| Chapter 22 |
| She approached the camped out crowd whom had probably slept as little as she did the previous evening. His parents rested comfortably against each other, Polly was curled up on the opposite end of the couch, and AJ and Kevin were stretched out on the small, uncomfortable chairs at opposite ends of the couch. They looked so peaceful though then she noticed Howie's older brother and Brian returning to the waiting room."You must have good news,"Brian approached in a hushed tone as not to wake the others just yet. "Just a little while ago. I can't explain it. He gripped my hand first thing this morning and when they came to check him he got worse. I never thought I'd be the reason somebody wouldn't want to live,"she burst into tears on Brian's shoulder. "So he's not okay?" "He's more than okay,"she peeled herself from his shoulder."He was talking to me. Speaking actual words. I never thought I'd hear him speak again." "Something happen we don't know about?"Brian inquired quizically. "We had a fight yesterday morning before I walked out." "You left him?" "It's a long story." "And it has to do with AJ doesn't it?" She turned away. "Did I miss something here?"his brother asked."You were curled up fast asleep when he came home the other night." "I was." "Oh, okay. I see." "I'm surprised you didn't hear us. I flung his most prized posession acrossed the kitchen because I asked for two seconds of his time and he would barely give it to me. He was more worried about his phone that what was on my mind." "That's when you told him about AJ I take it,"Brian responded. "Yes." "So do you care to elaborate?" "AJ's made his peace with me on the subject. Let's just let Howie recover before he deals with AJ." AJ lay stretched out silently intruding on their conversation. "That's if he even remembers what happened. He was just happy to see me I think." "Shall we wake them?" "Let the medicine men do that." "Do you need coffee or anything?"Brian offered. "My stomach's still a little knotted up yet." "I understand." "Please keep the AJ thing under wraps for right now okay? I don't want anybody else to get hurt from this. Sarah seems like a nice enough girl and he seems to love her. I don't want a past history to ruin that for him." "Does Howie know exactly what happened yet?" "He knows enought to have thrown him into confusion and into the path of a wreckless driver." "You can't keep blaming yourself for this Kara. Nick could have been the one just as easily hit. Fate just played an ugly trick on us. Can I ask you something?" "What?" "Do you love him?" |
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