Page 74 of Never Forget
I watched her across the table. She'd lost everything in that fire and here she was, just a few days later, still building. Still fighting.
"You're relentless," I said. "You know that?"
She almost smiled. "I can't just sit here, Sam. If I stop moving, I'll—" She shook her head. Didn't finish the sentence.
She didn't have to. I understood. Grief was patient. It waited for you to slow down.
"It's going to be hard," I said. "Getting people to go on record."
"I know."
"But I'm with you. Whatever you need."
Her eyes met mine. Something passed between us that I didn't have words for.
"Whoops!" Rosie's juice tipped sideways, orange liquid spreading across the table. "I'm sorry!"
Jamie was on her feet instantly, grabbing napkins. "It's okay, sweetheart. Accidents happen."
I helped mop up the spill while Rosie watched with wide, worried eyes. Jamie reassured her, and by the time the table was dry, Rosie had already forgotten her distress and was asking for more pancakes.
Then someone knocked on the door.
I crossed the room and opened it.
My whole body went rigid.
Bryce Montgomery stood in the hallway. He was holding a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a gift bag in the other, a stuffed animal peeking out the top. His face was arranged into what you'd mistake for concern.
"Sam." He nodded like we were old friends. "I heard about the fire. Terrible thing." His eyes moved past me, scanning the apartment. "Is Jamie here? I wanted to see if there's anything I can do."
I didn't move from the doorway.
Jamie appeared behind me. I felt her go still when she saw who it was.
"Bryce."
"Jamie." He tried to sound sympathetic."I'm so sorry about the house. Your family's been through so much already." He held out the flowers and the gift bag. "These are for you and Rosie. I know it's not much, but I wanted you to know people are thinking of you."
Jamie didn't take them.
"I also wanted to offer some help," Bryce continued. Unfazed. "I have a contact at the insurance company. Things can get tied up in red tape for months, but I can make a call to get your claim expedited."
Jamie hesitated.
I wanted to slam the door in his face. I wanted to tell him to stay the hell away from her. But I couldn't. Because Bryce wasn't threatening anyone. He was standing in my hallway with flowers and a stuffed animal, offering to help a woman who'd just lost her home. And Jamie was living in my one-bedroom apartment with a four-year-old and nothing but the clothes on her back.
"I don't need your help," Jamie said.
"I know you don't need it." Bryce's smile didn't waver. "But you deserve it. After everything you've been through."
He set the flowers and the gift bag on the floor just inside the doorway and stepped back.
"Just think about it.” He raised his hands, palms out. "No pressure. My number's the same." He nodded at me, then at Jamie. "Take care of yourselves."
He turned and walked away.
Jamie stared at the flowers on the floor.
