Clive nods, puts the car in park, goes through the rickety gate, and knocks loudly on the door. After a moment, my dad opens it. I watch as his head snaps back at the sheer size of Clive, then recognition for the man alights his face. I can’t hear what they are saying, but Clive points to the SUV, and I hit the button to roll the window down.
Dad’s eyes connect with mine. One hand goes to his chest and the other goes to his mouth, then he’s pushing Clive out of the way and running to the car.
“Kris!” His arms come through the open window, and he’s trying to hug me through it. “You’re awake.”
Clive gets between Dad and the door. “Mr. Livingston, if you’ll just move back?” asks Clive as he opens the door to the SUV.
The minute the door is open, Dad is there, pulling me into him.
“Mr. Livingston?” asks Sue. “Could you just move back a bit?”
Dad looks at Sue, then his penetrating gaze lands on me. “Should you be out of the hospital?”
“I’m okay, Dad. I needed to get to Athena.”
“She hasn’t been to see you.” Dad looks at my chest. “I think you broke her, Kris.”
Tears spring to my eyes, and I nod. “I-It’s why I came.”
Dad backs up and shuts the door. “You get him to her. Maybe then they can both heal.” My father shakes Clive’s hand and steps away from the vehicle. “I’ll be along later. Get comfortable. Look after yourself and our girl. I’m ringing the Boswells.”
Dad turns around and jogs back into the house. Clive turns the car around. When we arrive at Athena’s, I look up the pathway to her home.
“That is a fucking death trap.”
Clive looks up and agrees with my assessment by nodding.
“Clive, you never met Athena, did you?”
“No, I was hired after she left.”
“Sue, did you meet her?”
“Yes, she was there every day. She met most of the medical team who took care of you.”
I glance up the path. “Clive, with your help, I can make it up the path.”
“It would be my pleasure.” Clive opens the door and helps me out. Standing on shaky legs, I slowly put one foot in front of the other.
“This is going to take a while.”
“Who the hell lives like this?” asks Clive as he looks up the hill.
“Athena.” A smile forms, and I shake my head. “You ready?”
“I’m coming,” announces Sue.
“Good, ‘cause I think I’m going to have a heart attack getting up there.”
Sue shakes her head and positions herself on one side of me. “Come on, Clive. Let’s do this.”
It takes the better part of half an hour to reach the top of the hill. Clive knocks on the door, but there’s no response.
“You gotta be kidding me? We made it all the way up here, and she’s not home?” asks Clive with a shake of his head.
The side gate is unlocked, and I gesture with my head. “Through there.”
Clive and Sue help me through the gate.
“Okay, you two, take a seat.”
“You can barely walk,” states Sue.
I grin at her. “Nothing is stopping me from getting to Athena.”
“Right, so muscle atrophy is all in your head?”
With my lips set in a firm line, I walk, or should I stay stagger, to the hole in the wall that leads out to the bluff.
“Any minute now, he’s going to run,” says Clive with a chuckle.
Making it to the wall, I lean against it and hold up my middle finger to Clive.
“Hey, there’s a lady present.”
“I think you deserved that, Clive.”
I hear Clive laugh, but I don’t turn around. With determination, I make it through the wall and see Athena out at the bluff, just past the fire pit. The wind has caught her hair and blows it sideways. She has her arms wrapped around herself as she stares out at the sea.
With renewed strength and my eyes fixed on my prize, I walk, limp, and stumble out to her. The wind masks my movements, or maybe it’s because she is so caught up in her own thoughts, either way, I’m glad she doesn’t see me. I sit on the bench near the fire pit and watch her.
After some time, she drops her head and turns around.
Athena is almost to me when I say, “Where you go, I follow.”
Her head snaps up, eyes wide, and she runs the short distance to me. Athena launches herself, her arms wrap around my neck, and her legs straddle my lap.
“You’re real?”
Cupping her face, I kiss her. “Did you miss me?”
“How are you here?” Her eyes search my face.
“I had some help.”
“When did you wake up? Who helped? Does your dad know?”
I hold a finger to her lips. “None of that matters.”
Athena looks past me. “Who are they?”
Not taking my eyes off her face, I say, “The big guy is Clive, and the woman is—”
“Sue.”
“Yeah.” I grin at her. “She offered to help me. Well, sort of.”
Athena climbs off me and looks me over. “Are you okay? Should you be out of the hospital?”
“That’s why Sue is here. My body isn’t working quite the way it should.”
Athena stands. “Let’s get you inside.”
“Will you help me?” I push off the bench seat, and she puts one of my arms over her shoulders.
Clive comes jogging out and grabs my other arm. With their help, I make it back inside and into Athena’s bed.
“I just need to rest.”
“Is he okay?”
Sue smiles at Athena. “He checked himself out of the hospital. But yes, in time, he’ll be fine.”
“Should I call a doctor?”
“No, you shouldn’t.” Everyone looks at me. I pull back the covers on one side of Athena’s bed. “Join me for a nap?”
Athena looks at Sue, who shakes her head. “We’ll be in the next room. Yell if you need us.”
Sue pushes Clive out of the room and closes the door.
“I still can’t believe you’re here.” Athena nestles in next to me.
“I made you a promise. I said I’d never leave you, and I aim to keep it.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Kris
It took another six months to recover fully. Some days my left leg won’t work like it’s supposed to, and I use a cane. We stayed in Boothbay while my body healed. Apart from learning how to do everything again, I suffered no permanent damage. Once my hair grew out, the scars there were concealed.
Athena is at the bluff, wearing a white dress and her hair blowing in the wind, staring out to the ocean. She has her arms wrapped around herself and doesn’t hear me approach even though today I’m using the cane.
I put my arms around her, and she jumps then settles back into me. “Penny for your thoughts?”
“I’m just thinking about how lucky we are.”
I laugh and hold onto her tighter. “Well, I’m lucky I’ve got you.”
Athena twists in my arms. “Nope, I’m lucky I’ve got you.”