Page 126 of Somehow You Knew

It’s finding humor in pain, and joy in sadness. It’s seeing people at their worst and accepting them anyway.

You have given me the kind of love and admiration that a father and man could only dream of, and some day, another man will be lucky enough to receive that from you too.

I love you, my dearest daughter, with all of my heart. And I will always be with you.

Just look for the hummingbirds and know that I am there.

Dad

By the time I’m done reading, I’m sobbing so hard that I can barely breathe, collapsing to the floor and holding the paper to my chest, like I’m hanging on to the only man that has ever loved me as fiercely as I wish another could.

But when I wake up in the morning after crying myself to sleep, I almost wonder if I’m still dreaming.

Because when I open my eyes, I’m in my husband’s arms.

Chapter twenty-four

Gage

“Gage?” Hazel’s voice is groggy and her eyes are swollen from crying. It kills me just looking at her because I know I’m the reason for her pain.

But she’s never looked more beautiful to me.

“Shhh…I’m here, baby.”

She reaches up to touch my face, dragging her nails through my scruff. “You are?” Blinking, she takes a deep breath. “When did you get here?”

I look at my phone and notice the time. “About four hours ago.”

“What time is it?”

“Seven in the morning.”

“Does that mean…”

“That I drove all night to get here? Yeah, I did, Spitfire.”

She rises, sliding from my arms and putting distance between us. She wraps her arms around her legs and pulling them into her chest. “What are you doing here?”

I reach out to her, wanting her back in my arms. “Come back to me, please.”

She shakes her head, her bottom lip trembling. “Why are you here, Gage?”

I crawl across the floor to her instead, pulling her into my chest. I don’t blame her for the hesitation, for having her guard up around me right now. I deserve every bit of her disdain and animosity. But if I’m going to have this conversation with her, she’s going to be in my arms.

Cupping her face, I lift her chin so she can look straight into my eyes. “I’m here because you’re my wife, and I love you, and I’m ready to make decisions together.” Her eyes instantly well with tears. “Fuck, Hazel. Don’t cry anymore, baby.”

But when she launches herself at me, I break apart too, letting every fear of mine go as I hold on to the one person I can’t live without.When we both regain our composure, she leans back and holds my face in her hands, straddling my hips. “I love you too.”

“I know you do. Why, I don’t think I’ll ever fucking understand, but I want this.” I press my lips to hers. “I want you.”

Her grip on me tightens. “Then you can’t push me away when you’re scared, Gage.” Her voice is thick with emotion, but unwavering. “I can be strong for you. I can help you carry the weight, but I can’t take you shutting me out. I won’t.”

“I know, baby. I’m so sorry, I just…”

“Talk to me.” She wipes the tears from my face. “Tell me everything. Start from the beginning.”

“Before my diagnosis, I felt like I was taking my life for granted, Hazel. When most people get life changing news like mine, they carpe diem. But me, I just got angry.” Shaking my head, I run my hands up and down her back. “I withdrew. I decided that I didn’t get to have a life like other people, like normal people. And I resented my dad so much for not fucking telling me that I could have this condition as well. He kept it from me, which made that anger even worse.”