Page 103 of Broken Butterfly
Shock is the first to come and then realization. “You remember John?”
“Daniel, I remember everything.”
“When? How?” he splutters.
“There’s so much I need to tell you and Drew.”
Ryder, Jayson, and Julien make their way up the stone steps. Ryder takes Daniel’s outstretched hand and shakes it, but Jayson and Julien hold back, untrusting and wary.
“Boys, it’s nice to see you again. Please come inside.”
“Where’s Drew?” I ask Daniel as we file into the open foyer. There are two curved staircases on either side that lead up to the second floor. A Swarovski crystal chandelier hangs above us, catching the light streaming in through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
“He’s upstairs resting and waiting for you.”
Those words propel me up the closest staircase to seek him out. Video calls aside, I haven’t seen Drew since early August when I left to go to North Carolina. I notice the door to the master suite is open and I tiptoe up to it. The noises from a television filter through the open door and it makes me grin as I hear Drew’s favorite soap opera playing quietly in the background. I stop at the doorway and knock gently before entering. Inside, I find Drew propped up against the headboard of an enormous ornate bed, a mass of pillows at his back and a cup of tea in his hands. He looks so frail from here. He’s lost even more weight since the last time I saw him.
“Hey old man,” I say.
The rim of the china teacup arrests halfway to his lips. When he looks over and finds me, a smile so sweet blooms across his face. “It took you long enough.”
“Well, you know me. Stubborn to the core.”
He places the cup down on the table next to him and pats the covers. “Get over here and give me a proper hug,” he demands, and I do, squeezing him carefully yet tightly.
Drew is not my blood relation like Daniel is, but it doesn’t make me love him any less. He and Daniel dropped everything when they were called. They took me in, cared for me, fought my battles with me through every step of my recovery. Drew had never met me, and yet he has loved me as if I am his own flesh and blood. How hard it must have been for both of them to have me suddenly thrust into their lives. I was in a coma; my entire family had been murdered. They had to deal with all of that by themselves, making the best decisions they could with what little information and preparation they had at the time. As much as keeping my pregnancy and the loss of my child a secret hurt me, I can understand now why they chose not to tell me at the time, and I believe Daniel when he said they were going to once they felt I was strong enough to handle it.
“You look wonderful, sweetheart. Your hair is much longer. It suits you. I must look a mess,” he says with a shaky hand running over the blue headscarf that covers his hairless head.
“Nonsense,” I tell him, laying my cheek against his shoulder. “You will always be a handsome devil in my eyes. Very sexy, like The Rock or Bruce Willis or Vin Diesel.”
He chuckles and turns off the television with the remote. “Have you seen her yet?”
“Yes. The gravesite was beautiful. And the statue and poem. I appreciate the love and care you and Daniel put in to create such a lovely place for her.” I peer up into his warm chocolate eyes. “Did you get a chance to hold her before they took her?” I don’t know why I’m asking that. I guess I want to know if she felt the touch of someone who loved her before they took her away and buried her.
“Oh yes. She was perfect, Elizabeth. So tiny, about six inches, but absolutely perfect. We had the doctors lay her beside you. We made sure she felt your love. We made sure she was buried with respect.”
Goddamn these tears that won’t stop. “Thank you,” I whisper, my heart breaking then filling with his words.
I don’t know how long we sit there, our hands clasped together, lost in silence. Daniel must be keeping the guys downstairs to give me and Drew some alone time together.
“My memory came back two months ago. All of it,” I tell him.
“Elizabeth, that’s wonderful—”
I gently cut him off, “But so much has happened in those two short months. There’s a lot I need to tell you and Daniel. Some of it you aren’t going to be happy to hear.” He frowns. “I also have some good news, but it has to stay between us for now.”
“Alright.”
I pull my necklace out from beneath my blouse. “I asked Ryder to marry me. Funny thing is, he had already bought me a ring and was going to ask me. We both said yes. I’m getting married.” I laugh softly, ripples of happiness in my voice.
“It’s a gorgeous ring, Elizabeth. The last time we spoke over video, I could tell by the smile on your face and the way you spoke about him how deeply you loved him. He must be a wonderful man to have captured your heart.”
“Ryder is my best friend. I have loved him most of my life. I have never been happier. He completes every part of me.”
Drew shifts slightly and pulls me into a hug, kissing my temple. “Then why the secret?”
Drew doesn’t know anything about my past, so I explain, “I haven’t told Jayson or Julien yet. Before the attack, Jayson and I were together. He and his twin brother, Julien, have been my best friends since first grade. They lived next door to me. I started dating Jayson in high school. Elizabeth Ann was his.”
