Page 15 of Never Forget
Mark put his hand on her shoulder. "I'll be right here."
Jamie nodded. She looked at me one more time before she pushed the door and walked into the room where her brother's body was waiting.
"She didn't cry once on the flight," Mark said after a moment. "Not until she saw you."
I didn't know what to say to that.
"You've known her a long time," he said. Not a question.
"Since we were kids. She was always tagging along after Jack and me. She used to drive us crazy. In the best way."
Mark smiled, but it was tight. Sad. "She doesn't talk about Havensworth much. I think it's hard for her. Being back here."
I didn't know what Jamie had told him about her past, so I said nothing.
Through the window, Jamie stood beside the table where Jack's body was laid. She wasn't moving. She wasn't touching him. She was just standing there, looking at what was left of her brother.
Mark walked into the room. He stood beside Jamie and put his arm around her shoulders. She leaned into him and he held her while she cried.
She found a good man,someone steady. Someone who shows up. That's what matters.
I told myself I was happy for her.
Amber's car was in the parking lot when I pulled in.
I sat in my truck for a moment, staring at the light glowing through my apartment window. She'd let herself in again with the key I'd given her months ago, the one I kept meaning to ask back.
I didn't have the energy to tell her to leave.
She was on her feet the moment I walked through the door, crossing the room, wrapping her arms around me.
"I heard what happened," she said. "I'm so sorry."
I hugged her back. My arms went around her and I waited to feel something.
I didn't.
She pulled away to look at my face. "Do you know when the funeral is?"
"We're still working out the details. I'm going to the firehouse tomorrow to find out more."
She nodded. "That's good. Staying busy helps."
She tried again. Wrapped her arms around me. Said all the right things about how sorry she was, how Jack was a good man, how she was here for me if I needed anything.
I felt nothing.
I didn't want to talk. I wanted to crawl into bed and sleep for a week and wake up in a world where Jack was still alive.
I pulled away. Sat on the edge of the couch. Put my head in my hands.
"It's my fault," I said.
The words came out before I could stop them. I hadn't meant to say them out loud. But once they were in the air, I couldn't take them back.
Amber sat down beside me. "Sam, no?—"
"He wasn't supposed to be on that shift." My voice cracked. I hated the sound of it. "I asked him to cover for me."
