family plus Stacy, Candy, and Sheila join us as we walk Wes and Annabelle the rest of the way to Wes’s truck. Her cast makes getting into the car a bit difficult, but Tyler jumps up into the truck and helps out.

“Seriously, small fry, you let your dad sign your cast before me?” He teases Annabelle as he checks out her cast.

“Sorry, Uncle Ty, you can when we get home!”

“Darn straight I will.” Tyler and Wes finally get her leg situated in a way that is comfortable and everybody says goodbye and head to their cars for the caravan back home. Stacy has already promised me a ride home, but Wes takes a hold of my hand as I was walking away.

“Hey, where are you going?” He pulls me in close to his body.

“I figured one of your brothers was going with you.”

“I’d rather it be you.” Wes reaches up and brushes some hair out of my face.

I stare up at him, taken back by his words and actions in front of his family. “Oh, I was going to go with Stacy.”

“Stacy can drive herself.” Stacy comes up from behind me and pushes me even closer to Wes. I turn around quickly to reply, but she’s already walking away, giving us both a little wave. “See you back home!”

“I guess that answers that,” Wes grins down at me.

“I’m feeling awfully abandoned by my best friend.”

“Well, I’m not abandoning you.”

“No, no you aren’t.“ Wes kisses the top of my head and escorts me over to the passenger side of his truck where I hop in and buckle up. As I’m waiting for him to get in, I realize that my hands begin to shake. Wes gets into the driver’s seat and looks over at me.

“Hey, Holly. You okay, darling?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” I close my eyes and lay my head back onto the headrest.

“Hey…” He grabs my hand and pulls it into the middle console where he holds it with his other hand too. “Are you nervous about driving home?”

“A little. Probably stupid since I’ve been in a car since then, but the drive home, ya know?”

“Would it make you feel better if I said you aren’t alone?”

“Maybe a little bit.” I glance over at him again.

“I’m not going to do any crazy driving, plus the snowing has stopped and Bobby said the roads were nice and clear. We’re going to be just fine, Holly.”

I rest my head against the seat again. “I trust you, Wes.”

He reaches over and brushes his thumb against my cheek, “And we’ll stop a few times for Annabelle.”

I tilt my head to face him again and I smile, “I would like that.”

“Alright, if you need me to stop, you just say so. I’ll pull over, no questions asked.”

“Thanks, Wes.”

“Anything for you.” His smile reaches across his face and it makes me light up as well. He’s so genuine when he speaks to me. 

As promised, he pulls over about every hour at some gas station or rest stop so that we can all get out and stretch. This of course adds about another hour to our drive time, but between my nerves and Annabelle’s uncomfortable position in the car seat, it is a must. 

“Do you want me to drop you off at your place?” Wes says to me as we approach Harlington.

“No, let’s just get her home. I know it is late, but I can figure something out.”

“Mama and Dad would be more than happy to have you stay in one of the guest rooms,” he offers as a suggestion.

“I might just do that. Thanks, Wes.” Thanks to Stacy, I have a few things stashed away in an overnight bag that I’ll be able to wear for sleeping at the Brown house tonight. I know that my place is on the way back there, but I just feel like I need to get her all the way back home and know that she’s safe.

“You don’t have to thank me for anything, darling. In fact, I’m going to be spending a really long time paying you back for everything you’ve done for us. I swear you’re an angel.” Wes glances over at me again and my stomach does flip-flops. I know for a fact that I’m falling for Wes and I just hope that I’m not reading his signals wrong.