Remember Me (25 page)

I could feel the tears rolling down my cheeks as I tried to find words to express how I was feeling. Nobody had ever done something like this for me. Not only did I love it, but I could see my children growing up there. “It’s perfect,” I managed to get out.

He pulled my hand up to his lips. “It’s all for us, Ash.”

After I’d calmed down, Shayne ran around to my side of the car. He helped get me out and handed my walker to me so I could be mobile on my own. The sidewalk had been relayed and it was smooth, making it simple for me to walk up to the house.
Instead of stairs, he’d built a ramp for me to be able to get on the porch without lifting my legs. When he opened the front door all I heard was a crowd of people yelling ‘welcome home’.

It wasn’t just a surprise for me though, it was a celeb
ration for my life that I almost didn’t get to have.

Chapter 31

Shayne

She was home, surrounded by people that had helped
me through everything and supported my decision to not give up on her. We’d had our ups and downs, but I’d be nowhere without my family.

As overwhelmed as I knew she was, we took a tour of the downstairs, one room at a time. I carried her on my back, so she wouldn’t have to struggle. Honestly, I think I got more out of it than she did. Feeling her so
close to me after so long was indescribable. My family had made their way into the kitchen, which was where the tour ended. I found comfort in watching her sit down and holding the twins. She cried a lot, and thanked everyone more times than I cared to count.

I think it meant a lot seeing Ford there. She’d apologized for only recognizing him when she first woke up from her coma. Honestly, it didn’t bother me anymore. It had taken me a
while, but I finally understood what it was like for her. She was so afraid and the only thing she could cling to was what her brain would allow.

Ford was nice to her, and even Sky had come around. The one person who chose not to come to the party was Lacey. It wasn’t because she didn’t want to, but more that she didn’t want Ash getting upset. This was her day to celebrate and I wanted it to be perfect, without drama, so when her mother showed up, I wasn’t sure what to think.

Ash seemed okay, and then finally I learned why.

“I told her to come,” my mother admitted.

I leaned in, whispering in her ear. “Did you invite her dad too?”

My mother
laughed. “No. Of course not. I just think that she needed to be a part of this.”

“Just checking.
” I just didn’t want to add the drama that her father always brought with him. We had a beautiful house, two growing twins and a lot of making up to do. The last thing I needed was that bastard raining on our parade.

The celebration didn’t last but a couple of hours. Ash sat with her mom for a good amount of time in the corner. They took turns holding the twins and I knew she was content.

I helped my family clean up and then walked outside to see them leave. My dad patted me on the shoulder and I couldn’t help but smile with his approval. “You’ve done real good, son. Just remember, if that fancy job doesn’t work out, you still have one with me.”

I laughed. “Dad, I think we get a long a lot better when we’re not in that environment. How about we keep things the way they are for while?”

“Your mother and I are proud of you, Shayne. You know, we’ve all known that girl for a long time. It was hard for us to be able to accept that you two
were an item. Then when all the truth came out it made sense. What you’ve done for her, well she’ll never forget it. Your mom keeps cryin’ all the time, wonderin’ where we went wrong with your brother.”

I put my hands in my pockets. The mere mention of my brother pissed me off to no end. I loved him, but he cared about himself and not anyone else around him. He thought he knew everything, when really he was oblivious to the real meaning of life. “He’ll change. I did.”

“Yeah, maybe. We just never taught you kids to ignore your responsibilities, not that I’d ever condone him changin’ his mind about the twins. I know for a fact he’ll never do that.”

“I hope you’re right, because not
hin’ is goin’ to take them away from me ever again.”

“Trust me when I say this, kid, that’s never goin’ to happen.”

I felt content with him assuring me, but the worry would never leave my mind completely. I knew what it was like to have them taken away from me. I felt my heart being ripped out of my chest, and longed for my little family to return to me. After her dad’s bullshit threats and him falsifying that protective order, I knew that I had enough leverage over him to keep him away. Parker was my only concern, and him being my brother made it all the more serious.

I headed back inside after watching my parents leave. Ford and Sky
had been the first to head out on account of his parents taking them out to some Bull and Oyster Roast.

While Ash continued to speak with her mother, I helped my sister in the kitchen. She was drying off some dishes when I walked in. “Thanks for doin’ that.”

“I live here too, you know?”

“Really? Last time I che
cked you’d packed your stuff up,” I joked.

“Shut up. I’m here, ain’t I?”
She’d actually been back for while, but I liked picking on her.

I kissed her on the head and started putting away the dishes, when we heard the sound of the walker making it’s way through the kitchen. “Mom just left. Eli’s asleep in the porta-crib.
” I looked past Ash and crawling on the floor behind her was Beka, probably able to keep up pretty easy. I walked around Ash and scooped her up. Four teeth in the front of her mouth shined when she started giggling. “I still can’t get over how they’re gettin’ around.”

“I walked at nine months.
That means that any time now they could be getting around on their feet. Then we’re in trouble.” Our chubby ten month olds were already getting into everything they could.

I heard her sobbing before I realized she was crying. After putting Beka back down, I took Ash into my arms. “What’s wrong?”

“I’ve just missed out on so much. This isn’t like them visitin’ at the hospital. Seein’ them today, socializin’ and gettin’ around, it just makes me feel so left out. I’m sorry. I know I should be happy to be alive, but it still hurts a bunch.”

Peyton leaned against the counter and dried her hands. “Nobody expects you to be superwoman, Ash. We’re all here to support you.”

“Yep. And in time you won’t even remember bein’ without them. They’re goin’ to drive you crazy and then you’ll be callin’ our moms to come over and babysit.”

I wiped away her tears and kissed her tenderly on the nose. When I pulled away I had this knot in my stomach. The idea of her being next to me in bed overwhelmed me. It wasn’t a sexual kind of feeling. It was more like fulfillment. I’d done without for so long that the idea of being able to hold her while I slept seemed like it was going to be the greatest night’s sleep I’d ever had.

Her arms wrapped tightly around my back and we stood in an embrace.

“Get a room, geesh!” Peyton grabbed Beka and took her out into the living room, leaving me and Ash standing in the kitchen staring into each other’s eyes.

I brushed my thumb over her lips and she closed her eyes. “God, I missed this. I missed havin’ you home with me. You make everything feel right for me.”

She opened her eyes and leaned her head into my chest. “It’s good to be home. Thank you for this.”

My hands started moving up her shirt before I even realized it was happening. We touched while she was in the rehabilitation center. We’d made out and talked about having sex, but this intimate moment between us was different. We were in our home, finally alone, and desperate to get everything back that we thought was lost. “Are you ready to see the upstairs?”

She looked up at me and nodded. “Yes.”

I swooped her up into my arms and carried her, one step at a time.

We started in the twin’s rooms and that’s where the tears came back. Every single detail of their rooms had come from her ideas. When we got to Eli’s room and she saw the picture of the four of us
, she asked to be let down. She touched the glass of the frame and traced our family with her fingers. “I can’t believe you did all of this for me, for us.”

“It was hard at times. I didn’t know where to be or what to do. For a while I didn’t even know if you were goin’ to make it. Then when you did wake up, you didn’t remember.”

“I can’t imagine what it was like for you.”

“I tried to kill myself,” I couldn’t believe that I’d admitted it to her. Through all of my struggles that was the biggest regret I had. “Before you say anything I need you to know what happened that night. I need you to know what made me want to fight even harder for you and the kids.”

“Shayne, I’m so sorry.” She cried harder, possibly feeling as if she was to blame for my actions.

“I went to the beach to clear my head.
After hangin’ out with Boner all night I’d drank my share of alcohol. By the time I got in the water, I wasn’t feelin’ much physically. I just sat there staring out into the water and thinking about how I was never going to get you back. I was pissed at the world and felt alone, not because of you, but because everyone had let me down. They didn’t understand what it was like for me to live every single second of the day not knowing if you’d ever come back to me. Anyway, your dad had taken the twins and I just cracked. I went out into the ocean and let the waves start pulling me away from the shore. That girl Megan that I used to hang out with rushed in and saved me. I woke up in the same hospital as you, with vivid memories of you tellin’ me to never give up on us. I know they weren’t real, because you were just a few floors up, but it was real enough to let me know I had a reason to fight. Ash, I’ve never loved someone like I love you, and this experience made my feelin’s for you even stronger. I’m not tryin’ to make you cry, or sound like a sappy pussy, but I’m tellin’ you like it is.” I could feel warm liquid filling my eyes. I knew I was getting emotional talking about my experience, but it was necessary for her to know everything. “Oh, and don’t go gettin’ all mad that I was around Megan. Not only do I only have eyes for you, but she’s a total dyke now.”

She
giggled, and I wondered if she thought Megan meeting me made her switch teams.

“Thank you for not givin’ up on us. I don’t know what I would have done if I finally remembered and I found out you were gone, Shayne. I wouldn’t have wanted to go on either. You’re the bravest man I know and I love you, too. I love you so much.”

I picked Ash up and sped up the tour, making it to our bedroom and sitting her down on the mattress. She covered her mouth with her hands as she took in everything I’d done to the room. “I can’t believe you did all of this.”

I held out my hand and helped her off the bed. She let me lead her, holding most of her weight while she took one step at time. When we reached the master bathroom she gasped. The large soaking tub caught her eye and then she noticed the separate shower with the bench seat tiled
into it. I’d installed handicapped bars, so that she could maneuver herself easily. Next to the toilet was another.

Ash turned to me with a big smile on her face. I figured she was going to
thank me and ask to go back downstairs.

I was very wrong.

“Can we take a bath?”

“Right now?”

She nodded.

I
leaned over and turned on the faucet, setting the plug before running down and telling my sister that we were going to be awhile. Beka had fallen asleep, so all she had to do was listen for either of them to wake up, not that I wasted any time waiting for her to reply, I ran up those steps as if there was a fire needing to be put out.

Ash was still leaning on the edge of the tub. I leaned over and placed a fast kiss on her lips before removing my shirt. She was still too fragile to assume that we’d be getting it on, but being close to her was the common goal at any rate.

Her top came off with ease and I unfastened her bra. She giggled when they fell free, raising her arms to cover herself. I pulled them away. “Don’t do that.”

“I’m nervous.”

“You’re beautiful.”

She touched her hair and leaned forward the look in the full size mirror over the vanity. “No, I’m not.”

Her hair, now in a pixie cut, was finally long enough to be able to style. To be honest, once it all grew in and covered her scalp, I thought she’d be okay about it. She looked adorable with short hair and it was easier for her to manage, especially to be able to wash and rinse. “Ash, you’re gorgeous. It’s just hair.”

“You’re just sayin’ that to get into my pants.”

I had to laugh. I really wasn’t thinking that at all, but the fact that she was being humorous made it all the more funny. I stuck my hand down her pants and reached beneath her underwear. She gasped and looked at me, shocked. “If I wanted to get into your panties, I’d do it.”

I pulled out my hand, but only to be able to tug down on her yoga pants. Her
underwear went with them leaving me staring at something that I hadn’t seen in a very long time. My dick got hard and it wasn’t something I had any control of. As I finally stood there naked, she let out a laugh and pointed to my predicament. I smiled with pride. “It’s been a long time, baby. Don’t mind him, he’s just a little happy to see you.”