Page 74 of A Wish for Us

I stared down at the piano. As the keys stared back at me, the familiar pain of loss cut through me, making me lose my breath. The emotions I kept trapped inside threatened to break free. But I couldn’t face themandthis. I inhaled Bonnie’s scent and tried to keep from falling apart.

I had to think of Bonnie. Nothing else.

We’d talked some. She’d told me a little of what the doctors said. She’d wanted to stay in school for as long as she could. I could tell by her eyes that she was determined. But I could tell by how tired she was, by how she struggled with such simple tasks, that she wouldn’t be attending classes for long.

I wrapped my arm around her and hugged her close. I stared at the blank wall in front of me and just let her sleep. It was strange. I’d never been one for closeness and affection before, but Bonnie Farraday in my arms, sleeping and clawing back the strength that was trying to escape, felt like the most natural thing in the world.

I’d pushed too hard today. I made a note to not work us so hard from now on. It was another half hour before Bonnie stirred. When she blinked herself out of sleep, she looked up at me, a moment of confusion taking hold before her cheeks blazed.

“Cromwell…I’m so sorry.”

I took her chin between my thumb and finger. “Look at me, Bonn.” She looked anywhere but at me. Until she eventually lifted her eyes. “You needed sleep. It’s fine.”

“Sorry.” I could hear the embarrassment in her voice, see the glistening of her eyes.

It just about broke my heart. I leaned forward and kissed her lips. She kissed me back. I laid my forehead to hers and said, “Let’s make a deal right now. You ever need to rest while you’re at school, you come to me. You need anything at all, you come to me. And you don’t get embarrassed. Deal?”

Bonnie hesitated but then said, “Deal.”

“I’ll take you home.” I helped her stand and took her out to my truck. The minute I got in the driver’s side, she laid her head on me and fell back asleep. As I drove away from campus, I felt too many emotions at once. Overcome that Bonnie felt comfortable enough to fall asleep against me.But scared shitless at how tired she was. A few hours in the music room and a couple of classes had exhausted her body.

I heard the opening notes of the piece we had begun, the mass of heartbeats with one single outlier. And nothing could be truer. Since the second I arrived in Jefferson, everybody had been the same. All except one, a girl called Bonnie Farraday.

The single exception to the rule.

I pulled to a stop at Bonnie’s house. She was still fast asleep. I allowed myself a short glance at her face before I took her in my arms and carried her to the house. The door opened before I even had to knock. Bonnie’s mum showed me the way to her room. I laid her on the bed, Bonnie not even waking once.

I kissed her head and whispered into her ear. “I’ll see you soon, Farraday.” I stood, wanting to move, but my legs wouldn’t let me leave. It took me a further five minutes to turn and head for the door. Bonnie’s mum was watching from the doorway.

She shut the door behind me. I ran my hand through my hair. “She fell asleep in the music room when we were practicing. Then she fell asleep again in my truck.”

I wasn’t sure I’d seen pain reflected in someone’s stare before. But as I looked at Mrs. Farraday, I saw it clear as day. She was losing Bonnie. She was losing her daughter. Her child. And she had to stand back and watch it happen, helpless to do anything about it.

I couldn’t breathe at that thought.

“She’s getting weaker,” she said, a strength in her voice that I didn’t expect. I looked at the closed door as if I could see Bonnie through it. My stomach fell at Mrs. Farraday’s words. Her hand came on my arm. “She wants to stay at school for a while longer, but I’m not sure it’s feasible. I’d say she has three weeks at most before she becomes too weak. It’s her breathing mainly. Her lungs.”

“That fast?” My voice was gravel as the question slipped from my lips.

“She’s not in a good way, son.” Her voice hitched, her bravery faltering for a second. She fixed her hair then smiled. “But she’s strong, Cromwell. She’s determined to get a heart. We’re praying every day for that miracle. It will happen. I know it will.”

“I want to be here,” I said, my chest constricting. “When she can’t be at school, I want to be able to still see her.”

“I know my daughter, Cromwell. And she’ll want you to be here too.” She reached out and held my hand. “Maybe you’re the guardian angel that has arrived to get her through all this.”

A wave of emotion hit me, so overwhelming it stole my ability to speak.

“We’ll be away for a few days in Charleston,” she said. “Specialists. I’m sure Bonnie will let you know when we’re back.”

I nearly demanded she let me come. Insisted that they take me too. But one look at the slumped shoulders on Bonnie’s mum, and I couldn’t. I tensely nodded my head then left the house. Just as I stepped onto the path, Mrs. Farraday said, “If you see Easton, will you please tell him to come home?” She dropped her head. “His sister needs her best friend.”

I nodded and got into my truck. Easton was already in the room when I got back. I shut the door, about to face him, when he flew at me, his hands flattening on my chest as he smashed me against the door. “What the hell are you doing with my sister?” he spat. His face was beetroot red. I pushed him back, but Easton was a brick wall.

I yanked his arms off me and shoved him against the wall. But he wasn’t finished. “She’s not one of your easy fucks!” he said, hissing. His fist came out and punched me across my face. I tasted blood on my lip. I tightened my hands into his shirt and held him still, anger fueling my words.

“I know she’s not, you prick.” Easton tried to strike me again. I pushed my forearm over his neck, stopping him from moving. “Iknowshe’s not!” I pushed harder, cutting off his breath. “You think I don’t know that? She’s…” The truth made me pause. But when I looked into Easton’s eyes, I said, “She’s everything, East. Fucking everything!”

Easton stilled. I dropped my arm and backed up. Easton was breathing heavily, chest rising and falling. His cheeks were red, but the rest of his skin was pale. His eyes were tiny and rimmed with red. Blood from my lip dripped down my chin.