Page 52 of Falling for You

“You did baby, you did.”

Chapter Forty-Nine

I’ve always been a heavy sleeper. And I love to sleep. One of my favorite things to do is to wake up and try to write down all of the dreams I had. Because sometimes in that sleepy land of dreams, I see my mom and I can feel her armsaround me once again.

-Ronnie

Ronnie

I can hear a lot of voices, and they all sound so sad. Everything feels heavy and the voices sound far away. I want to open my eyes but they are way too heavy. I strain harder to listen and can hear my dad crying. Don’t cry daddy, I want to say. I want to tell him I’m okay but I feel too tired to open my mouth. Waking up seems impossible. I want to go back in to that dreamy in between where everything is peaceful.

I hear another voice. Is that Sawyer? It sounds like Sawyer but his voice is so muffled. It sounds like he’s been crying. Oh, Sawyer. He’s been through such a rough time. I’ve got to let him know I’m okay somehow.

“Wake up Ronnie, baby. Wake up. Your dad and I are right here. We’ll be right here waiting for as long as it takes.” He squeezes my hand.

I can do this. Concentrate Ronnie. Concentrate and show him you’re here. I work to move my fingers, but the connection between my brain and my body isn’t working. Finally, I feel my body start to respond and move.

“She’s squeezing my hand! She’s squeezing my hand!” I hear Sawyer’s excited shout and feel a small smile lift my lips. I’m so exhausted from that little movement, but at least I let them know. I can go back to sleep now. I can let go for a little longer. I drift off again, content in the knowledge that both my guys will be okay.

Chapter Fifty

One of the things we learn as we grow up is that even good men have shades of gray in ‘em. Sheriff Bud Taylor

Sawyer

She squeezed my hand. I felt it. I’ve never been so excited for such a small movement before. Mr. Hester (he keeps telling me to call him Dan, but frankly that feels weird) and I have sat by her side for two days. We’ve been waiting for any kind of movement. He tried to make me leave a few times, but finally saw that was useless. The last two days have bonded us and there’s respect in his eyes when he looks at me now. Part of me feels like I don’t deserve it. I wasn’t able to keep her safe and protected. In the end, she saved me. Hell, she saved all of us.

After the police arrived, they immediately loaded Ronnie into the ambulance and tried to ask me a shit-ton of questions. I practically knocked them over. I almost got arrested myself trying to get into the back of the ambulance with Ronnie. Luckily, Sheriff Taylor was there and told them to let me go with her. He followed us to the hospital and questioned me once Ronnie was stable. He arrives not long after the hand squeezing to give me an update and check on Ronnie again.

He claps me on the back as I continue to pace outside of her room. “I have a feeling everything will be okay, Sawyer. Take a moment. I know you’re scared as hell, but you did the right thing, and she’s going to make it through.”

Dax and I decided to fully cooperate and give whatever information we had over to the police. I found myself trusting the sheriff more than felt comfortable. So far, my trust hasn’t been broken, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t waiting for the other shoe to drop.

I stop pacing and rake my hand through my hair. “She might not be okay though, and my crazy family put her here. I don’t deserve her, and I don’t blame her if she never talks to me after this again.”

“Hell, son none of us deserve our women. I was lucky as hell Bethie gave me the time of day. I wasn’t perfect and I struggled to make her happy, but there was not a day of our life together that I didn’t love her with all my heart. I suspect you love Ronnie, or could love her the same way. That’s something to hold onto.”

Did I love her? Was this all consuming need to be with her and always protect her love? I don’t know. It felt that way, but every person I had ever loved had let me down in some way. Was I ready to take a chance on another person? Ah, who was I kidding. I was balls deep in love with her and there was no way out. She had me now whether she wanted me or not.

Sheriff Taylor takes a deep breath and emits a deep belly laugh. “Now, I can see you’re thinking about this way too deeply so let me give you some good news. As soon as you left, your Aunt Bev cracked open, wide open. She was the one who called us in the first place.”

I can’t stop my mouth from falling open in shock. “That’s why y’all showed up? Aunt Bev called you?”

“She called as soon as she saw Brad dragging Ronnie in. She knew the shit was about to hit the fan and I think she also wanted to make sure her son didn’t go to jail for murder.” He shook his head in awe. “That woman may look like a good wind could knock her down, but she’s been gathering evidence against your uncle for a long while now. She’s not quite the weak one we all thought. Along with the stuff you and Dax found, I’ve got enough to go to the FBI with. Plus, all of it clearly shows he was in it with your dad, and more than likely ordering him around the entire time.”

Part of me wants to be elated that justice will be served, but the other part feels like it doesn’t change anything. Ronnie’s still in the hospital because of the actions of my family and my dad still betrayed us.

“It doesn’t really change anything. My dad was still guilty as hell.”

Sheriff Taylor sighs and the look he shoots me is one full of frustration. “Hell, give him a little bit of a break, son. He’s dead so he’s not here to explain himself. No one is perfect. It’s time to let that shit go.”

I sit down in a nearby chair. I shake my head and try to clear it. Who the hell am I if I’m not angry with my dad and my uncle? What’s left of me then?

Chapter Fifty-One

If I were ever going to be the heroine of a story, I would like to think I wouldn’t play the role of the damsel in distress. I would like to think I could save myself.-Ronnie

Ronnie