Page 67 of Aaron's Patience

“Patience—”

“I didn’t know him.” She pushed out a frustrated breath and slammed Kyle’s picture on the dresser. “How could I be this upset over someone I didn’t even know?” Her voice broke on a sob.

My legs carried me to her before my mind even registered the movement. “Patience,” I consoled, going to wrap my arms around her.

“No,” she stated, moving back and away from me. “I’m fine. I’m fine,” she reiterated, heading toward the bathroom door and shutting it behind her.

I watched, wanting to go to her, but my anger kept me rooted in place.

“You’re angry.”

My jaw tightened. Against my better judgment I turned to see Emma standing in the middle of our bedroom, same long white nightgown and all.

“I’m not.”

“Don’t lie to me. You’re pissed at Thiers.”

“Not for dying.”

“No, not for dying,” she agreed, moving closer. “You’re angry for her.” She nodded to the bathroom door. “She’s hurt. And you’re pissed for her.”

“He should’ve been a better father.”

“Who says he wasn’t a great father?”

“I do.”

“Maybe you don’t see the whole picture.”

“What whole picture?”

“Let me show you.” She moved closer, placing her hand in the middle of my forehead.

Everything went dark.

****

When I opened my eyes, I found myself standing in a hospital hallway.

“Is she going to be okay?”

I turned and got the surprise of my life when I saw a frantic looking Thiers pressed up against a doctor, begging for answers. I squinted. It was Thiers but he looked around thirty years younger.

“Is she going to be okay, Doctor? The baby?” he demanded.

“What is this?” I asked out loud.

“This is the day your wife was born,” Emma responded, coming up next to me. Without touching me, I felt pushed to follow Emma as Theirs moved down the hall, following the doctor.

He entered a room and there I saw a woman who looked like she could pass for Patience, lying on the bed, belly swollen with child.

“You have to protect her, Daryl.” Daryl was Thiers’ actual name. “You’re all she’s going to have.”

“Jeanette, stop talking like that. You were meant to be this little girl’s mother.” His voice was panic-stricken.

“Name her Patience,” Jeanette continued. “That’s the name I decided on.”

“No. No. No. No,” Thiers kept repeating over and over again, denying the inevitable.